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Beats. Is Prince the last great beat-maker? Do not confuse this issue with being the best drummer, folks. I'm talking beat makers. He mastered the linn drum in the 80's and his patterns knock me out still to this day. Great use of space and funky as hell.
I know that there were great beat makers before Prince. My question is 'are there any now?' You'll never know a girl called Nikki and you'll never find Erotic City | |
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PRNelson said: Is Prince the last great beat-maker? Do not confuse this issue with being the best drummer, folks. I'm talking beat makers. He mastered the linn drum in the 80's and his patterns knock me out still to this day. Great use of space and funky as hell.
I know that there were great beat makers before Prince. My question is 'are there any now?' Timbaland & Dark Child and whomever produces Jacki-O. Miguel  MyeternalgrattitudetoPhil&Val.Herman said "We want sweaty truckers at the truck stop! We want cigar puffing men that look like they wanna beat the living daylights out of us" Val"sporking is spooning with benefits" | |
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Timberland : of Course
How can anyone miss him. Then there's loads of unknown Electronic music artist that took the drum-machine to another level. Rob Hood Jeff Mills Christian Vogel Aphex Twin Photek Speedy J The Producer of Lamb Drexcyia. 4 hero alpha omega. many Many More. | |
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jamaulredmond said: Timberland : of Course
How can anyone miss him. Then there's loads of unknown Electronic music artist that took the drum-machine to another level. Rob Hood Jeff Mills Christian Vogel Aphex Twin Photek Speedy J The Producer of Lamb Drexcyia. 4 hero alpha omega. many Many More. I am not aware of some of these groups. I will have to listen to their work. However, i would like to ask - are they great to you in a technological sense or musical sense? when i refer to Prince as a great beat-maker i speak from the fundamental aspect - musical ability. I have heard it said that Prince was the man that gave drum machines soul. Considering this, i ask whether the artists that you have listed equal this or are they merely utilising technological advances i.e they are 'currently' great because of the technology they are using and not musical vision? i really do not know the answer to this, i am not judging. I am keen to hear your opinion. You'll never know a girl called Nikki and you'll never find Erotic City | |
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PRNelson said: jamaulredmond said: Timberland : of Course
How can anyone miss him. Then there's loads of unknown Electronic music artist that took the drum-machine to another level. Rob Hood Jeff Mills Christian Vogel Aphex Twin Photek Speedy J The Producer of Lamb Drexcyia. 4 hero alpha omega. many Many More. I am not aware of some of these groups. I will have to listen to their work. However, i would like to ask - are they great to you in a technological sense or musical sense? when i refer to Prince as a great beat-maker i speak from the fundamental aspect - musical ability. I have heard it said that Prince was the man that gave drum machines soul. Considering this, i ask whether the artists that you have listed equal this or are they merely utilising technological advances i.e they are 'currently' great because of the technology they are using and not musical vision? i really do not know the answer to this, i am not judging. I am keen to hear your opinion. we're on the same page and in some ways you are right. technological advances does factor in but to me these electronic artist are at the same level as prince when it comes to electronic drum-machines. They took over where he left off and did MORE. But in context, Prince was more advanced for the time. Artist like hip-hop producer Timberland is a great programmer. I'm not so sure he is as inventive as Prince since his style is really close to the other styles of electronic music. Prince wrote things in the 80's that rivals stuff that's released now but in my opinion he hasn't taken it further since then. Photek on the other hand between the period of 94 to about 98. Did the most amazing things with a drum machine and sampler. I really don't think prince could even come close to this level of creativity and complexity. But only because I don't think Prince would even care to. He has a whole arsenal of other instruments he can use to express his music other than the drums. Photek's only focus is on drums. I don't know. I guess one has to ask himself if these modern guys had nothing but a linn drum would they produce things as great as prince. I would say maybe a few of them. Also if you focus on your first question. "Is Prince the LAST GREAT beat maker". Then I would say absolutely no.But he is one of the best of all times. If I was you girlfriend,,,1987' masterful drum programming. Something in the water does not compute,,,,1983' WAYYYY ahead of anything at the time. Good Thread PRNElson . Wish more people would resond. [Edited 11/23/04 8:32am] [Edited 11/23/04 8:35am] | |
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I absolutely love the drum programming on THE BALLAD OF DOROTHY PARKER. The cymbals drive me nuts.
Miguel MyeternalgrattitudetoPhil&Val.Herman said "We want sweaty truckers at the truck stop! We want cigar puffing men that look like they wanna beat the living daylights out of us" Val"sporking is spooning with benefits" | |
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jamaulredmond said: PRNelson said: I am not aware of some of these groups. I will have to listen to their work. However, i would like to ask - are they great to you in a technological sense or musical sense? when i refer to Prince as a great beat-maker i speak from the fundamental aspect - musical ability. I have heard it said that Prince was the man that gave drum machines soul. Considering this, i ask whether the artists that you have listed equal this or are they merely utilising technological advances i.e they are 'currently' great because of the technology they are using and not musical vision? i really do not know the answer to this, i am not judging. I am keen to hear your opinion. we're on the same page and in some ways you are right. technological advances does factor in but to me these electronic artist are at the same level as prince when it comes to electronic drum-machines. They took over where he left off and did MORE. But in context, Prince was more advanced for the time. Artist like hip-hop producer Timberland is a great programmer. I'm not so sure he is as inventive as Prince since his style is really close to the other styles of electronic music. Prince wrote things in the 80's that rivals stuff that's released now but in my opinion he hasn't taken it further since then. Photek on the other hand between the period of 94 to about 98. Did the most amazing things with a drum machine and sampler. I really don't think prince could even come close to this level of creativity and complexity. But only because I don't think Prince would even care to. He has a whole arsenal of other instruments he can use to express his music other than the drums. Photek's only focus is on drums. I don't know. I guess one has to ask himself if these modern guys had nothing but a linn drum would they produce things as great as prince. I would say maybe a few of them. Also if you focus on your first question. "Is Prince the LAST GREAT beat maker". Then I would say absolutely no.But he is one of the best of all times. If I was you girlfriend,,,1987' masterful drum programming. Something in the water does not compute,,,,1983' WAYYYY ahead of anything at the time. Good Thread PRNElson . Wish more people would resond. [Edited 11/23/04 8:32am] [Edited 11/23/04 8:35am]  You make some really good points here.
I, too, thought that more would repond too this thread. I believe that Princes beats from the 80's are sadly overlooked. I had Housequake 12" playing on my ipod today and that beat still makes my jaw hit the flaw. It still sounds so fresh. You'll never know a girl called Nikki and you'll never find Erotic City | |
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I love the beats on DMSR especially 
Nobody can really compare with his skill at putting beats together IMO If you will, so will I | |
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Prince is definitely a beat innovator. Prince and Kraftwerk really pushed the limits back then.I still listen to both for that work. Prince doesn't push the beats as much anymore,I think,just because he's older. It was a badge of honor back then as a young man. I listen to my old programmed beats and I'm not as aggressive or intricate as I used to be. The beat was the first thing I used to care about and now I worry about other things a little more.
Some of the beats by Photek and BT and Aphex Twins are simply incredible. But,also get some of the beat sample cd's and use them for music or just enjoy how incredible the rhythm tracks are. "I'm a pig..so,magic elixir I swill" | |
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Andre 3000
The Neptunes
My fave Prince-beats are: Housequake When Doves Cry The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker If I Was Your Girlfriend Bob George When 2 R In Love | |
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PRNelson said: Is Prince the last great beat-maker? Do not confuse this issue with being the best drummer, folks. I'm talking beat makers. He mastered the linn drum in the 80's and his patterns knock me out still to this day. Great use of space and funky as hell.
I know that there were great beat makers before Prince. My question is 'are there any now?' A brazilian dj caled Marcelinho0 da Lua. | |
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Are y'all crazy??? DJ QUIK!!!!! | |
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Stripe said: My fave Prince-beats are: Housequake When Doves Cry The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker If I Was Your Girlfriend Bob George When 2 R In Love You almost read my mind. To add a few: Sign 'O' the Times It Hot Thing Forever In My Life DMSR Let's Work Raspberry Beret Ooh, little darlin' if you're
free 4 a couple of hours (Free 4 a couple of hours) If U ain't busy 4 the next 7 years (Next 7 years) Say, let's pretend we're married and go all night | |
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UndercovaBrotha said: Stripe said: My fave Prince-beats are: Housequake When Doves Cry The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker If I Was Your Girlfriend Bob George When 2 R In Love You almost read my mind. To add a few: Sign 'O' the Times It Hot Thing Forever In My Life DMSR Let's Work Raspberry Beret  
(I should have mentioned these jams too.  ) | |
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Oh, you poor uncivilized folks. There is a whole lot of music outside the mainstream marketplace that is just waiting for you to discover it. Check out the "electronic" section at your local record store.
Hear it? Beats. | |
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Novabreaker said: Oh, you poor uncivilized folks. There is a whole lot of music outside the mainstream marketplace that is just waiting for you to discover it. Check out the "electronic" section at your local record store.
Hear it? Beats. Thanx for the info, Mom! 
(I work in a music megastore...) | |
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Stripe said: UndercovaBrotha said: You almost read my mind. To add a few: Sign 'O' the Times It Hot Thing Forever In My Life DMSR Let's Work Raspberry Beret
(I should have mentioned these jams too. )Indeed, these are all great samples of his beats! RIP Prince: thank U 4 a funky Time... |
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Stripe said: Thanx for the info, Mom!
(I work in a music megastore...) Then you must know everything about underground electronic music if you work in a megastore. They stock everything! Wait a minute, er, they don't... | |
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Novabreaker said: Stripe said: Thanx for the info, Mom!
(I work in a music megastore...) Then you must know everything about underground electronic music if you work in a megastore. They stock everything! Wait a minute, er, they don't... But this thread is dedicated for Prince and his 80's 'Beats', not for some 'Global Underground' stuff...  | |
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Stripe said: Novabreaker said: Then you must know everything about underground electronic music if you work in a megastore. They stock everything! Wait a minute, er, they don't... But this thread is dedicated for Prince and his 80's 'Beats', not for some 'Global Underground' stuff... Dude, I think by the noughties "Global Underground" is what defines Prince as a phrase the best. | |
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Novabreaker said: Oh, you poor uncivilized folks. There is a whole lot of music outside the mainstream marketplace that is just waiting for you to discover it. Check out the "electronic" section at your local record store.
Hear it? Beats. Actually nova electronic musicians have already been discussed. Read the whole the thread. People are not as uncivilized as you think. 
My favorite programmed beats by Prince are. The beginning of If I was your Girlfriend Ballad Of Dorthy Parker. SOmething in the Water does not COmpute Shockadelic Dance Electric ( Andre' Cymone but written and produced by prince.) When Doves Cry. Housequake Alphabet Street. What made prince so good back then is that he could make some absolutely awesome beats at slower bPM a la a Ballad of Dorthy Parker. | |
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I said "outside the mainstream"... if you actually manage to bring home some money from your music, instead of ending up paying for your own musical output it ain't anything else than mainstream. | |
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Novabreaker said: I said "outside the mainstream"... if you actually manage to bring home some money from your music, instead of ending up paying for your own musical output it ain't anything else than mainstream.
You're kidding right??? You said "check-out the electronic music section in you local music store". You will not find any Rob Hood or Jeff Mills in any record store other than your local vinyl store.
Christian Vogel is far from mainstream,, there's few people on this board that know him,, yet he makes a living doing music. If you go by your definition above then the only underground people are those that play live for free and never,ever release anything . | |
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