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Making Beats: The Art of Sample-Based Hip-Hop (Music / Culture) Paperback – November 20, 2014

by Joseph G. Schloss (Author), Jeff Chang (Contributor)
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 69 ratings
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First book on hip-hop sampling as a musical process, now with a new foreword and afterword

Winner of IASPM's 2005 International Book Award

Based on ten years of research among hip-hop producers, Making Beats was the first work of scholarship to explore the goals, methods, and values of a surprisingly insular community. Focusing on a variety of subjects―from hip-hop artists' pedagogical methods to the Afrodiasporic roots of the sampling process to the social significance of "digging" for rare records―Joseph G. Schloss examines the way hip-hop artists have managed to create a form of expression that reflects their creative aspirations, moral beliefs, political values, and cultural realities. This second edition of the book includes a new foreword by Jeff Chang and a new afterword by the author.

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  1. Part of series
    Music/Culture
  2. Print length
    272 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    Wesleyan University Press
  5. Publication date
    November 20, 2014
  6. Dimensions
    6 x 0.9 x 9 inches
  7. ISBN-10
    0819574813
  8. ISBN-13
    978-0819574817
  9. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"The best thing about Making Beats is its assiduous in-depth coverage of the topic. The breadth of Schloss's work is remarkable."―Philip Ewell, Popular Music



"Making Beats is a leap into the future of hip-hop studies. The book should be required reading for scholars and serious fans of hip-hop music and culture."―Mark Anthony Neal, author of Songs in the Key of Black Life

"Venturing in one of the most understudied areas of rap music, Making Beats is surely a comprehensive guide and a must read for serious students of hip hop and popular music studies."―Cheryl L. Keyes, author of Rap Music and Street Consciousness

""Schloss's consistent emphasis on artistic agency, musical processes, and individual compositional proclivities make this an important study for fans, scholars, critics, and anyone who needs convincing that hip-hop music is, in fact, music.""―Felicia Miyakawa, Journal of Popular Music Studies

""Making Beats offers such a compelling explanation of the aesthetics of sample-based hip-hop that it will be difficult for readers to leave the book without a deep appreciation for the inner logic and impressive artistry of the producer's work. This is foremost among many reasons why this book is essential reading.""―Mark Katz, Notes

About the Author

JOSEPH G. SCHLOSS is an adjunct associate professor of Black and Latino studies and sociology at City University of New York. He is the author of Foundation: B-Boys, B-Girls and Hip-Hop Culture in New York. His writing has appeared in URB, Vibe, The Seattle Weekly, The Flavor, and the anthologies Classic Material and Total Chaos. JEFF CHANG is the executive director of the Institute for Diversity in the Arts + Committee on Black Performing Arts at Stanford University. He is the author of Can't Stop Won't Stop, winner of the American Book Award and the Asian American Literary Award.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Wesleyan University Press; New edition (November 20, 2014)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 272 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0819574813
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0819574817
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 15.2 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.9 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 69 ratings

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Joseph Glenn Schloss

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Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
69 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Mugg Sly
5.0 out of 5 stars Finally someone gets it right
Reviewed in the United States on November 30, 2004
I'm usually pretty skeptical of books written about hip-hop by authors with PhD's. Most of the time, they don't get it. They aren't hip hop heads, although they might own a few Cd's. Mike Dyson, Tricia Rose, et cetera.

I think this book gets it right.

But the title of this book is misleading. It's not a how-to book on making hip hop beats.

It's an ethnographic study on hip hop producers, most of which are underground/college radio hip hop makers.

So chances are most Amazon customers won't know the names of the producers, or even be able to recognize any of their songs.

But if you know names like Paul C, Diamond D, Showbiz, Pete Rock, Premier, Dilla, Marley Marl, Supreme, Soulman, Dj Muro - this book is really good.

There are a lot of insider issues that producers talk about between themselves, but never really get into the main hip hop discussion, and so it has no chance of getting into the mainstream.

Joe decided to look at producers and ask these questions. He interviewed folks like Dj Kool Akiem (of the Micranauts), Vitamin D, Domino of Hieroglyphics, and he asks questions like

- Why do you need to sample, why not just replay the sample?

- What's the big deal with reissues?

- Producers who didn't start out as Dj's

- Will you sample from a rap record?

If you're just a hip hop head, the quotes from producers are probably the most interesting part of the book. You really get to look into 1 school of thought on how to make beats.

If you're an academic, it's got plenty of footnotes, and lots of support for his ideas.

For me, I think the best part of the book was the literature review. He looks at a lot of the bigger books on the subject of hip hop and breaks them down as to why they don't make sense.

The only problem I really see with the book, is that it focuses on a certain type of producer. Sample based, means sampled from vinyl. You won't find a "keyboard" producer. You won't find producers that make g-rap type beats. (Mannie Fresh type of producer). It's very biased towards an underground, old east coast sound 89-93 era, aesthetic. Which is all the more interesting since he's based on the West Coast.
95 people found this helpful
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Theanonymousone
4.0 out of 5 stars Must have for producers
Reviewed in the United States on September 5, 2012
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This book has been quite insightful to me. Mostly in regards to certain elements about sample base hip hop (which I produce) that I was unaware of. It is helpful to a new guy trying to make beats or even a seasoned veteran. The book is mostly based on interviews with numerous established producers where they are all asked the same question and then they reply and the author gives his view after. I wish there were more books on this topic written in the same way
4 people found this helpful
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Paula Espinoza
5.0 out of 5 stars Review from a CCNY/CWE student
Reviewed in the United States on December 2, 2011
Great book! I learned a lot from not knowing much about the music itself. Yes I appreciate good music but there are so much work in one particular song that I didn't know, and i learned how the process of making beats, creating songs and develop a song by sampling works. YES! I can now say and agree that sampling respectfully and carefully is good for hip-hop and like Schloss explains in the book, sampling is the foundation of the music system. The music is not just being put together easy, its work and it starts by "diggin in the crates" a term I now love and respect!

By Paula Espinoza
3 people found this helpful
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zachary spangler
5.0 out of 5 stars "The" Beat making book!!
Reviewed in the United States on July 20, 2010
Over the years I have bought quite a few books about producing with samples or general music production overall. This book is the holy grail!!! Love it!! anyone interested in hiphop as a culture and artform should have this book on their shelf.
It is very critical to the ethics of sample based music, from the perspective of those who respect it as a craft. No Jackin for beats once you cross this line.
If you've ever tried to explain sampling to someone who just thinks you steal other peoples music, just take a pause and hand them a copy of this book. I've had for quite a while but I think I might re-read it soon.
One person found this helpful
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Jaakko Mäenpää
3.0 out of 5 stars Not entertaining but informative.
Reviewed in the United States on May 23, 2014
Verified Purchase
It's sort of a study in a book form, rather than just a regular book. It's very precise and what not, but not very entertaining.
I recommend it, if you're interested in the subject.
2 people found this helpful
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Alex Dionisio
4.0 out of 5 stars 'Making Beats' compiles knowledge and experience from a hip-hop academic and several accomplished producers
Reviewed in the United States on October 25, 2015
Verified Purchase
This examination of the subtle points of sample-based hip-hop production is more philosophical than technical, but great info and insight from the author and his interviewees are in store. It's not an instruction book or how-to manual on how to make beats, just some background and some dos and don'ts for beginners and those who want to learn more about the craft.
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Giovanni Turner
3.0 out of 5 stars Depends on Your Purpose
Reviewed in the United States on July 21, 2008
Verified Purchase
Interesting exploration of underground hip-hop production. A limited diversity of interviewees hampers its usefulness - I was incredibly disturbed when one interviewee said, unchallenged, that the use of live instruments was "not real hip-hop." Otherwise, an interesting, albeit short-sighted journey.
6 people found this helpful
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D. Heron
4.0 out of 5 stars Quality Material............................
Reviewed in the United States on July 8, 2005
Quality Material............................

If I Have To Say What is Lacking I'd Have to Say Some Example Pics..But Not Much Else...

The Sampling Ethics are GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Diggin Info is GOOD ALSO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The DJ History/Info is KOOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A Very Well Spent $20-----

Trust That!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
4 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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William Russ
3.0 out of 5 stars Great info - a slog to get through.
Reviewed in Canada on June 30, 2023
Verified Purchase
This is a great book of history on hip hop, but is full of producers seeming like elitist jerks. I constantly rolled my eyes at the "I'm better than you", attitude that many of the profiled Producers had. I understand the level of searching for samples was a massive task and packing all of their records around was hard, but blame modern technology and not the current artists for having an easier way of accessing samples. It was almost a drop the book and never finish it moment for me, but I forced myself to finish it because I love hip-hop and the history of the music so much that I had to get through it.
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M. Greg
4.0 out of 5 stars Passionnant
Reviewed in France on March 31, 2021
Verified Purchase
Excellent ouvrage en anglais sur les pratiques des beatmakers et leur éthique.
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IAMMe
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 21, 2016
Verified Purchase
good
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luis lozano verge
5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT!
Reviewed in Spain on July 11, 2014
Verified Purchase
Fast, cheap and pro, so what more can i say? Thanks for the easy and fast bussiness, 100% great stuff.
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Lorenzo
4.0 out of 5 stars Making Beats
Reviewed in France on June 7, 2013
Verified Purchase
Livre très instructif! Il serait utile d'avoir plus d'ouvrages de ce type sur le hip-hop. Envoi assez long mais c'était dû à une incompréhension entre Amazon et l'acheteur.
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