Grasping different beats is key in music production since it controls the rhythm and energy of a track. The beat you pick is vital in setting the mood and determining the genre of a song. Whether you’re crafting mellow hip-hop music or an upbeat dance rhythm, the beat lays the groundwork for the entire production.
Each beat creates its own sound, playing a major role in building the right vibe. Look at eight well-known beats shaping modern music and how each contributes to the sounds we enjoy today.
- Afrobeat
- Drill
- Futuristic
- Hip Hop
- Pop
- R&B
- Smooth
- Trap
- Create Your Music With The Best Beats
Afrobeat
Afrobeat is an energetic music style that mixes traditional African rhythms with jazz, funk, highlife, and psychedelic rock. It started in Nigeria in the late 1960s, primarily thanks to Fela Kuti, who merged African sounds with complex beats and political messages. The genre is famous for its rich, layered rhythms, often with percussion, brass, electric guitars, and keyboards.
Afrobeat's rhythms are marked by intense, off-beat drumming, especially from drums like the kit and congas. Fela Kuti's band, Africa 70, and artists like Tony Allen, Antibalas, and Seun Kuti helped spread Afrobeat worldwide. These musicians are still inspired by their creative rhythms and powerful live shows.
Drill
Drill music is a type of hip-hop that started in Chicago. It is known for its strong, intense beats and harsh, often dark lyrics. The songs usually talk about street life, violence, and struggles, showing the harsh realities of living in high-crime areas. The beats are heavy, with deep bass and simple tunes, often made using Beats for Music that bring a lot of power.
Artists like Chief Keef, Lil Durk, and King Von made the genre popular. Since then, it has spread to places like the UK and Brooklyn, adding local sounds and ideas. Drill music keeps growing and mixing with other styles but still holds a bold and aggressive vibe.
Futuristic
The "futuristic" beats in production are done out of the box, mostly inventing something new and leveraging the most advanced technologies. Such beats incorporate electronic sounds, uncanny rhythms, and imaginative production to formulate tracks ahead of their time. Artists use synthesizers, drum machines, and digital effects to fashion distinctive soundscapes that are modern yet experimental.
Songs from artists like Flume, Porter Robinson, and ODESZA are good examples of this since these beats have futuristic features such as glitchy textures, changing melodies, and complex layers of sound. Their music is deep and employs technology to explore new worlds of sound.
Hip Hop
Hip Hop beats have changed a lot over time, with key parts like sampled loops, breakbeats, and strong rhythms shaping the sound. In the early days, producers took loops from old soul, jazz, and funk songs and made breakbeats by isolating drum sections. These beats formed the heartbeat of hip-hop’s unique rhythm.
As hip-hop grew, modern trap sounds added more electronic touches, like booming 808 bass, sharp hi-hats, and quick snares, creating a deeper, heavier vibe. Beats for music has made it easier for artists to mix and try new styles, boosting creativity while keeping the rhythm-based soul of hip-hop.
Pop
The pop beats are catchy, melodic, and easy on the ears, perfect for the radio. They create a certain positive feeling that will last longer. These beats mix all the sounds from genres like EDM, hip-hop, and rock, adding new rhythms and vibes to keep the music perky and interesting.
This blend of styles makes pop beats flexible, adaptable to different music trends, and attractive to a wide range of listeners, making them ideal for creating great music beats.
R&B
R&B beats are known for their smooth and soulful touch. Most of them boast rich harmonies and rhythmic patterns that may feel soothing and engaging. These beats focus more on deep bass and flowing melodies, hence their emotional and different feel.
Over the years, R&B has evolved with infusions of newer styles, such as trap and electronic elements, fusing the old elements with new creative rhythms and means of production. This is a modern twist to R&B, making the beats more lively and attractive to a greater audience. Smooth rhythms combined with contemporary influences make the beats of today's music more versatile and thrilling.
Smooth
The "Smooth" beat style provides an easy, relaxed feeling by using soft sounds and relaxed rhythms. It is used within jazz, soul, and chill-out genres, where the objective is to relax and comfort the listener. These smooth beats are like a gentle background, enhancing the mood and therefore well-used for relaxation.
The flow, be it in the cool streams of jazz, soul-filled R&B, or just chilled-out music cuts, provides a very soothing atmosphere. This same fluid movement offers a gentle and peaceful calm amidst any drill track's rough and grueling beat.
Trap
Trap beats are one of the most important parts of beats for music. They are known for their heavy 808 bass, rapid hi-hats, and snare rolls, which give them a strong and energetic sound. Originating in Southern hip-hop during the early 2000s, trap music quickly became popular, influencing mainstream hip-hop and branching into pop and EDM.
The distinctive rhythm and bass-heavy beats have transformed modern music, becoming a key element in various genres. Today, trap beats are everywhere, from radio hits to club anthems, just proving how genre barriers have been torn down and how this genre is shaping music today.
Create Your Music With The Best Beats
The right choice of beats forms the foundation for building your music production. Good, diverse beats inspire creativity, establish a track's mood, and increase its effect. You can narrow your search by choosing beats that express the style and feel of what you're trying to portray, refining your sound, and making your vision come alive. Triple A Beats has a great variety of premium beats, which gives artists and aspiring rappers numerous options to make hits. Whether it's for a new project or refreshing your sound, Triple A Beats can help take your music to the next level.