YOUTUBE : 7 Essential Episodes of Genius’ Deconstructed

For beatmakers, YouTube has become the quintessential ressource, whether it's to learn from the masters or to get a feel of what’s happening right now on the scene. There are YouTubers' channels, tutorials, beat cook-ups, archival footage… And then, there’s professionally produced content by companies like Genius.

Their series Deconstructed  is a goldmine of information for the modern hip hop producer. Top beatmakers share their tips, tricks and favorite plugins. Each episode focuses on a track of notoriety, retelling the creative process behind it as well as observing its various sonic elements. It’s always fascinating to see what details hide behind the beats backing today’s hits.

Here are my top 7 episodes:

7. The Making Of Juice WRLD’s  All Girls Are The Same  With Nick Mira

Nick Mira is part of the Internet Money collective and he has a great presence on YouTube, cooking up beats. I find it really inspiring to see how he works.

In this episodes, Mira explains how he used common beatmakers tools such as Nexus and Gross Beat to create entrancing melodies, which appealed to a then unknown Juice WRLD.

Essential quote : “When I structure my beats, really, I always like to have something different progressing, so it doesn’t get really repetitive. You obviously don’t want to have an 808, y’know, all these drums playing for 3 minutes, just straight, blasting bass in your ears, so… It’s nice to give the listeners, y’know', a good ear break.”

Chicago rapper Juice WRLD continues to climb up the Billboard charts. His debut studio album 'Goodbye & Good Riddance' reached No. 6 during its third week on the Billboard 200, propelled by the Top 10 single "Lucid Dreams." The Nick Mira-produced lead single "All Girls Are the Same" is a slow burning hit as well, with a current peak of No.

6. The Making Of Lil Pump's  Gucci Gang  With Bighead

A few of Pump’s collaborators can be seen throughout the series. The rapper seem to surround himself with beatmakers who are as, um, colorful as he is. Case and point : Bighead, the producer behind one of 2017’s most marking breakout hits, Gucci Gang.

In this episode, Bighead recounts how he stumbled upon the track’s signature pad sound by applying Gross Beat on a Dune preset, while Pump was playing basketball. The rest is history.

Essential quote : “I can’t make beats without having a full outfit on. Like, shoes and everything. Even when I’m at my house. Cause when I make a beat, usually I hate all my beats, that’s my problem. So I have to have at least a good outfit on and feel confident, so, I’m like : “OK, I can do this!”

Lil Pump became one of 2017's biggest new rappers with his hit single "Gucci Gang," which went platinum last month. The single topped the Billboard Hot 100 and became the shortest song to crack the Top 10, clocking in at two minutes and four seconds.

5. The Making Of Lil Uzi Vert's  XO TOUR Llif3” With TM88

TM88 is part of the Atlanta-based collective 808 Mafia, along with Lex Luger, among others. The producer used a previous throwaway track to create his beat for Lil Uzi. He just sent 20 beats, and XO TOUR LIFE was one of them.

TM88 offers a few nuggets, for instance, saying you shouldn’t overuse effects on a mix and rather try to balance the volume of the various elements. He also tries to explain how Gross Beat works, although it becomes obvious that he’s not to sure himself. It’s a funny moment in this interview with a charismatic artist.

Essential quote : “Your percussion need to be on top of everything. Go back in history, from arabians to africans, when they did their music, all you heard was percussion and that’s what moved the music.”

Lil Uzi Vert's "XO TOUR Llif3" is one of the biggest songs of the year. Over production from JW Lucas and TM88, Uzi Vert rages about relationship troubles with his ex-girlfriend, Brittany Byrd, among other things.

4. The Making Of Post Malone's  rockstar  With Tank God

Tank God recounts how he created this beat during a short break from studying for his finals. He then met up with Post Malone per chance, at his friend’s studio.

The producer says how he much prefers to be in a session with an artist, rather than sending out beats which probably will never be touched. At a time when a lot of collaborations happen over email, it’s nice to see a beatmaker who values a personal approach.

Essential quote : “Put me in a room, I’m not trying to send no beats.“

Post Malone was already having a good year, filled with accolades and his Platinum debut album Stoney. His new single, the 21 Savage-assisted "rockstar" is well on its way to hitting more milestones, peaking at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, in addition to racking up 133 million-plus Spotify streams and another 22 million on Soundcloud.

3. The Making Of Rich The Kid’s “Plug Walk” With TheLabCook

TheLabCook sent his beat to Famous Dex, who passed it to Rich The Kid. The next thing the beatmaker knew, they were on social media, making what would become Plug Walk.

A producer with an exemplary work ethic, TheLabCook was surprised his beat became the basis for a hit. Sometimes, the simplest ideas are the best.

Essential quote : “I may not think that beat is that great, but a lot of it has to do with how the artist uses it.”

After breaking out with his Kendrick Lamar collaboration "New Freezer," Rich The Kid scored his first Top 40 hit with "Plug Walk," the third single off his debut album The World Is Yours. Along with Rich's infectious chorus, "Plug Walk" instantly captivates listeners with its punchy and hypnotic beat.

2. The Making Of Sheck Wes'  Mo Bamba  With Take A Daytrip & 16yrold

Legend has it that Sheck Wes performed this year’s breakout hit Mo Bamba in only one take. The producer duo Take A Daytrip tell how they constructed the beat, and how a computer malfunction was at the basis of one of the cooler moments of the song.

Essential quote : “If it wasn’t for these little imperfections (…) none of this would’ve happened.”

Sheck Wes' breakthrough hit "Mo Bamba" led to a joint deal between G.O.O.D. Music and Cactus Jack in early 2018, but the party-starting track has continued to surge in popularity. On September 8, the single debuted at No. 82 on the Billboard Hot 100 and has since climbed to its current peak of No.

1. The Making Of Kendrick Lamar's  LOVE.  With Teddy Walton

Teddy Walton isn’t your typical producer, and he knows it. Describing himself as a simple person, he’d rather work from home at a slow pace, rather than spread himself thin. This is probably why his beats are so different than much of what others are making at the moment. Dense, minimal, soulful, modern… These are just a couple words that match his awesome music, and it certainly matches with Kendrick Lamar’s single LOVE.

Walton will always be one of those producers I watch to see what he comes up with a next. Whoever he works with, I’m sure it will be exciting.

Essential quote : “If you put me in a room with Kendrick, I’m gonna get somethin’ placed. Automatically.”