Archive for the ‘Hip Hop’ Category
In an attempt to keep up with the highly influential likes of Heidi Montag, Kate Gosselin and the singer of Nickelback, I've decided to dramatically change my appearance. Well, at least the appearance of this blog. The old design had served me well for the past 18 months, but I decided it was time to switch things up and produce a fresh new look.
To celebrate the launch of the site design, I wanted to share an entire (and free) loop pack with the loyal readers of this blog. I know I've bee...
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Loop #132
This is what it sounds like when you take a drum groove with no muffling (even on the kick) and run it through a completely overdriven Brownface amp.
[caption id="attachment_5892" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Not just for guitars"][/caption]
[audio:108_WideOpen.mp3]
Get the .wav file here.
Get the .rx2 file here.
Get the .aiff file here.
108 BPM...
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Well, not for good... but for the next week I'll be spending the majority of my time sitting here and drinking this. Don't look for any new loops to be posted on this site, but for some highly insightful, tequila-fueled rants and observations, be sure to keep up with me over on Twitter.
Loop #125
As I pack my bags (and 30 SPF sunblock), I leave you with a loop inspired by this guy:
[caption id="attachment_5602" align="aligncenter" width="223" caption="Funky hair. Funkier Beatz."][/cap...
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Some albums totally blow your mind when it comes to production. Other albums inspire you by the incredible musicianship. And some albums hold their own just by the level of songwriting. But it's not that often when an album comes along and takes all three of these elements to transcend the high bar of awesomeness (wow, what a horrible analogy). D'Angelo's epic 2000 release, Voodoo, is one of these special records.
Just as I was about to graduate college, thinking I knew everything there...
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Last night I had my ass kicked by a bunch of girls. Lez Zeppelin, the all female Zep tribute band, came storming through Boston, rocking a capacity crowd at The Middle East. I should have been prepared for what was to take place. My good friend and former bandmate (and current Lez Zeppelin bassist), Megan Thomas, contacted me a few weeks ago, telling me about her latest musical endeavor and inviting me to their upcoming Boston show. Megan is an amazing musician, so I knew she would nail all ...
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I drive a Toyota.
I'm from Iowa.
I own a Sheryl Crow Album.
I'm not hip hop. But I love it.
[caption id="attachment_5341" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="J Dilla - He Is Hip Hop"][/caption]
Loop #120
Today's loop is my hat tip to J Dilla and his incredible 2006 album, Donuts. While I had been familiar with Dilla's work as a producer through his collaborations with Common and Talib Kweli, it wasn't until the release of Donuts (and his untimely passing) that I...
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I had intended to spend most of today locked in my studio, laying down all kinds of new loops, guzzling a few gallons of coffee and writing my usual "top-notch" commentary... but that didn't happen. Boston's first blizzard of the year had other plans for me. Like shoveling snow all afternoon. Awesome.
Loop #116
I did manage to crank out one quick session before the day was over. While I was breaking my back, digging out my driveway, I was listening to Radiohead's classic album, "Th...
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Loop #113
Dipster. A groove with origins stemming from deep inside the PBR-soaked clubs of Williamsburg. On the surface, it may sound like a rather straight ahead dance/rock beat, but it is actually a sonic melting pot of culture; Ironic mustaches, American Apparel, trust funds, Vice, David Fridmann. They all, in one way or another, contribute to the dipster DNA. So, what are you waiting for? Download this loop, load it up in Logic, set up some mics in your bathroom, and record a song t...
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After putting my stomach and liver through "The Grinder" (aka Thanksgiving), I figured it would only be fair to do the same with my loops. Digging into some of the other new features in Logic 9, I discovered just what I was looking for: a virtual distortion pedal appropriately named "Grinder".
[caption id="attachment_4736" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Freshly Ground Beats"][/caption]
Loop #110
Today's loop takes what was once a pristinely recorded, 16th note-heavy funk groo...
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Every winter, when I travel home to West Des Moines, Iowa to celebrate Christmas with my family, I also take part in a "reunion concert" of sorts with some old friends from high school. Fourteen years ago, just before packing up my bags and heading to Berklee, I teamed up with some other members of my high school jazz band to find a way to get into bars without a fake ID. The solution? Start a funk band. And give it a really bad name.
At first we were called Pushin' Chunky. Then we were ...
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