Using the same drum kit over and over again

Hello,

Does it bother you that some producers keep using the same drum kit over and over again? (DJ Premier for example)

Me it doesn´t bother, as long as you have put effort into your drums in the first place. Why should you change drums that are already proven great? I think the rule of thumb is that you should change them, but only after long periods of time: Do a couple of albums with one kit, then switch. But it isnt that big of a deal, that you should go and make new drums to every beat you make IMO.

Tell me what you think?

no thats part of hip-hop. You can recognize a premo beat, a dilla beat, etc. mostly for their signature drums. They put a name brand behind their sound

I dont mind if the same samples was used as long as it doesnt sound like it's the same drum sequence on every track.

I've heard that about Premier but really dont hear the same drums. Well I'm a very much stuck in the 90s so I know all the Gangstarr Stuff and the sample sources pretty well (I think). Did I miss something? Were did he used the same drums.

Beside that I dont mind listening to the same drums as long as they fit to the sample. Well there are some drums that I'm tired of. I mean Impeach the president is fat drumloop and the single hits didn't even need to be processed and sound dope but these drums are overused too much.

peace

peterpiper wrote:I've heard that about Premier but really dont hear the same drums. Well I'm a very much stuck in the 90s so I know all the Gangstarr Stuff and the sample sources pretty well (I think). Did I miss something? Were did he used the same drums.

In the nineties he did use a lot of different drum sounds and you could still tell he made those beats, but nowadays he often uses the same drum sounds and his sound has become too predictable imo.

Premier has gone through more drums and breaks than most of us here combined. Peterpiper, he's used the "All Night Long" drums on more than one occasion. That said, I think the problem with Premier nowadays is the lack of variety in his patterns-- around Ownerz he started dropping out the hihats and he still does that (e.g. Termanology featuring Bun B). Plus if your drums always have a short decay and they're processed similarly-- to have that Premier signature sound-- the kits are bound to sound the same even if the hits aren't from the same record.

"Why should you change drums that are already proven great?"

Because it's a part of being an artist? Trying different things, doing things differently than others. Premier's legacy definitely wasn't created using the same drum kit. Dude flipped classic breaks on Hard to Earn in a seriously creative way. Once you start thinking, " I've used these drums for x months now, in two weeks I'll change them"-- you're a mathematician not an artist.

stinktank wrote: Once you start thinking, " I've used these drums for x months now, in two weeks I'll change them"-- you're a mathematician not an artist.

I gotta agree, I didnt mean it exactly that way though; lets say when you yourself cant stand the same drums anymore its time to switch.

On The College Dropout, Kanye West uses the same clap/snare layer for like 6 different songs.

MGStudios wrote:On The College Dropout, Kanye West uses the same clap/snare layer for like 6 different songs.

And still has the nerves to call himself the new version of Pete Rock.

Nah but Kanyes dope,

Premier said in some interview that hes done with electro, his next album is going to be straight Boom Bap. Too bad that everyone hates him after the taylor incident

Joidibeats wrote:Does it bother you that some producers keep using the same drum kit over and over again? (DJ Premier for example)

In the case of Swiss Beats... YES!!!!! His schit sounds all the same!!!

Drums should be tailored to the elements your using! I'm glad that I don't have a signature sound.

CLeysath wrote:Drums should be tailored to the elements your using! I'm glad that I don't have a signature sound.

I agree with this. Drums are like notes... i don't know how to explain this best, but every drum sound has a base note. On top of that, there's the characteristic sound each individual drum has. So first of all, you should choose drums that are in "harmony" with your samples (base note of the drum sound). You should also try to select drums that fit the groove/character of your samples.

This is why i have a folder on my mpc filled with lots of drum samples. So when i'm finished with laying down the samples, i can play my first sequence and simultaneously play drum samples and listen which one will fit best (sometimes you'll need to tune them aswell... base note).

I never select the drums without listening to the sample/sequence. I rarely end up using the same drum samples. Each individual beat requires individual drums.

I hope this makes sense (english isn't my native language).

LOL!! You know were the only ones(beatmakers,producers) that know that alot guys keep using the same drums over and over again!

I keep re-using my sounds over and over but layer them in different combo's. Pitch and filter to match the sample and groove. Maybe u can hear I use the same sources but it almost never sounds exactly the same.