Make your own beats and music: Become a Hip Hop Music Producer

Become a Hip Hop Music Producer. Rapping is one of the most lucrative businesses in music, but hip hop producers work very often behind the scenes, making instrumental tracks for a record company, or just for fun. There are many types of producers, but they all follow the same basic steps.

Steps

Love hip hop and music in general. The industry is very tough and ruthless. If you don't stick with it you'll be chewed up and spit out. Without a deep love for this game you'll never be good or famous. You need to also love all kinds of music because it sparks inspiration and creativity.

Learn about music. This is a never-ending process, so don't ever think you're "done" at any point. You need to learn about all different styles of music, not just the hip hop of today. Learn the roots, the theory and the great musicians for many different genres. No style should be neglected, not even country. Learning will only make you better. Experiment with other styles and apply them in your music.

Determine what equipment you will need. This is a very complicated step, as there are infinite combinations of hardware and software. I would recommend BTV Solo Music Production Software. If you're sampling, be sure to think of how you will access your samples (ie turntable, computer, etc). If you're more interested in composing with synths and virtual instruments, a MIDI keyboard is an excellent investment.

Experiment. Set up an easy kick-highhat-snare-highhat track, and mess around with playing notes over the beats. This should be a period for getting familiar with your equipment. It will take about a month at the very least to acquire real skill with your equipmen. And as said before, also experiment with other genres.

Start refining your beats. Read the manual and begin using the Google search way too much. Learn about EQ, effects and quantization, and begin to use them. If you understand all of these things, it'll also be easier for you to play around.

When you've got other people nodding their heads to your music, start promoting yourself. Use sites such as rocbattle.com, soundclick.com, givemebeats.net, and cdbaby.com to your advantage. Look up rappers, local or just on the internet, and see if you can produce a mixtape. A mixtape is still how it all starts.

Tips

Recommended software: BTV Solo Music Production Software, you'll only need your keyboard and Computer.
Make sure you volume each instrument correctly. Louder is not necessarily better.
If you like old school hip-hop make your snare a few notes lower or use vintage sounds such as 808 kits.
Learning to beatbox will help to compose beats anywhere.
EQ will make or break an only OK track.
Study successful producers. It sounds corny, but sit down with your top 25 or 50 instrumental tracks, and take notes as to why they are so appealing.
Watch tutorial videos on YouTube.
Try everything. Nothing is "wrong". If people like it, or even if only you like it, its "right".
Get lots of feedback from kids and teenagers.
Collaborate with other producers for developing new ideas.
Don't limit yourself: know the four elements of hip hop. Breakdancing, rapping, graffiti and turntablism.
Don't be a hater. As a producer, beef will not earn you any respect.
Mixing and mastering a track are two separate skill sets that need to work together. So become proficient at both to give your tracks a professional sheen.

Warnings

Don't get discouraged by critics.
Try to create your own style. It will be difficult in the beginning, but after a while you'll find it.
Do not ask a question about how to do something without reading the manual or searching the internet first. Hip hop producers will be very helpful if you follow this one rule.
Don't develop an ego; it embarrasses you in the long run.
And keep at it. If you are sure this is a passion you wish to develop, then make a way to integrate it into your life until it is mature enough to be where you want it.
Don't expect to make a living out of this unless you are willing to work the hardest you have ever worked in your life. It's not an easy market to enter into, unless you are very determined and will not give up easily. Remember, you might just make it---it is a crowded market.