Chop breakbeats and learn to replay them exactly how they originally sounded. This is what I did since 2003.
As simple as it sounds, the learning process is never-ending! I could tell you to use velocity, or don't quantize, but there is so much more to it.
To really know how to program drums, your going to have to listen/study how real drummers play. Learn to incorporate the "little" nuances into your own beats. Don't go overboard trying to replicate Billy Cobham on your first attempt. Practice basic rudiments on your drum machine. A few days out the week, forget about making beats... sometimes you gotta play around with sounds and make absolutely nothing.
