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Make Your Own Spotify Premium Playlist (iPhone, iPad, Android)
If you use Spotify Premium and you want to make a playlist of your own, follow these steps on creating, editing, and deleting a Spotify Premium playlist. These steps only work with iPhones, iPads, and Androids.
I iPhone/iPad
A Create Playlist
1 Tap the Your Library icon (it looks like ||\) on the bottom right corner of your iPhone or iPad screen.
2 Tap “Playlists >.”
3 Scroll down until you see the green-and-white “CREATE PLAYLIST” button. Click it!
4 After you click “CREATE PLAYLIST,” a “Create New Playlist” option should appear. Type the name of your playlist and click “Create.”
You can now find that playlist in “Your Library,” the button that looks like ||\.
B Add Songs to Playlist
1 Search for any track by tapping the magnifying glass “Search” on the bottom of your screen and typing the name of your track in the “Search” option on top of your iPhone/iPad screen. Once your song appears, tap it.
2 After you tapped the song, it should appear in full view on your screen. Tape the horizontal three-dotted line (…) on the right.
3 Select “Add to Playlist.”
4 Select a playlist. This should add the song to your playlist.
Keep doing this process until you have the songs you want on your playlist. Stuck on ideas of what to add? You can find “Recommended Songs” at the bottom of your playlist. It suggests songs based on the name of your playlist and its track listing.
C Edit Playlist
If you want to remove songs…
1 Tap the (…) button in the top-right corner of your playlist.
2 Tap “Edit.”
3 Tap the tiny red circle to the LEFT of the song.
4 Tap “Delete.”
If you want to reorder the track listing…
1 Tap the (…) button in the top-right corner of your playlist.
2 Tap “Edit.”
3 Press and hold the button with three horizontal lines, found at the RIGHT of the song. Move it up or down to choose the position of the song.
D Delete Playlist
1 In Your Library “||\,” tap “Playlists.” Then tap “Edit” in the top-right corner.
2 Tap the tiny red circle on the left of your playlist.
3 Tap “Delete.”
Alternatively, you can tap the (…) button on the top-right corner of the playlist and select “Delete Playlist.”
II Android
A Create playlist
1 Tap the Your Playlist “||\” option on the bottom right of your Spotify screen.
2 Tap “Playlists.”
3 Tap the musical note icon on the upper right corner of your screen.
4 Type the name of your playlist. Then tap “CREATE.”
Your playlist is finished. And just like the iPhone or iPad, the Android will find you “Recommended Songs” at the bottom of the screen (if you scroll down). You can search for whichever songs you want using the bottom “Search” icon then the top “Search” bar on your screen.
B Add to Playlists
1 With any track, tap the VERTICAL three-dotted icon on the upper right of your screen.
2 Tap “Add to Playlist.”
3 Tap the playlist to which you want to add the song.
C Edit Playlist
Remove songs?
1 Tap the vertical three-dotted line icon on the top right corner of your playlist.
2 Tap “Edit Playlist.”
3 Tap the black circle on the left (not red like with the iPhone/iPad).
Reorder songs?
1 Tap that vertical three-dotted line on the top right corner of your playlist.
2 Tap “Edit Playlist.”
3 Press and hold the three horizontal lined icon to the RIGHT of your song and move it up or down.
4 Once your playlist is reordered, tap “Save” up top.
D Delete Playlist
1 After tapping Your Library “||\,” tap Playlists.
2 Tap the vertical three-dotted line to the right of the playlist you choose.
3 Scroll down until you see “Delete Playlist.” Tap that.
4 Tap “DELETE” to confirm.
Stuck on what songs to add to your playlist? How about some hip-hop songs for Halloween (as this article was written in late October)? Part 1 and 2 can be found here and here.
How to Produce the MELODY of Snoop Dogg’s “Serial Killa” with FL Studio 12
In a series of beat breakdowns and tutorials, I will be teaching you, with this article, how to re-compose the melody of Snoop Dogg’s “Serial Killa” with FL Studio 12.
Make sure you have the drums finished before following the instructions in this article. If not, click here to compose the drums.
1 Bass (Just the Sub GOL)
On top of your FL Studio 12 screen, click “ADD.” When the menu pops up, click “Harmless.” This should add the “Harmless” instrument to your Channel Rack.
In the “Harmless” window (that should be open as soon as you add it to the Channel Rack), go to its upper left corner, left-click the tiny triangle, and choose “Presets” on the select menu that appears. In “Presets,” click “Just the Sub GOL” in the “Bass” section.
Now ADD A NEW Pattern. In this new Pattern, go to the Piano Roll of “Just the Sub GOL” and insert this.
(Note range: D#4 – G#4)
2 Keys (E Piano B NUC)
Now click the ADD option atop your FL Studio 12 window again. Select “Harmless.”
For this “Harmless” instrument, open “Presets” in its window, like you did last time, and select “E Piano B NUC” in the “Keyboards” section.
Add a new Pattern. In this Pattern, go to the Piano Roll of “E Piano B NUC” and insert this.
(Note range: A#4 – G#5)
Make sure the duration and “control” knobs down below match the levels you see.
3 Keys 2 (3xOsc)
Select “ADD” atop your FL Studio screen and choose “3xOsc” in the menu.
For the “3xOsc” window that should appear (by clicking its “rectangle” in the Channel Rack), adjust these levels, circled below.
Now that those changes have been made, make a new Pattern. In this new Pattern, open the Piano Roll for “3xOsc” and insert this.
(Note range: D6 – G#6)
4 “Funky Worm” (3xOsc #2)
I said in an earlier article that “Serial Killa” samples “Funky Worm” by the Ohio Players. Here, we’re gonna re-compose that sample using 3xOsc.
Get the 3xOsc from “ADD,” on top of your FL Studio screen. Select it. Then open its window (left-clicking on its Channel Rack “rectangle”). Change these options.
The top and bottom “FINE” tune levels should be adjusted slightly to the left and right, respectively.
Now click on the “knobby” icon to the left of the “wrench.” In the new window, make the adjustments you see circled below.
Once you’ve made those adjustments, click the “wrench,” to the right of the “knobby thing.” Select “Porta” and increase its “SLIDE” level to what’s circled below.
Now add a new Pattern, go to the Piano Roll (for “3xOsc #2”) and add this… for BARS 1 THROUGH 3.
(Note range: G5 – G6)
That was only for bars 1 to 3. For bars 3 to 5, compose this.
5 Whine NUC
For a second synth, go to the “ADD” menu and select “Harmless.” In the “Harmless” window, left-click the tiny triangle, open “Presets,” and choose “Whine NUC” under “Leads.”
Add a new Pattern. Go to the Piano Roll and compose what you see below.
(Note range: G4 – D5)
6 Adding Patterns to Playlist
Underneath the drums from the last tutorial, place your melodic Patterns to the Playlist as shown.
Pattern 2: Drums
Pattern 3: Bass (Just the Sub GOL)
Pattern 4: Keys (E Piano B NUC)
Pattern 5: Keys 2 (3xOsc)
Pattern 6: Funky Worm (3xOsc #2)
Pattern 7: Whine NUC
Before doing anything else, cut the first repetition of Pattern 7, or Whine NUC, 7/8 of the way through, using the knife tool.
Delete the first 7/8 of that repetition.
7 Mixing
Add each track to the Mixing Board. There are so many ways to do it. Choose one.
After that, adjust your volumes (and panning) to what you see below.
(Left to right: FPC_Ride_GLite_004, HIP_Kick_9, HIP_Snare_9, HIP_Snare_4, HIP_Hat_5, FPC Snare 1, Just the Sub GOL, E-Piano B NUC, 3xOsc, 3xOsc #2, Whine NUC.)
If you are looking for the best place to buy beats online, you’ve come to the right place. License Lounge has the latest West Coast beats available from exclusive industry producers.
How to Produce the DRUMBEAT of Snoop Dogg’s “Serial Killa” with FL Studio 12
In a series of beat breakdowns and tutorials, I will be teaching you, with this article, how to re-compose the drumbeat of Snoop Dogg’s “Serial Killa” with FL Studio 12.
There will be a melody tutorial following this one. For now, just focus on the drumbeat.
1 Silencing Fruity Limiter
Before composing anything with FL Studio 12, I recommend silencing Fruity Limiter, the default effect on the Master Channel in your Mixing Board.
Select that Master Channel. In its “Slot” menu, on the right of the Mixing Board, “Fruity Limiter” is there. Left-click the green dot to its right. This should turn it dark gray and mute its effect.
2 Change Tempo
On top of your FL Studio 12 screen, your default tempo will most likely read 130. Left-click and drag it down to 99 beats per minute.
3 Adding Hi-Hat
The hi-hat of your drumbeat can be found in “Packs > Legacy > Drums > HipHop > HIP_Hat_5.” Look for it on the “left window” of your FL Studio 12 screen. Once you find that “HIP_Hat_5,” left-click and drag it to the Channel Rack.
Now insert this to the Channel Rack for “HIP_Hat_5.”
4 Adding Snare 1
For “Snare 1,” go to the “left window” and find “Packs > Legacy > Drums > HipHop > HIP_Snare_4.” Drag that to the Channel Rack. Once it’s there, insert this… at the bottom, below “HIP_Hat_5.”
5 Adding Snare 2
For “Snare 2,” which is softer than “Snare 1,” go to the “left window” once again to find “Packs > Legacy > Drums > HipHop > HIP_Snare_9.” Drag it to the Channel Rack. Now insert what you see below for “HIP_Snare_9,” pictured at the bottom.
Before doing anything else, we need to make some adjustments to “HIP_Snare_9.” Left-click on its “rectangle” in the Channel Rack. A window should open. Click the “tiny triangle” on the upper-left corner of that window and select “Piano Roll.”
Once you’re in this “Piano Roll,” move the placement of the second and fourth repetitions of “HIP_Snare_9” to where you see circled below.
(Second repetition?)
(Fourth repetition?)
6 Adding Kick
The kick drum can be found in “Packs > Legacy > Drums > HipHop > HIP_Kick_9.” Drag it to the Channel Rack and insert what you see (on “HIP_Kick_9,” below the other three drums).
7 Adding Ride Cymbal
This song is heavy on its “ride cymbals.” I’m sure there’s a sample in the background being looped, but when you compose these “ride cymbals,” you’ll be sure to recreate the “filling effect” of that “sample.”
Find this “ride” in “Packs > Legacy > Drums > FPC > Cymbals > FPC_Ride_GLite_004.” Drag it to the Channel Rack and insert what you see below. Once again, it’s shown way at the bottom.
8 Adding Snare 3
I’ll have you use a third snare to fill in the lack of “loudness” those two snares have. It’s found in “Packs > Drums > Snares > FPC Snare 1.” Drag it to the Channel Rack and insert the two snares below.
Now your drumbeat is DONE!!! Let’s add it to the Playlist.
9 Adding Drumbeat to Playlist
This is too easy. To open the Playlist, left-click the first option to the right of the Pattern display. (It should say “Pattern 1,” or “Pattern 2,” or whatever Pattern you’re using.) Your paint brush tool should be selected. If it is, just left-click over the Playlist to add the Pattern. Let’s add it 16 times, stopping when the bar marker reaches 17.
10 Mixing
Add each track to the Mixing Board. To do this, there are many ways, but my favorite way is this… Left-click on each “rectangle” in your Channel Rack to open its window. In that window, drag its “TRACK” option, on the upper-right corner, to any number. That’s the track to which your inserting your instrument in the Mixing Board.
Do that for all six of your “instruments.”
Once they’re in the Mixing Board, adjust the volumes like so. (Also, pan the “HIP_Hat_5” to what you see circled below.)
(Left to right: FPC_Ride_GLite_004, HIP_Kick_9, HIP_Snare_9, HIP_Snare_4, HIP_Hat_5, FPC Snare 1.)
If you are looking for the best place to buy beats online, you’ve come to the right place. License Lounge has the latest West Coast beats available from exclusive industry producers.
Hip-Hop Tracks to Add to Your Halloween Playlist (Part 2)
Making a Halloween playlist this year? For a party? Or just a long drive to a party? Make sure to add the classics… Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” “Monster Mash,” Rockwell’s “Somebody’s Watching Me,” the Ghostbusters theme… Wait! What about some hip-hop tracks?
Hip-hop isn’t often the genre that comes to mind when thinking of Halloween music. On a closer glance, when you examine the lyrics and production of the genre, it can be. You can find soooo many rap songs discussing murder, violence, Satanism, serial killers, monsters, horror movies, and more spoooooooky stuff.
For this list, I’ve assembled eight rap songs to add to your Halloween playlist, to add to the OTHER eight I put on Part 1 of this list.
Gravediggaz – 6 Feet Deep (1994)
Who cares it’s the 20th of May? Play this title track off RZA’s side project on the 31st of October, and it’s slightly off-key instrumentalization, aggressive delivery, and murderous references will give you chills and vibes strictly for the most wonderful Holiday of the year. If only it fell on a weekend more often. (Not until 2020.)
The Notorious B.I.G – Suicidal Thoughts (1994)
In this final track off his debut album Ready to Die, the Notorious BIG calls up his mentor, Puff Daddy, in the middle of the night to tell him he’s thinking of suicide. In a long verse with no hook, Biggie expresses guilt for his mistakes, even desires to go to Hell instead of Heaven, while Puffy pleads with Biggie to stay alive in the song’s ab-libs. The telephone distortion of Puffy’s voice, plus the sounds of gunshots, falling on the floor, and a slowing heartbeat make the song realistic… and spoo-oo-oo-ooky!
DMX – Damien (1998)
In this up-tempo yet eerie track off DMX’s debut album, X converses with a character “Damien,” who is the devil in disguise. Damien convinces X to do despicable things in return for fortune and fame. (Damien says he’s like Chucky, when really he’s named after the son of the devil from The Omen.) The devil saying, “To be continued,” at the end will spike up your arm hairs for sure.
DMX – The Omen (1998)
A sequel to “Damien,” this track off Flesh of My Flesh; Blood of My Blood opens with DMX surviving a shooting, followed by creepy keys underneath X’s trademark dog barks, comparable to a werewolf howling at the moon. Then the story with X and Damien continues where it left off. An unusual appearance from Marilyn Manson on the hook should really force this track to your Halloween playlist.
Fabolous/Jadakiss – F vs J Intro (2017)
Rappers Fabolous and Jadakiss duet on this intro to Fab’s Friday on Elm Street. Ghoulish production over classic drumbeat samples are just the beginning of Fab and Jada’s horror movie vibes throughout the song. Fabolous is Freddy Krueger and Jadakiss is Jason Voorhees, respect to the letters of their first names.
Whodini – Freaks Come Out at Night (1984)
This old-school classic describes night life in the ’80s, how people became different at night, unleashing their inner freaks. You can say it’s similar to how people turn into werewolves at the sight of a full moon. You’re Halloween party turns into a bunch of freaks when you add this to your playlist. That is if they remember the song.
D12 – American Psycho (2001)
Slim Shady opens this spooooky track with “I’m the Devil.” In his introductory verse, he alludes to Silence of the Lambs and, well, speaks in tongues. In his killer hook, he shouts, “Journey into the mind of a psychopath killer.” After that comes, um, Bizarre’s verse, a creep factor you’ll never un-hear. Top it off with Kon Artis’s nod to Michael Myers and Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” and you’re good!
D12 – Devil’s Night (2001)
How is this title track off the debut album of Eminem’s side project NOT Halloween-related? When a) it’s titled after October 30th, Devil’s Night, b) the “rap God” ironically sings the hook as the devil, c) Swift calls himself Poltergeist, after the 1982 horror film, d) Kon Artis says he’s a “walking zombie” in a Michael Jackson “Beat It” jacket, e) Kuniva’s verse is so descriptively violent it’s partially censored, and f) Bizarre?
See Part 1 of this list by clicking here.
Hip-Hop Tracks to Add to Your Halloween Playlist (Part 1)
Making a Halloween playlist this year? For a party? Or just a long drive to a party? Make sure to add the classics… Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” “Monster Mash,” Rockwell’s “Somebody’s Watching Me,” the Ghostbusters theme… Wait! What about some hip-hop tracks?
Hip-hop isn’t often the genre that comes to mind when thinking of Halloween music. On a closer glance, when you examine the lyrics and production of the genre, it can be. You can find soooo many rap songs discussing murder, violence, Satanism, serial killers, monsters, horror movies, and more spoooooooky stuff.
For this list, I’ve assembled eight rap songs to add to your Halloween playlist, for your chance to celebrate the most wonderful time of the year with the most wonderful music. There will be a part 2 with eight more.
Kanye West – Monster (2010)
This collabo of My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy has Kanye, Rick Ross, Jay-Z, and Nicki Minaj comparing themselves to monsters. The creep factor sinks in as soon as you hear that introductory monster scream. Dope verses follow, and as soon as you hear Jay-Z name-check nearly every monster in the book, your Halloween-themed party is in full effect. And you didn’t even get to Nicki’s MONSTER of a guest verse.
Dr. Dre – Murder Ink (1999)
Now what screams “Halloween” more than the actual Halloween Michael Myers theme? It loops throughout this track off Dre’s classic 2001 album while rappers Hittman and Ms. Roq spit about what else but killing a bunch of people. Play it at your party, and horror movie fans will get flashbacks while hip-hop heads would think you have great taste in music.
Geto Boys – My Mind Playing Tricks On Me (1991)
Who could leave out hip-hop’s most famous anthem of paranoia? Released in 1991, this song allowed rappers to rap about the mental stress of being “gangsta,” laying foundations for the horrorcore subgenre. Many “scary” rap songs wouldn’t exist if not for this. Come on. Bushwick Bill’s ending verse is about a disturbing incident he thought took place on Halloween.
DJ Jazzy Jeff & Fresh Prince – Nightmare on My Street (1988)
Simply, Will Smith AKA “the Fresh Prince” raps about his encounter with Freddy Krueger.
Eminem – Kim (2000)
In Slim Shady’s twisted tale of domestic abuse, Slim maniacally raps as himself and baby mama Kim. When Slim discovers Kim cheated, Slim screams violently at the top of his lungs (while his daughter is sleeping), takes Kim for a brief drive (while drunk, oooo), drags her out the car, and slits her throat. This is a horror film acted out in song, a hip-hop musical, pretty much. It’s Halloween vibes in full force, but I recommend you play it on your way to your Halloween party. Not at it.
Immortal Technique – Dance with the Devil (2001)
The sampled piano beat should give Immortal Technique’s vivid story of “gangsta acceptance” a dark and sinister vibe. The story is detailed, horrific, disturbing, and possibly true. Just imagine if it was told in real time as Billy (the main character in the song) and his mother, like Eminem’s “Kim.” Ooooooooo.
Snoop Dogg – Serial Killa (1993)
This is a track off Snoop’s debut album, Doggystyle, and it’s about what else but serial killers. The spooky factors here are a) the production, in some areas, b) the second hook shouting “SERIAL KILLA!!” panning rapidly from left to right, and c) RBX deeply saying, “Not pic-a-nic baskets. Pic-a-nic caskets.”
Dr. Dre / Ice Cube – Natural Born Killaz (1994)
Dr. Dre and Ice Cube’s first collabo after N.W.A has the two emcees rapping about, you guessed it, killing. The track’s murderous imagery, plus its heavily distorted West-Coast-style production, will have you question why it isn’t on any other Halloween playlists. Fun fact: it was released in October 1994. I wonder why October.
Click here for Part 2 of tracks to add to your Halloween playlist.
How to Produce “Tha Crossroads” by Bone Thugz-N-Harmony on FL Studio (Melody)
In a series of beat breakdowns and tutorials, I will be teaching you, with this article, how to re-compose the MELODY of “Tha Crossroads” by Bone Thugz-N-Harmony on FL Studio 12.
Continue this tutorial from composing the DRUMS of this song, which you can find right here.
1 Bass
Go to the “file window” on the left of your FL Studio screen and find “Packs > Instruments > Bass > Classic 80.” LEFT-CLICK and DRAG that to the Channel Rack.
ADD A NEW PATTERN.
In this new pattern, go to the Piano Roll of your “Classic 80” bass. Add this.
(Note range: F#4 – E5)
Make sure the duration and pitch matches what you see.
2 Piano
Go to that same “file window” and find “Packs > Instruments > Keyboard > Grand Piano.” Drag it to the Channel Rack. Once again, add a new pattern.
In this new pattern, go to the Piano Roll of your “Grand Piano” and add this.
(Note range: F#3 – E4)
This is the same melody as the bass line. Copy and paste it from your bass and MOVE IT AN OCTAVE LOWER.
3 Rhodes
Go to “Packs > Instruments > Keyboard > Rhodes.” Drag it to the Channel Rack. Once again, add a new pattern.
In this new pattern, go to the Piano Roll of “Rhodes” and add this.
(Note range: F#5 – G#6)
4 Cinematic FG
To add this to the Channel Rack, start by clicking “ADD” on top of your FL Studio screen and selecting “Harmless.” It should automatically go to your Channel Rack.
Now LEFT-CLICK the Channel Rack’s “rectange” reading “Harmless.” You should see a subwindow. LEFT-CLICK the upper-left corner of this subwindow and select “Cinematic FG” in the pop-up.
Once you’ve chosen “Cinematic FG,” change its attack/decay/release options. They should be seen on your subwindow. Adjust the four circled knobs to the levels you see below.
Select a NEW PATTERN. Now go to the Piano Roll of “Cinematic FG” and compose this between beat-lines 1 and 3.
(Note range: B6 – B7)
5 3xOsc
Go to “ADD” on the top of your FL Studio screen again. Select “3xOsc.” It should end up in your Channel Rack.
Left-click the “rectange” in your Channel Rack reading “3xOsc.” You should see a subwindow. Adjust the circled knobs to the levels you see below.
The circled knob farthest to the upper right should be adjusted DOWN one or two notches. The one farthest to the LOWER right should be set UP one or two notches.
Now left-click the “wrench” up top your window. Select “Porta” and turn the “SLIDE” knob halfway up.
Now ADD A NEW PATTERN. Go to the Piano Roll of “3xOsc” and compose this.
(Note range: B4 – C#6)
6 Add Patterns to Playlist
Add your melody Patterns to the Playlist as shown below. (Your drums from my last tutorial should be there, too.)
Pattern 2: Cinematic FG. (Track 1)
Pattern 3: 3xOsc. (Track 2)
Pattern 4: Rhodes. (Track 3)
Pattern 5: Piano. (Track 4)
Pattern 6: Bass. (Track 5)
Patterns 7-9: Drums (Track 6)
See the first repetition of Pattern 3 (3xOsc)? We want to cut that. How? Select the “knife” tool up top your Playlist window (fourth from the right of all little “tools”) and cut 7/8 of that pattern off from the left, as shown below.
When it’s cut off, it should look like this.
7a Add Tracks to the Mixing Board
Add your new melody tracks to your mixing board, to blend with the drums from my last article. (Change the “track” number in each track’s Channel Rack window.) Once all your tracks are mixed, adjust their volumes as such.
(Left to right: Cinematic FG, 3xOsc, Rhodes, Grand Piano, Classic 80, RD_Tambhit, 808 OH, 808 CH, HIP_Snare_6, HIP_Kick_2, Grv Crash 02, Titey Tom)
7b Pan Grand Piano Track
Pan it 30% to the right. Drag its knob below the green dot 30% to the right.
8 Add Reverb to 3xOsc
Click “3xOsc” in your Mixing Board. LEFT-CLICK any “tiny triangle” to the left of any of its “Slots.” On the pop-up menu that should appear, select “Fruity Reeverb 2” and don’t change anything else.
If you are looking for the best place to buy beats online, you’ve come to the right place. License Lounge has the latest dirty south beats available from exclusive industry producers.
How to Produce “Tha Crossroads” by Bone Thugz-N-Harmony on FL Studio (Drumbeat)
In a series of beat breakdowns and tutorials, I will be teaching you, with this article, how to re-compose the DRUMBEAT of “Tha Crossroads” by Bone Thugz-N-Harmony on FL Studio 12.
1 Disable Fruity Limiter
Left-click the green dot to the right of the “Fruity Limiter” display on the master channel in your Mixing Board.
2 Change Tempo
LEFT-CLICK and DRAG the tempo from the default 130 bpm to 144 bpm.
3 Add Drums to Channel Rack
You’ll find these drum sounds on the left of your FL Studio 12 screen. LEFT-CLICK and DRAG each one to the Channel Rack.
Tambourine: Packs > Legacy > Drums > RealDrumkits > RD_Tambhit
Open hi-hat: Packs > Drums > Hats > 808 OH
Closed hi-hat: Packs > Drums > Hats > 808 CH
Snare/Rimshot: Packs > Legacy > Drums > HipHop > HIP_Snare_6
Kick: Packs > Legacy > Drums > HipHop > HIP_Kick_2
Crash: Packs > Drums > Cymbals > Grv Crash 02
Tom: Packs > Drums > Toms > Titey Tom
4a Compose Drum Sounds
Once all your drum sounds are in the Channel Rack, compose what you see below.
(Top to bottom: RD_Tambhit, 808 OH, 808 CH, HIP_Snare_6, HIP_Kick_2, Grv Crash 02, Titey Tom)
4b Edit Tambourine Volume and Copy
Go to the Piano Roll of your tambourine track, “RD_Tambhit.” You should see only four tambourine sounds. Change their volume by LEFT-CLICKING and DRAGGING the velocity levels below.
The velocity levels should match what you see circled. Once that’s over, copy your tambourine cluster FOUR TIMES.
4c Change Pitch of Open Hi-Hat
Left-click the “rectangle” for your open hi-hat track, “808 OH.” You should see a new subwindow. In it, drag the “Pitch” level all the way up, only if the range reads “2,” which it should.
Now your open hi-hat will stop at the instance your closed hi-hat starts.
5a Add Pattern to Playlist
Add 16 repetitions of your Pattern to the Playlist, as seen below.
5b Make The Eight Repetition Unique
The two pattern repetitions circled above are the ones we wish to “make unique,” meaning to add variations to the loop.
For the pattern at the bar-line reading “15” (the eighth repetition out of 16), LEFT-CLICK its upper left corner and select “Make unique” on the drop-down menu.
You now have a new pattern with the same loop. Open it. Make the changes you see below.
Yup. Delete the snares (HIP_Snare_6) and add toms (Titey Tom).
Now change the pitch of the toms. Go to the Piano Roll of “Titey Tom” and make the alterations you see below.
Leave the first three notes as is. Only change the second-to-last note from C to B-flat, then change the last note from C to A-flat.
5c Make the 13th Repetition Unique
In the Playlist, make the Pattern repetition at bar-line “25” unique. (This is the 13th repetition out of the 16 you have.) All you need to add for this new Pattern is a crash, “Grv Crash 02.”
6a Mix Tracks
Sync each track in your Channel Rack to your Mixing Board. (‘Member how? Change the “track” number in each track’s window. That sends your Channel Rack “instrument” to the Mixing Board track you selected.) Once all your tracks are mixed, adjust their volumes as such.
(Left to right: RD_Tambhit, 808 OH, 808 CH, HIP_Snare_6, HIP_Kick_2, Grv Crash 02, Titey Tom)
6b Pan Some Tracks
Pan RD_Tambhit 35% to the left, and pan 808 OH and 808 CH 35% to the right. Do this by LEFT-CLICKING and DRAGGING the knobs below the track’s green dots.
7 Add Reverb To Toms
Click the “Titey Tom” track in the Mixing Board. Now left-click the “tiny triangle” on any empty slot the right of the Mixing Board and choose “Fruity Reeverb 2.” Don’t adjust any volume of this reverb.
8 Add Reverb to Snare
Do the same for the snare, “HIP_Snare_6.” Only this time, when you insert your “Fruity Reeverb 2,” change its preset to “Large Hall.”
And decrease the volume, as seen on the right of the below pic.
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Beat Breakdowns: How to Produce the Drumbeat of “Forgot About Dre” in FL Studio 12
In a series of beat breakdowns and tutorials, I will teach you, with this article, how to compose the drumbeat of Dr. Dre’s, “Forgot About Dre,” on FL Studio 12.
To compose the MELODY of “Forgot About Dre” when you’re finished with the drums, click here to learn how.
1 Disable Fruity Limiter
Usually, when you first open FL Studio 12, the effect “Fruity Limiter” is enabled for your new project. Disable it for this tutorial.
To do this, click the green dot to the right of the “Fruity Limiter” slot on the master track of the Mixing Board. This silences that effect.
2 Change Tempo
The tempo of “Forgot About Dre” is approximately 134 beats per minute (67 if you count beats from the kick to the snare). Change the tempo from the default 130 to 134 by LEFT-CLICKING and DRAGGING it in the tempo window atop your FL Studio 12 screen.
3a Add Drums to the Channel Rack
You’ll find most of the drums you’ll need in the Browser (on the left of your main FL Studio 12 window). Find the below drums and left-click/drag them to the Channel Rack.
Snares
Packs > Drums > Snares > Linn Snare
Packs > Legacy > Drums > HipHop > Hip_Snare_4
Packs > Legacy > Drums > HipHop > Hip_Snare_2
Kick
Packs > Legacy > Drums > HipHop > Hip_Kick_2
Hi-Hat
Packs > Legacy > Drums > HipHop > HIP_Hat_5
Reverse Cymbal
Packs > Drums > Cymbals > 909 Crash
(Note: I’m having you use three snares to play at the same time. They do a great job capturing the “vinyl snare” heard in “Forgot About Dre” and most of Dre’s 2001 album.)
3b Add “Zip” Sound
In “Forgot About Dre,” there is a “zip-zip… zip-zip” sound near the end of every other bar. Most likely, a clone of that sound cannot be found in your FL Studio 12 software. You can find it in a downloadable sound kit or copy it from any other recording.
For this tutorial, I’ll use “Packs > No Windows – DJ Relly Rell > FX, Sweeps, Risers > Rell_Zip” as a clone of the “zip sound.” (It’s from DJ Relly Rell’s “No Windows” kit. I reviewed it and taught you how to download it.) If you have that sound, or something similar to it, drag it to your Channel Rack.
4a Composing Drums
Your drums consist of this two-bar loop. Add it to the Channel Rack.
(Top to bottom: Linn Snare, HIP_Snare_4, HIP_Snare_2, HIP_Kick_2, HIP_Hat_5, 909 Crash, Rell_Zip)
Don’t do anything with the 909 Crash yet. That’s your reverse cymbal. It belongs in another Pattern.
4b Adding Reverse Cymbal
Insert a new Pattern by LEFT-CLICKING and DRAGGING the number in your “Pattern ?” window to a different one. In this new Pattern (the number doesn’t matter), place the “909 Crash” sound where you see it in the picture below.
Now you need to REVERSE the crash sound that “909 Crash” makes.
Left-click the “rectangle” reading “909 Crash.” You’ll see a new window. In this window, there is a “Reverse” option. Left-click the button next to it in order to REVERSE the sound of this cymbal.
5 Adding Patterns to Playlist
Add your Pattern containing the main drums EIGHT TIMES, right after one another.
Add your reverse cymbal Pattern FOUR TIMES, but place their repetitions to where you see below the main drums.
(Top: Main Drums / Bottom: Reverse Cymbal)
6 Mixing Board
Add all tracks in your Channel Rack to the Mixing Board. Don’t worry about the channel’s numbers.
(The simplest way to add your sounds to the Mixing Board is to change the numbers in the “Track” option of each sound’s window.)
The levels of your Mixing Board should be set to what you see below.
(Left to right: Linn Snare, HIP_Snare_4, HIP_Snare_2, HIP_Kick_2, HIP_Hat_5, 909 Crash, Rell_Zip)
7 Add Stereo Shaper Effect to Zip Sound
Select the “Rell_Zip” channel in your Mixing Board. See the Slots on the right? Left-click the tiny triangle on the left of any “Slot” and select “Fruity Stereo Shaper.” For the “Fruity Stereo Shaper” window, change the levels to what you see circled below.
If you are looking for the best place to buy beats online, you’ve come to the right place. License Lounge has the latest dirty south beats available from exclusive industry producers.
Beat Breakdowns: How to Produce the Melody of “Forgot About Dre” on FL Studio 12
In a series of beat breakdowns and tutorials, I will teach you, with this article, how to compose the MELODY of Dr. Dre’s, “Forgot About Dre,” on FL Studio 12.
The DRUMS should have already been composed by now. Find that drum tutorial HERE.
1 Bass
Find the bass in your Browser. It’s located in “Packs > Instruments > Bass > Classic 80.” When you find that, drag it to the Channel Rack.
Add a new Pattern. (Drag the “Pattern ?” window to a different number, one that hasn’t been used yet.)
Once you’ve got a new Pattern, it’s time to add the bass line. Go to the Piano Roll of “Classic 80” and compose what you see below.
(Note range: G3 – A#4)
Make sure the duration and pitch match what you see.
2 String Chords
The strings you’ll need to compose chords with are located in “Packs > Legacy > Instruments > Orchestral > Strings > MIXO_F3(L)ogg.” Drag that sound to the Channel Rack and insert a new pattern.
Before composing anything, change the attack and decay of this “instrument.” How? Left-click the rectangle reading “MIXO_F3(L)ogg.” In the window that should open, left-click the “knobby thing” to the left of the “wrench.” Change the levels of “ATT” and “DEC” to what you see below. (“ATT” is only ALMOST empty.)
Now that’s over, go to the Piano Roll of “MIXO_F3(L)ogg” and compose this.
(Note range: A#3 – G4)
3 Muted Guitar
On Dre’s album, 2001, there is a “muted guitar” appearing here and there. It gives the album its signature vibe, and no doubt it loops throughout “Forgot About Dre.” Find your own muted guitar in “Packs > Instruments > Bass > Guitar > Picked Humb.” Drag that to the Channel Rack and, once again, insert a new Pattern.
Go to the Piano Roll of “Picked Humb” and compose what you see below.
(Note range: G4 – A#5)
The notes are delayed from the precise beat lines, as you can see. Make sure the duration and spacing of your notes match these.
4 Electric Guitar
An electric guitar plays briefly in the middle of Eminem’s verse. (It’s reminiscent of what you hear in No Doubt’s “The Climb.”) If you wish to compose it, here’s how.
Go to “Packs > Legacy > Instruments > Guitar > Guitar > Electric Guitar 01” and add it to the Channel Rack. Insert a new Pattern.
In the Piano Roll for “Electric Guitar 01,” add this.
(Note range: G2 – A#3)
5 Add Patterns To Playlist
You should have your loop from my last drum article already stored in your project. Underneath those drums, add your four new Patterns to the places you see below.
It’s difficult to tell what Pattern contains what instrument. Here is a guide.
Track 1 > Pattern 5: Drums
Track 2 > Pattern 6: Reverse Cymbals
Track 3 > Pattern 1: Muted Guitar (Picked Humb)
Track 4 > Pattern 3: Bass (Classic 80)
Track 5 > Pattern 4: String Chords
Track 6 > Pattern 7: Electric Guitar 01
6 Mixing Board
Connect each sound in your Channel Rack to the Mixing Board. Remember how? If you don’t, do this. Left-click each rectangle in the Channel Rack to open its window, and in each window for each sound, left-click/drag the “Track” number to whichever digit you choose. (Make sure you don’t select any numbers assigned to your drum tracks from my last article.)
Now that all of your tracks are in the Mixing Board adjust their volumes to what you see in the below window.
(Left to right: Linn Snare, HIP_Snare_4, HIP_Snare_2, HIP_Kick_2, HIP_Hat_5, 909 Crash, Rell_Zip, Electric Guitar 01, Picked Humb, MIXO_F3(L)ogg, Classic 80.)
7 Additional Notes
Unlike many of my other beat breakdowns, this one teaches you to re-compose every instrument used in the song. I’m not leaving anything out due to word limits or production complications. This is the blueprint for the entire beat of “Forgot About Dre.” For that reason, you are allowed to extend your loops to make an approximate clone of the 1999 hip-hop classic. And when you play this clone beat for your buddies, and they hear that electric guitar and go “chicka chicka chicka Slim Shady” at the end, you’re welcome!
If you are looking for the best place to buy beats online, you’ve come to the right place. License Lounge has the latest dirty south beats available from exclusive industry producers.
Songs Sampling Public Enemy’s “BRING THE NOISE”
Nowadays, we might look back at Public Enemy’s 1987 song, “Bring the Noise,” as the REAL introduction of hip-hop’s popular “triplet flow,” but through a further examination, “Bring the Noise” also gave us memorable lines such as “bass,” “how low can you go,” “back is the incredible,” and “here we go again.” That’s because it’s been sampled and interpolated many times. Here are a few of those songs sampling/interpolating it.
N.W.A – F*** Tha Police (1988)
In N.W.A’s protest song against police brutality, Dr. Dre plays a judge asking the other N.W.A members about their run-ins with the law. During those interludes with “Judge Dre,” you’ll hear “Bring the Noise” in the background.
The Beastie Boys – Egg Man (1989)
In this Paul’s Boutique track celebrating the Beastie Boys’s love for throwing eggs at people, the beat stops midway throughout to slip into Chuck D saying, “Now they got me in a cell,” on “Bring the Noise.”
LL Cool J – The Boomin’ System (1990)
In the third verse of his hit from Mama Said Knock You Out, LL Cool J says, “Like a basehead would say: I want BASS.” According to Genius, the sample is from “Bring the Noise,” but the allusion is most likely to Public Enemy’s “Night of the Living Baseheads.” LL pays further homage to P.E. in this same verse, saying, “Fight the power with P.E.”
Anthrax – Bring the Noise (1991)
Whoever knew the metal band Anthrax listened to Public Enemy? They add their own metal instrumental under Chuck D and Flava Flav’s original acapellas to “Bring the Noise.” It can be found on their album Attack of the Killer B’s and Public Enemy’s own Apocalypse 91… the Enemy Strikes Back. Note the line, “Wax is for Anthrax, still it can rock bells.”
Rakim – Guess Who’s Back (1997)
This lesser known Rakim song opens up with a scratched sample of Chuck D saying, “Back is the incredible.” You’ll hear that same scratched sample at the end of the song, too.
Prince feat. Chuck D – Undisputed (1999)
This isn’t really a rap song, but at 0:56, you’ll hear the oh-so-popular “back is the incredible” sample. That’s not all. Near the end of the song, you’ll hear a verse rapped by Chuck D himself.
Eminem – I’m Back (2000)
Many times, Eminem satirically spoofs music trends in his own songs. (See his new album Kamikaze for more of that.) “I’m Back” proves it. Where? Well, instead of sampling “back is the incredible” as Rakim and Prince did before him, he speaks those same words with a funny voice in Verse 2. Since that sample is usually scratched, he also impersonating a turntable behind the hook and at the end of the song. (He says, “Guess who’s back.” An homage to Rakim?)
De La Soul – Much More (2004)
With this track, De La Soul takes you back to the late ’80s and criticizes “commercial artists.” How much better can they do that than by opening the song with a scratch-up of Chuck D saying “Here we go again,” before Kanye West would use the same sample three years later? (Funny how De La Soul criticizes mainstream artists while Flava Flav did the exact same thing on the song they’re sampling.)
Fat Joe – Safe to Say (The Incredible) (2005)
The hook for Fat Joe’s heavy 2005 track scratches “Back is the incredible.” The song’s sub-title is also “The Incredible.”
Kanye West – Everything I Am (2007)
For the hook of his track off 2007’s Graduation, Kanye says, “Here we go again,” while DJ Premiere scratches Chuck D’s utterance of those same words in the background.
Ludacris – How Low (2009)
In the chorus of his 2009 booty-shaking track, Luda pitches up Chuck D’s “How Low Can You Go” to chipmunk heights. (Funny how Kanye never thought of this. Haha.)
Linkin Park – Wretches and Kings (2010)
Mike Shinoda opens the first two verses on this aggressive song with “To save face, how low can you go,” and “So keep pace, how slow can you go,” respectively.
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Popular Songs Sampling “COMPUTER LOVE” by ZAPP
“Computer Love” is a classic by R&B group Zapp. Made in 1985, it’s mostly remembered for its heavy use of the “talkbox,” the voice-altering vocoder which is a 1980s equivalent of Auto Tune. Hip-hop seems to love “Computer Love,” since the song has been sampled and interpolated many times in the genre’s history. Hip-hop music has ties with R&B and funk, and sampling/interpolating “Computer Love” is one way to make that fact more obvious.
Redman – Blow Your Mind (1992)
This is the first single in Redman’s rap career. Produced by Erick Sermon and Redman himself, it contains many samples, including a cryptic, sped-up piece of Zapp’s “Computer Love.” Unlike others on this list, “Computer Love” does not fill the melody of the entire song. Where is the sample, you ask? In the beginning of “Blow Your Mind,” repeating “Won’t you keep me warm tonight?” a few times.
Bloods & Crips – Piru Love (1993)
The Bloods & Crips project, Bangin’ On Wax, was released in 1993, to later be certified gold. One song on that album was “Piru Love,” a gangsta twist on “Computer Love,” slowed down and laced with a more airy vocoder than in “Computer Love.” It is a tribute to LA Bloods, laced with harsh shots at Crips here and there.
2Pac – I Get Around (1993)
A more known rapper to sample “Computer Love” was also from the West Coast, and that was the late Tupac Shakur. In “I Get Around,” you’ll hear “I’ve been around” on almost every other bar, sped up and panned to the right.
Notorious B.I.G feat. Puff Daddy – Me and My B**** (Live from Philly) (1994)
In 1994, the late Notorious B.I.G performed “Me and My B****” with his mentor Puff Daddy live in Philadelphia. He didn’t perform the original version from his 1994 debut, Ready to Die. This live version was over a looped instrumental section of the opening of “Computer Love.”
The Click – Scandalous (1995)
This Vallejo, California quartet puts their own talkbox-heavy twist on “Computer Love,” making it sound like a cover of the original song. Instead of a vocalized repetition of “Computerized” or “Computer Love,” you get “Scandalous” in the hook, sung on a talkbox by Zapp’s Roger Troutman.
2Pac – Temptations (1995)
There is no sample of “Computer Love” here, only an interpolation. It is the hook sung by AB Money, “I know you’ve been searching for someone…”
2Pac – Thug Passion (1996)
Full of talkboxes and a melody similar to “Computer Love,” Pac and his Death Row Records crew rap about a drink called “Thug Passion.” DJ Quik ad-libs with the talkboxes here and there.
Do or Die – Money Flow (1996)
This Chicago trio, consisting of Twista, show off their rapid flows over a super-slow version of the instrumental of “Computer Love.” They even add original talkbox harmonies in the hook.
Fat Joe – So Much More (2005)
Over an intense beat from Cool & Dre, sounding nothing like “Computer Love,” Fat Joe adds an interpolation of the 1985 R&B classic, saying, “I know you’ve been searching for someone…” This is akin to 2Pac’s “Temptations,” as it serves as the song’s hook.
Lil Boosie – Lil Boosie Love (2006)
Similar to the Biggie and Puffy gig in Philly, this artist chooses the opening instrumental loop of “Computer Love” to repeat throughout the song.
Lil Kim feat. T-Pain and Charlie Wilson – Download (2009)
Li’l Kim teams up with T-Pain and Charlie Wilson (an original vocalist for “Computer Love”) to make their own tribute to love through computers. T-Pain’s Auto Tuned vocals serve as a modernized form of the talkbox from the ’80s and ’90s. Who better than T-Pain could do that?
Wiz Khalifa feat. Ty Dolla $ign – Something New (2017)
As recently as 2017, hip-hop hasn’t gotten tired of “Computer Love.” Wiz Khalifa teams up with Ty Dolla $ign to do a super-modernized version of the Zapp classic.
If you are looking for the best place to buy beats online, you’ve come to the right place. License Lounge has the latest dirty south beats available from exclusive industry producers.
License Lounge Soundkit Review: “No Windows”
In a series of sound kit reviews, I will discuss the kit, “No Windows” by DJ Relly Rell.
808s
These 808s are the types of bass lines you hear in most current hip-hop or trap-style songs. They are essential to a heavy yet synthesized bass track. I recommend you sync some of them with your electronic kicks, which I will later get to.
These 808s sound authentic, like you are producing a current banger.
The tone of “Money_808” is a deep D-note. It can be used as a bass synced with electronic-sounding kicks.
“Rell_808_1” is a B-note. Like with “Money_808,” you can vary its pitches, similar to how I taught you with the breakdowns of Cypress Hill’s “Rap Superstar” and Kendrick Lamar’s “HUMBLE.” With “Rell_808_1,” I don’t recommend it, though. Neither with “Rell_808_2,” “Rell_808_3,” or “Rell_808_4.”
“Rell_808 Bend” is interesting, since it has a bending tone at its beginning. However, the most intense, hard-hitting 808 I highly recommend using as a bass is “walk_808.”
Bass
In this sub-folder, there are bass lines. They sound as if they came from a synthesizer, not an acoustic bass. This helps fit the electronic vibe most of this whole sound kit seemingly aims for.
“HouseGang Synth Bass Cnote 2” resembles what I think is a “Moog bass.” Very “funky.” Like what you hear in Lil Dicky’s “$ave Dat Money,” only less intense. “HouseGang Sub Bass Cnote 2” is great, too. Quieter, more solid, without the “funky” effect.
“Rell_Bass Synth” is long and over-the-top.
Crashes
The crashes have a more extended release sound than the usual crashes you hear from actual cymbals and built-in drum kits with FL. You can still use them for your beats, yet sparingly.
According to my other beat breakdowns, you don’t need to start your bars with crashes. These still sound cool, though.
FX, Sweeps, Risers
These contain sweepers that sound similar to one another.
“Rell_Arp & Bass Bend Combo” is quite a dope effect. Play it, and you’ll hear a descending staccato beeping sound synced with an 808-esque bass pitch-bending downward.
“Rell_Delayed Siren” works well if you’d like to use an airhorn effect to build up your beat. The other sirens are nice, but they don’t work as well.
Hats
These hats are essential for music containing the current “trap” sound. Many of them sound like that.
“Be Real_Hat Loop” is a one-bar loop sounding like a drummer hitting 16th notes on a slightly open hi-hat. It’s more “acoustic,” but it can spice up your beat, if you are producing a “non-electronic” track.
Keys
There are only two options for the “Keys” folder. Like the hi-hats, they have an “electronic” vibe.
“Be Real_Keys” would make a great key loop in my breakdown of Drake’s “In My Feelings,” as many other sounds in this kit would do, also.
“Rell_Memorial Bell” can be used for a good monophonic loop, only if you add a heavy reverb or delays. Think Cardi B’s “Bodak Yellow.”
Kicks
For sounds that sync with your 808s, I recommend using some kicks starting with “Rell…,” as in “Rell_Kick 1,” “Rell_Kick 2,” “Rell_Kick 3,” and so on. Those listed below it are reminiscent of samples from other songs, quite contrary to the electric vibe given from most of this whole sound kit.
Loops
Many of these loops have that “trap” vibe, especially “Rell_HiHat Loop 1.”
If you’re searching for a crisp breakbeat to add to your instrumental, try “walk_Drum Loop.” Very old school, yet fitting a non-electronic mood.
Snares & Claps
My favorite of all these. Many snares are claps followed by reverb, which is what many hip-hop producers use nowadays. “Be Real_Clap” is the epitome of a great one.
“Rell_Snare 5” is the ULTIMATE “trap” snare you’ll hear in many popular songs of the late 2010s.
Vox
“Vox” means vocals. You’ll find plenty of ad-libbed vocal samples here, most of them loud and distorted.
I highly recommend buying this kit to elevate your production to the next level, keeping it relevant, too.
If you are looking for the best place to buy beats online, you’ve come to the right place. License Lounge has the latest dirty south beats available from exclusive industry producers.
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