About BeatTips

BeatTips.com is a blog that serves as an online music education and resource center for beatmakers/producers, other musicians, hip hop/rap enthusiasts, and all around music aficionados. Deeply dedicated to the study of beatmaking (hip hop production) and hip hop/rap music, BeatTips breaks down the art, craft, and "science" of beatmaking as well as those areas that are commonly associated with it. From compositional methods and techniques, to applied recording and mixing techniques, to the most effective DIY marketing and business practices and strategies, BeatTips delivers “the most trusted information in beatmaking and hip hop/rap music education.”

Featuring a bevy of in-depth and detailed information in the areas of beatmaking instruction, history, business, criticism, and analysis, BeatTips is not only about “how to make beats,” it’s about everything within and related to the beatmaking tradition and culture. Moreover, because I (as well as those who contribute to BeatTips.com) take a serious approach to music, it's worth noting that BeatTips is also dedicated to general music education, music research, and music related scholarship as well. Thus, I always strive to update BeatTips.com with useful, thought-provoking, rare, and innovative content. Furthermore, I aim to continuously elevate the beatmaking (hip hop production) tradition and the role it plays in contemporary music. Therefore, look to BeatTips for serious information—articles, interviews, tutorials, editorials, reviews and more—on beatmaking.

P.S.,
You can find 24hr, 7 days a week beatmaking support inside of The BeatTips Community.

—Sa'id

 BeatTips.com Contributers

Founder/Publisher/Editor-In-Chief/Lead Writer/Beatmaker  Amir Said (Sa'id)
Assistant Publisher/Senior Writer  Amir Ali Said
Executive Manager  Eion Hunte (E)
Senior Contributor  Marco Polo
Senior Contributor/Resident Scholar  !llmind
Recording and Engineering Features Contributor  Cus
Senior Writer/Resident Scholar/BeatTips Evangelist  Dart Adams
Senior Contributor/Resident Scholar  Prince Charles Alexander
Contributor/BeatTips Evangelist  Vernon Wilson
Bookstore Liaison/Press Coordinator  Ferguson
Shipping Manager  Q

HISTORY

The short history is that BeatTips.com began in 2004 as my personal website/blog. It was (and still is) a place for me to publish my thoughts online about beatmaking and hip hop/rap music, and all of my other music interests as well. As I expanded my book, The BeatTips Manual, BeatTips.com grew in scope and detail as well, becoming a more focused blog. In 2008, I re-launched BeatTips.com, bringing along my long-time friend and mix engineer, Cus, a Unique Recording Studios veteran and mix engineer extraordinaire. Now three years later, I’ve further expanded The BeatTips Manual, writing my most comprehensive edition to date, and BeatTips.com has also evolved to a much broader online publication. To date, three of hip hop/rap’s most respected producers, Marco Polo, !llmind, and Statik Selektah have become BeatTips.com contributors.

The long history is that BeatTips.com grew from my desire to further expand upon what I had started with the publication of my book, the The BeatTips Manual. And thus the story begins there...

Eight years ago, I published the very first edition of The BeatTips™ Manual. At that time, I was going through some turbulent situations; and during those uncertain moments in 2001, I was able to find solace in spending time with my son, Amir, and in making beats. It was during this period in my life that it became very important for me to document everything that I knew about beats. Specifically, I wanted to preserve my knowledge about hip hop/rap in general, and beatmaking in particular, for my son, who at the time was turning 5 years old.

From the onset of this highly personal endeavor, I promised myself that I would meticulously record everything that I did, saw, heard and generally learned about beatmaking and the hip hop/rap production process. After 30 yellow legal size note pads, I felt that I had created the ultimate beatmaking guide for my son. Shortly thereafter, I poured over revisions, drafting all of my notes into one cohesive reference journal. A reference journal that I hoped would one day nurture my son’s understanding of beatmaking and the hip hop-rap production process, and it’s impact on modern music and popular culture. After reviewing the first several sections of this reference with my son, he and I both thought that it would be a good idea to share what I had created for him with the rest of the world. Thus, I decided to develop and transform this highly personal reference journal into a book for anyone interested in learning about beatmaking. Hence, The BeatTips™ Manual was born!

In 2002, I published the very first edition of the BeatTips Manual--the first book dedicated entirely to beatmaking ever be published. Then in 2003, I published the third edition of the BeatTips Manual; at the same time I launched Superchamponline.com.

Superchamponline.com (an ode to the name of my family's company, Superchamp) was my first serious attempt at operating an internet property. It featured just a few of the ideas that would later become staples and trademarks of what I do now. I maintained Superchamponline.com until 2004, when I converted it to BeatTips.com.

Since 2004, The BeatTips Manual has gone through countless updates and two major changes. What initially began as just a "support site" for the BeatTips Manual, has morphed into its own resource. And though BeatTips.com operates with the nimbleness that only an internet enterprise could provide I'm humbled to say that it still has the heart & soul of the very first beatmaking reference journal I that I made for my son...That will never change.
—Amir "Sa’id" Said,
Author of The BeatTips Manual
Founder/Editor-In-Chief, BeatTips.com


Amir Ali Said & Amir "Sa'id" Said in the South Bronx...

Where hip hop began...

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  • "I have been producing beats for a number of years now, and finding this caliber of literature is not always easy. Your book is ridiculously tight, your enthusiasm, knowledge and passion for the culture is spilling from each page. Your writing style is so, that I couldn’t put the book down, I rolled meticulously from cover to cover I didn’t want to miss a sentence. This book has inspired me in a big way, so for that, I wanted to thank you. Keep doin what you do."
    —Phil Rose

    "Comprehensive, passionate and scholarly, The BeatTips Manual is much more than an instruction book for hip-hop producers...It is a thorough analysis of the hip-hop aesthetic itself. Highly recommended for anyone that takes hip-hop culture seriously."
    —Joe Schloss, Ph.D, Professor,
    New York University

    "The BeatTips Manual is one of the best investments I have made in beat making and as a fan of hip hop...the sheer size of the book is amazing. The BeatTips Manual has definitely given me a lot to think about. Thank you very much for your efforts and work in this book. It needs to be required reading for anyone getting into beatmaking or hip hop production."
    —Charles Purnell

    "Ive had the 5th edition for a few weeks now and the book is nuts man. The book is huge and full of more goodness than the 4th with an even more extensive look at hip hop's roots, culture and production. Ive read the 4th edition multiple times and constantly used it for a reference when making beats, but this 5th edition is something else! The 5th has increased my knowledge of hip hop unlike any other book, and I have read a lot of hip hop books. Sa'id thank you for your dedication and love for hip hop and you hard work to keep it alive. Hip Hop thanks you!"
    —Brandon F

    “Detailed and thorough, I'd consider The BeatTips Manual to be the go-to guide for beatmaking. Highly recommended!”
    —Ivan Rott, HipHopIsRead.com

    "Sa'id, I just got my copy of The BeatTips Manual, and I LOVE it. I've been producing for about 4 years now, and I've read all sorts of books, websites, forums and instructional videos, and I can honestly say, that this is by far THE BEST aid I've ever found. You can really feel your passion for beatmaking & producing, and that's what makes it such infectious reading."
    —Nick "Stealf" Lester

    “This joint is thick and serious, I love it…I've never seen anything like it! This is not a 'skim the top' type of book..this is a great book, it’s thorough, it’s deep, it’s very informative...if you make beats, or have any interest in making beats/producing, this book is a must have, no questions, period.”
    —SoundsandGear.com

    "I love the book! Got so much info. I thought I knew alotta shit, til I read The BeatTips Manual...It's like you're giving away the game."
    —DJ Ladda

    "I just wanted to thank you for this new 5th edition of The BeatTips Manual...it's beautiful! You are doing a great job and I wish you much success."
    —Chiemela (aka AC)

    "Great work! Truly."
    —Dream Hampton, former Editor of the Source Magazine; Senior Writer for Vibe Magazine

    "Just got the book today and its one of the best books I ever purchased for music production. I cant stop reading it..."
    —Phong Nguyen

    "I could go on and on pointing out everything I loved about the book, but I won't because it'll take forever. The essence of the book is really, really good...Let me thank you again and congratulate you for a great work. It really was a pleasure reading it, and it'll sure be really close to my production set-up."
    —Dante

    "THIS BOOK IS THE TRUTH! It delves deep into the philosophy of the producer, important comparisons of different styles, hip hop history, business, and tons of up close and personal interviews with hip hop's largest producers. All the pages are written in a down to earth, coherent manner so everyone from beginners to advanced producers can benefit. Highly recommended."
    —Turntable Lab

    "This is by far the single best book focusing on Hip Hop production. It is an absolute must read and it's for anyone beginning or continuing their journey into production. It will prove highly valuable and pay countless dividends to anyone willing to invest the time to obtain the vast wealth of knowledge and wisdom contained in its pages. Also, with interviews from renowned producers such as DJ Premier...and others being worth the price of admission, the book acts as a triple bonus."
    —CrateKings.com

    "You Must Learn. The BeatTips Manual goes way beyond beatmaking 101. There's only so much you can learn about hip hop production from audio technology schools, where the art form's finer points are generally glossed over. Sa'id's accessible BeatTips Manual fills in the blanks. It shines in its efforts to educate readers on topics that are often overlooked. Do the knowledge!"
    —SCRATCH Magazine

    "Great Book! If you produce beats, buy this book. You will not regret it."
    —Karma