Sound in "Drop it Like It's Hot" by pharrell

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infradead said:


i thought that was bob dylan..
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Bob Dylan? No way, man... his stuff wasn't even quantized... that's just sloppy production.

:)
 
I do like the song (drop it like its hot). Even though the beat is very simplistic.

Drums some percussive noises, (human made too).
 
I consider myself to be a long time fan and follower of Virginia based production, since the days of Teddy Riley.

I've carefully have followed The Neputune's music since the beginning. Anyone else who has done so know's there are two sides to Neptunes Production.

One side being near perfect "musically"

ie. "Lapdance", or "There She Goes" goes f. Babyface.

Then there is the side that I think Pharell intentionally trashes musically.

ie. "Milkshake" - the percussion has to one of the worst quantize jobs I've ever heard on a song...see for your self. And there's "Drop it like it's hot", which is the musical equivilent of grandmas patchwork quilt. Each element of that song on it's own is great, but if your really listen none or it really matches...Snoop does not fit that track. It's not even a snoop hook.

My point is for what ever reason Pharell and the Neptuens intentionally make musical masterpeices or disasters at will.
 
Bravo(1) said:
I consider myself to be a long time fan and follower of Virginia based production, since the days of Teddy Riley.

I've carefully have followed The Neputune's music since the beginning. Anyone else who has done so know's there are two sides to Neptunes Production.

One side being near perfect "musically"

ie. "Lapdance", or "There She Goes" goes f. Babyface.

Then there is the side that I think Pharell intentionally trashes musically.

ie. "Milkshake" - the percussion has to one of the worst quantize jobs I've ever heard on a song...see for your self. And there's "Drop it like it's hot", which is the musical equivilent of grandmas patchwork quilt. Each element of that song on it's own is great, but if your really listen none or it really matches...Snoop does not fit that track. It's not even a snoop hook.

My point is for what ever reason Pharell and the Neptuens intentionally make musical masterpeices or disasters at will.
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(By the way, I also think "Milkshake" is a great song... but, anyway...)

Neptunes are musically broad enough to appreciate and create different styles of music, and that is a good thing.

To say that they would intentionally make musical "disasters" is just rediculous.

...So you think that they set out to make a track that they think is bad, then Snoop (or Kelis, or whoever) wants to record it and risk their careers by releasing it as a single, and the label invests huge amounts of money and manpower in it, and stores carry it, etc, etc... all so they can sit back and laugh at how stupid the public is for liking the intentionally crappy song they made as a joke?
 
Originally posted by dvyce To say that they would intentionally make musical "disasters" is just rediculous.

...So you think that they set out to make a track that they think is bad, then Snoop (or Kelis, or whoever) wants to record it and risk their careers by releasing it as a single, and the label invests money and manpower in it, and stores carry it, etc, etc... all so they can sit back and laugh at how stupid the public is for liking the intentionally crappy song they made as a joke? [/B]
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First of all, I'll say I'm a very big fan of Pharell, Neputnes and N.E.R.D's music...that's why I'm so critical of it.

I made a point to state these songes were MUSICALLY flawed compared to their other works. A real producer can hear the song broken down into every component, as well on a whole musical landscape.

To imply that just because a major artist recorded over a less that stellar track...or a major label invested in the recording and distribution of it has little to do with the acutal music more so than the BUSINESS, aspect of the song.

Some of the worse songs ever were the greates commercial successes. That's why I feel music, Hip Hop in specific is suffering because the emphasis has been taken away from the music and pointed towrd "recording for profit"

Does the fact that millions of dollars are inbested into songs like "Everybody in the Club Getting Tipsy" (the worst hip hop song ever recorded in my opinion) make it a good song?

HELL NO!
 
Bravo(1) said:


First of all, I'll say I'm a very big fan of Pharell, Neputnes and N.E.R.D's music...that's why I'm so critical of it.

I made a point to state these songes were MUSICALLY flawed compared to their other works. A real producer can hear the song broken down into every component, as well on a whole musical landscape.

To imply that just because a major artist recorded over a less that stellar track...or a major label invested in the recording and distribution of it has little to do with the acutal music more so than the BUSINESS, aspect of the song.

Some of the worse songs ever were the greates commercial successes. That's why I feel music, Hip Hop in specific is suffering because the emphasis has been taken away from the music and pointed towrd "recording for profit"

Does the fact that millions of dollars are inbested into songs like "Everybody in the Club Getting Tipsy" (the worst hip hop song ever recorded in my opinion) make it a good song?

HELL NO!
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The point is not whether you think it is a good track or not. (and, just for the record, I don't agree with your assessments of "Drop It.." and "Milkshake", but everyone is entitled to their own opinion.)

...and the fact that millions of dollars were invested in a song does not make it a good song. But nobody will invest millions of dollars and their careers and reputations on something they don't believe in. The fact that so much goes into releasing a record and so much is riding on its success from everyones standpoint (including Pharrell's) is an indication that they believe in its quality and that it is not "intentionally" made as a "musical disaster."

My comments were in response to you saying that "Pharell and the Neptuens intentionally make musical masterpeices or disasters at will."

You think that that song was intentionally made to be a musical disaster? Purposely created to be a bad song?

That is the only question here.

QUESTION: Do you think that that song was intentionally made to be a musical disaster? Purposely created to be a bad song? (note: The question is not whether you like the song or whether you think it is a good song. The question is whether you think the goal in making "Drop It..." or "Milkshake" was to make a "musical disaster."
 
Originally posted by dvyce [
QUESTION: Do you think that that song was intentionally made to be a musical disaster? Purposely created to be a bad song? (note: The question is not whether you like the song or whether you think it is a good song. The question is whether you think the goal in making "Drop It..." or "Milkshake" was to make a "musical disaster." [/B]
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I'll have you answer your own question...Listen to the part of "Milkshake" where they solo just the percussion. Anyone with a sense of rhythm can hear that they timing of the kick snare with the bongo percussion is WAAAY OFF. That would be the definition of an (intentional) musical disaster. I'm not sure why he did it but if anyone want to hunt down Pharell and invite him to this fourm I'm sure he'll co-sign it.

Do I even have to mention how overtly cheesy the hook on "Drop it.." is?


I think your viewing the term "musical disaster" too negatively. Things like downsampling, off time drum prog, amongst things that are considered "musically correct" are what make it hip hop what it is. I'm simply recognizing these imperfectons for what they are and drawing attention to them.

After all this is a "producers" fourm and wearing the badge of "producer" implys that you are able to hear things outside the ear of the average radio listener.

It also implys that you have some general understanding of the recording business. Some of our favorite recording artist openly admit to projects that comprimise their "musical integrity"...more often so just to get a check. Sure some artist have a good amount of control over the music they record, but at the end of the day it's the white guy behind the big oak dest who's writing the checks...go figure.

...oh you wante me to answer you question right?


A: YES!


Bravo(1)
 
just a thought on quantizing - isn't that the lazy man's way of never having to develop the ability to play the rhythm how they want it? i mean maybe i don't understand quantizing, but i thought that was when you have a grid of a beat and you snap all the hits that might be slightly off rhythm to the perfect rhythm or to whatever groove template (maybe with some swing or sumn) that you prepared. i've never felt the need to explore quantizing and i've heard people argue that that is one tool that should never be used. i'm of the opinion that that human feel is much more desirable. iprefer to play beats, but when i'm programming stuff i try to make it less perfect so its more alive. i'm in agreement that musical disasters make things interesting. they create tension. being intentionally off beat is what gives good rock and roll/jazz/funk/hip hop/ whatever its swing. i'll take the sloppy mess of madlib style production over sterile quantized stuff any day.
but thats just imo
pharells main problem at the moment is lack of vocal talent not production talent, but he does seem to be getting better, at least slowly with his singing, and enough respect to him for having the balls to sing anyway
 
I guess the level of percussion programming "perfection" is relative to the style or feel your trying to achieve.

Personally, I use a majority of my quantaizing for loop triggering as opposed to drum programming. If anything I might qntz my hi hat 16th or better but I always play the kick/snare live.

Certain styles of heavy sample/loop based production can't have strick qntz'd drum part over it because all of those funky bands tht we like to sample were "swinging" all the place.

On the other other hand alot of the southern syle or drum instense production are on a very strick qntz.

You shouldn't feel like your cheating the art by using it, it just depends on the style and feel your trying to achieve..

my $.02
 
I know for a fact that the Neptunes are on their own musical "planet", if you will. They are out there. Listen to a NERD CD and tell me if anything on there is even close to being conventional or commercial. Some of it is downright confusing and yes, a disaster. It's different. And for that, they are and forever will be set apart from their contemporaries.

They just got a whole different vibe than almost everybody in hip-hop.
 
I heard the song today, and because of this thread I specifically paid full attention to that "hissing" and it does sound like some sort of white noise.
 
CubaseRox said:
I heard the song today, and because of this thread I specifically paid full attention to that "hissing" and it does sound like some sort of white noise.
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Ok, let me start some more controversy...

I swear I heard a can shaking with the ball rattling inside...or was that my mind playing tricks on me?

if so, that would've been a cool effect to sample if they were trying to pass it off as spray can...

And just in case you're 2 cent short of a dollar, I think the mouth percussion didn't do anything for the track.


Let me go on the record by saying I think N.E.R.D. rocks!
 
I think it is terrible that many of you are "looking down your nose" at Pharrel because of the techniques he uses in production. Drop it.. may indeed go against music theory, but it was not intended to be a song that is played at an opera or some tight ass country club. It was intended to be a song for people to dance to, to have fun with. This beat is a breathe of fresh air for me because you can clearly see Pharells intent to take the music back to its roots(maybe thats why he used the old synth sound and the human percussion, oooohhhh).It really upsets me that people who do not appreciate hip-hop have the nerve to critique it. Have you ever taken the time to think that you do not like the music because it was not made for you to like? I also think that it is funny that this artform that is so minimalistic, is being emulated by almost every other genre of music. And last but not least, I beleive that many of you "producers" should maybe take a note from Pharrel. Maybe then people would actually become interested in your music, actually have a career, and have less time to come online and bash someone elses ****.......
 
Bravo(1) said:
Ok, let me start some more controversy...

I swear I heard a can shaking with the ball rattling inside...or was that my mind playing tricks on me?
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Maybe it was the ball rattling inside of your head?!?!?!? :D Just Playing....

if so, that would've been a cool effect to sample if they were trying to pass it off as spray can...
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I dont know what sound source it came from. I guess we would have to ask Pharrel that question.

And just in case you're 2 cent short of a dollar, I think the mouth percussion didn't do anything for the track.
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I am not over joyed by the beat all that much, yes it is different and I do like it (not love it). I think if it wasnt Pharrel who made it we probably wouldnt be knowing it now. In other words he has the power to put something like that out in a nation wide manner. Because of his stature in the industry. He has the bargaining power to do so. If you or I tried it, the beat would be collecting dust right now. We'd most likely get told "Look kid this beat is simple, nobody uses human percussion anymore.... and get another sound card because that hissing sounds f*ckin' horrible in the background....."
 
That sound is in the triton under the percussion kit! it is one of those rain tube things it is a dried cactus that they put the dried needles into. and they seal it and when you move it it produces that sound. but if its not i agree that the sound is a spray can!
 
Drop it like it's hot is **** production. There is no bottom end, not bassline, it is undancable.
The sounds are very simple and are flat. Garbage like this get's passed off as good music, which is what lowers standdards makeing us deffend **** prodcution like this.

Pharell is just trying to make money. He doesn't care about being unquie. He wants to keep doing what is popular and make as much money as possible.
 
Frost-RAVEN said:
He doesn't care about being unquie.
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i guess using tongue clicks in the melody isn't unique...
 
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Originally posted by rapmaster_e
i guess using tongue clicks in the melody isn't unique... [/B]
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Uhh, Timbaland has been flipping mouth percussion in his tracks since the begining (with much better results I might add), as well has Swizz Beatz. Oh, and there was also this guy named Dougie Fresh. (before you say "well he was a human beatbox, that's different." Give me a break and let me show how hip hop I am by doing a little name dropping)

And just because it's original or hasn't been done before doesn't make it good.

All of a sudden everybody's gotten all artsy and declare the current state of hip hop the "minimalistic movement". If that's the case that opens the door for anybody with 2 fingers and a beat machine to play patty cake on the pads and say "This is an old school hip hop fundamenls, son!"

Somebody earlier in this thread stated something to the effect that it couldn't be appreciated because we're not true fans of hip hop or that it really wasn't made for me. I won't respond to that other than "TRUE HIP HOP HEADS KNOW THAT THERE IS VERY LITTLE TO NO REAL HIP HOP ON THE RADIO NOW"

And to you scaled down, minimalist, simple hip hop, I say...

"Simple music for simple minded people."


But oh, my how you can boogie to it...ha ha ha!
Bravo(1)
 
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Originally posted by
fun with. This beat is a breathe of fresh air for me because you can clearly see Pharells intent to take the music back to its roots(maybe thats why he used the old synth sound and the human percussion, oooohhhh).


Yeah, "Breathe, Fabolous" was a breath of fresh air for me too!
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