CONSTRUCTING A BEAT

I need help to construct a beat, I know all the functions to the mpc 2000xl, I also know that I have 2 choices. Track muting (I don't really know how people can record or put together the song) or shift+song and in there you put sequences together. I see people putting beats together and making them sound good, I got one good sounding beat but I see people doing it like its nothing. Any tips and guides would be appreciated!

P.S, the music genre I specialize in is 80's and 90's oldschool boom bap type of music.

Thanks lampdog, I appreciate your help.

Don't get too deep into it and just create. When you got something groovin' then get creative with that and try the features and see how it goes. Don't be afraid to experiment. If you think too much into it you'll just wind up jerking off to Jane Finda vhs vids.

another thing to keep in mind, song structure. this is the basis of your song.
ie verse, chorus, intro, outro.

listen to your favorite songs and count the bars of each part.

a lot of songs are structured like this. with hip hop especially because instead of 8 bar verses, we usually get 16 bar verses. dont be afraid to throw a bridge or something in there though, just experiment.

try one like this, and try one where the hook starts first instead of the verse, then swtich some other stuff around and get even more ideas, there are all kinds of ways to do this. i cant stress enough to listen to your favorite songs and count their bars though.

8 intro. 16 verse, 8 hook, 16 verse, 8 hook, 16 verse,8 hook,8 outro