Archive for the ‘Reviewz’ Category

The BeatTips Manual
5th Edition
By Amir “Sa’id” Said

Author, Producer Sa’id sent me this book sometime in December as a gift, and I am proud and honored to have received it. I told him once I read it, that I would love to review The BeatTips (yes it is one word) Manual here at Studio Noize.com.

First Impression
The cover is attractive, and catchy. I even see a legendary Mackie 8-bus in the backdrop which is rare these days. I also notice the cover colors are similar to the color scheme here at Studio Noize. Nice coincidence! The title page is inviting and you actually get more of what the book is about as the page conveys the subtitle: Beatmaking, The Hip-Hop/Rap Music Tradition, and the Common Composer.

Overview
I would call this book highly informative. I definitely see that the author spent a lot of time putting this book together. Let’s be clear it’s not so much a manual of guided instruction or several tutorials to follow as you are making music. So in a strong sense, the title can be misleading. The BeatTips Manual covers more of the history/tradition of Hip-Hop and the process, techniques and elements involved.

The BeatTips Manual has a whopping 420+ pages, and I think that is well worth the money you will pay for this book. (List $34.95 US) However, I wonder if the average ‘beat enthusiast’ would be attracted to this many pages of a ‘beat tip’ manual. It’s not so much intimidating, but it just feels more like a text book than a guide so-to-speak. The number of pages before the 1st chapter is also hefty. There is the dedication page, acknowledgments /contributions page, disclaimer page, TOC, foreword, preface, introduction, and history page. That’s a total of 16 physical pages before the 1st chapter.

Body of Work
Once inside, you soon learn that Sa’id is taking you on an intellectual journey sharing his brain-power of the music production era. For the sake of time and space, I’ll give you a brief explanation of the first 5 chapters. There are also 4 parts in this book in addition to the 13 chapters and they are:
Part 1 – History
Part 2 – Technical Beatdown and Instruction
Part 3 – Music Tradition, Culture and Theory
Part 4 – The Business of Beats
Part 5 – The Interviews

Chapter 1 begins with giving you the origin of Hip-Hop in the South Bronx, and a detailed history lesson behind NYC and the South Bronx as it relates to the tradition of Hip-Hop. Chapter 2 takes you into the birth of Hip-Hop and more emphasis on the culture as well. This chapter also covers the history of sampling to graffiti. Chapter 3 again takes you through a history lesson of beat making while covering the break-beat era through the current retro-eclectic era, and illustrating seven periods of the beat making process. Chapter 4 covers the software/hardware debate and the advantages/disadvantages of both. This chapter also covers how to choose gear in the aspect of what you are looking for as for functionality, ports, sounds, user friendliness, look and feel, cost, etc. This chapter also gets into developing your style and mastering your gear. Chapter 5 covers the explanation of the drum programming process in building and customizing a sound package. It also covers timing, patterns, and mapping.

The remaining Chapter titles as they are in the book:
Chapter 6 – Hook a Beat Up and Convert It into Hip Hop Form
Chapter 7 – The Art of Sampling
Chapter 8 – Bright Line Sampling Rule
Chapter 9 – Practice Makes Better
Chapter 10 – Flash Battled Mozart at the Fever, and Mozart Got Burned
Chapter 11 – Know Where You Stand
Chapter 12 – It’s Yours; Nothin’ To It But To Do It
Chapter 13 – The Business of Business

Near the end of the book in Part 5, there are several pages of exclusive and wonderful interviews with different producers and engineers. They are Marley Marl, Buck Wild, D.R. Period, DJ Toomp, Steve Sosa, DJ Premier, and 9th Wonder.

Conclusion
Reading through the chapters is a bit wordy and the vocabulary is extensive in many areas which may not be a bad thing to some, but it can also be overwhelming and uninviting to others. I find that many people like simplicity in the content they read.

There are several bits of information that I really enjoyed such as the fact that many aspiring producers think you have to use a bass instrument in order to plug in a bass line. As a producer, I’ve always felt you can use any sound that suits you for any reason by sweeping out your high or low frequencies, throw in some EQ, and plug it into your track. If it sounds like a bass, it’s a bass, same as synths or strings. I also do this with sampled words and make them sound like instruments.

I think aspiring producers these days, in a media induced and fast paced environment are looking for a quick get-in, get-through and get-out in their reading materials, especially regarding beat making or beat making tips. I can appreciate what this author has done because I sense his concept and direction with The BeatTips Manual which makes this book a great course in the classroom. The BeatTips Manual is an excellent addition to your music resource library especially if you collect books, love to read, and not skim through, and seeking the knowledge of the Hip-Hop tradition.

Be it known, this book is not just for aspiring producers/beat makers. I gained a lot from it regarding the history and background of Hip-Hop from a different perspective of which I was familiar with. So, with that, the book added flavor to my unit of knowledge, which I’m grateful of.

What I would like to see in the next edition is maybe the text spaced out having more of a up-to-date visual which makes the book more appealing and inviting to read, reduce the content in half, and provide more of a outline of pin-pointed tips that are helpful in today’s music production process. I think this book is a great effort, and I look forward to reading more of Sa’id’s work.

Visit The Author’s Website
Visit www.beattips.com for more about the author and the book!
Click here to purchase The BeatTips Manual

Style: 4 Speakers
Lyrics: 5 Speakers
Production: 4 Speakers

Although many of you have already caught wind of First Flight since the December ‘09 release of this remarkable mix-tape… Diggy Simmons, son of Rev. Run of Run-DMC, who is now signed to Atlantic Records as of March 22, one day after his 15th birthday, refreshingly proves he’s got the skills.

I felt it’s important to keep this joint effort relevant ’cause son is delivering for a young breed. It’s evident he’s a natural with the pen and behind the microphone. I won’t lie though, all the while I’m thinking his older brother Jo-Jo was the only one writing rhymes, Diggy slipped this one up on me, and I’m truly impressed.

What grabbed my attention off the bat is this kid studies the meat and potatoes of Hip-Hop and he’s lyrically and stylistically in the ballpark. Nothing bubble-gum about this 13-track mix-tape masterpiece from the (then) 14 year old. Diggy spits rhymes that are much different from what you expect from a kid born with a “platinum spoon” in his mouth.

My favorites are Classic Introduction, Hustle Simmons, Point To Prove, The Truth Of Me, Dreams Interlude, We Have A Problem, Fly Away, Gotta Make It, Bonus Tracks: The First Flight Prequel, What’s It All For

The other joints are not bad, just more of mainstream and very familiar. My other flaw with this project and even considering it’s a mixtape, is that  the copy I downloaded was not the best in sound quality. Some of the bass areas are distorted, and seemed overly compressed. But hey that’s from the ears of a producer behind a board… I couldn’t help myself…

If for some reason you haven’t already added this one to your mix-tape collection… do it now! Diggy is delivering what we hungry hip-hop heads yearn for. I’ve had it banging out my iTunes and in my car since its release. Also if you want more of Diggy … Check out his Made You Look (Nas remake) Diggy kills it!!!! and that’s in a good way!

First Flight Mix-tape Features Lil’ Twist, Karina Pasian, Neako and more.
Artwork by PrinceWaxx

TrackList
1.Classic Introduction {Intro} (Prod. Black The Beast)
2.Hu$tle Simmons (Prod. Young Jerz)
3.Laid Back (Prod. Black The Beast) Ft. Chris Classic & Mike Charles
4.Point To Prove (Prod. Black The Beast)
5.The Truth Of Me
6.Dreams {Interlude} (Prod. Natural Disaster)
7.Like a Star (Prod. Young Jerz) Ft. Young Jerz
8.We Have A Problem (Prod. Black The Beast) Feat. Khalil
9.Make You Mine (Prod. Black By The Beast) Ft. Lil Gavin & Lil Twist
10.What’s It All For (Feat. Neako) (Prod. By Neako)
11.Fly Away (Prod. Black The Beast) Feat. Karina Pasian
12.Gotta make it {Outro} (Prod. Natural Disaster)
13.The First Flight Prequal {Bonus} (Prod. Neako)

Download First Flight
Diggy Simmons on Twitter

Style: 5 Speakers
Lyrics : 5 speakers
Production: 4 Speakers

The fact there’s not a DJ shouting over this joint is 5 speakers banging right off the bat! No disrespect to my fellow DJ’s… love ‘em all… but a mixtape like this just don’t need you babe. Call this the evolution of mixtapes (A free EP if you will) Thanks Marsh!

ArtByShake.

The Intro leads us in knowing we’ve entered the Ambrosius sound – and a sweet one it is! Nice strings compliment the singer’s infectious vocal style. Let Me Go – Awww… this  one is sexy, sultry, satisfying and sayin’ something. Simply elegant ecstasy! The vocal arrangement in this piece sets it apart as well. Put It On Repeat has the feel of her brother  Marvin’s electric writing and production style. I love the drums in this one as the song has a fun, club-ish… new world/pop-ish feel. The rapper Angelique (nice flow) has a familiarity of  Natalie (The Floacist), the former Floetry poetic sensation. She Don’t Matter – I love the hook in this one. The track is simple with a flaring snare laid back in the mix. Nice listening pleasure on this one as Marsha displays much heart-felt attitude! It’s one of them ’saaang that song gull’ joints! This Love – What’s beautiful about this piece are the combined elements of sound and singing between Ms. Ambrosius and Glenn Lewis. Simply put this is a ‘‘Suite’ treat and one of my favorites. Storm – I’m not feeling this one as much as the others. The backgrounds are really nice. I definitely get the message, but it’s one that has to grow on me.  Glass – My least favorite. The drums especially the snare is a turn-off. Lyrically she’s delivering, but it just doesn’t balance over the track for me. Take Care - One word – Mhmm Nice!!!  Okay that was two words sort of! “Late Nights Early Mornings coming soon” are Marsha’s words at the end the mixtape as she lets us know the debut solo joint is on the way! I can’t wait to tear open the packaging on this one!

As a musician reviewing this, I would want more complimenting instrumentation in certain areas around her vocals… but I get it, and perhaps this is why I”m reviewing a mixtape and not the album. Marsha’s one-of-a-kind style is necessary for the industry! She is music, and it’s evident she didn’t just acquire this gift! Music’s in her DNA! I’m 3 CD’s deep with her mixtapes while  this beautiful singer, songwriter, producer, and Songstress continues to keep her music relevant!

Tracklist
1. Intro
2. Let Me Go
3. Put It On Repeat Ft. Angelique
4. She Don’t Matter
5. This Love Ft. Glenn Lewis
6. Storm
7. Glass
8. Take Care

Download Link