12 Creative Hip Hop Production Tips

Discover 12 innovative hip hop production techniques in this 28-minute video tutorial by Grammy-winning producer/engineer Jeff Ellis, known for his work with Doja Cat and Frank Ocean. Learn how to enhance rap vocals, manipulate 808s, and add unique textures to your mix. Explore creative methods like "unhinging" vocals with delay, adding color to vocals, creating "faded" backing vocals, and making ad-libs swirl. Master the art of making samples more distinctive, transforming snares into monk chants, and wrapping backing tracks around vocals. Gain insights on filtering 808s for different sections, improving drum samples, softening snares to highlight vocals, auto-panning hi-hats, and adding overall mix crunch. Elevate your hip hop production skills with these professional tips and tricks from an industry expert.

Intro
#1: “Unhinge” the vocal with delay
#2: Splash crazy color on vocals
#3: Make the backing vocals sound “faded”
#4 Make adlibs swirl
#5 Make your samples more unique
#6 Turn your snare into a monk chant!
#7 Wrap the backing track around the vocal
#8 Filter 808s differently during different sections
#9 Help drum samples not sound super-samply
#10 Soften your snare to keep attention on the vocal
#11 Auto-pan hi-hats so they don’t block the vocal
#12 – Add crunch to the entire mix