Instrumental Hip Hop Beats: Digital Music in the Bedroom

The primary many years of the twenty first century noticed dramatic modifications within the music trade as know-how remodeled creation, communication, and consumption. Amid this turmoil one change occurred comparatively quietly, virtually naturally: so-called bed room producers, music makers raised on hip-hop and digital music, went from nameless, typically unseen creators to artists in their very own proper.

In 'Bedroom Beats and B-sides,' journalist Laurent Fintoni delves into the emergence of a fresh generation of bedroom producers at the turn of the century. Through the narratives of various instrumental hip-hop and electronic music scenes – spanning trip-hop, downtempo, IDM, leftfield hip-hop, glitch, and beats – the book uncovers how these scenes served as breeding grounds for innovative ideas on composition and performance, ideas that are now widely accepted and integrated.

By delving into social, cultural, and musical histories and conducting thorough research through over 100 interviews, this book uncovers the lesser-known stories of hip-hop and electronic music scenes from the 1990s to the 2010s. Presented in the style of a beat tape, it traces the journey of a contemporary beat culture, spanning from grassroots movements to a global community. It examines the dedicated groups of visionaries on the fringes who drove this evolution forward, as well as the external influences that shaped their endeavors.

Before the era of streaming services, omnipresent social media, and comprehensive online tutorials, we present a tale of independence and innovation amidst significant historical shifts. This narrative delves into the realms of passion and perseverance, showcasing how experimentation on the outskirts spearheaded a subtle yet impactful musical transformation, particularly in the realm of hip-hop beats.