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drums from “99 problems” by jay-z | ToneDB

99 problems

jay-z

drums

75% ai confidence

Tone Profile

A raw, hard-hitting hip-hop drum sound with a gritty edge, characterized by punchy transients and a slightly compressed feel. It's designed to cut through a dense mix with impact and attitude.

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The Story

The drums on "99 Problems" were crafted by producer Rick Rubin and engineer Andrew Coleman at Sunset Sound Recorders in Los Angeles. The signature hard-hitting sound comes from a combination of Roland TR-808 samples processed through an SSL 4000 G+ console and a Urei 1176 compressor. The track's raw, punchy drum sound was achieved through transient shaping and dynamic control, with the SSL console providing EQ sculpting and additional compression to make the drums cut through the dense mix.

Production Credits

Producer: Rick Rubin

Engineer: Andrew Coleman

Recorded at: Sunset Sound Recorders, Los Angeles

Signal Chain

Instrument: Roland TR-808Shop on Reverb

Recreation Tips

  • Start with a clean TR-808 drum sample or emulation.
  • Use a transient shaper to emphasize the attack of the kick and snare.
  • Apply compression with a fast attack and release to add punch and control the dynamics.
  • Use EQ to carve out unwanted frequencies and enhance the clarity of the drums.
  • Consider adding a touch of saturation or distortion to give the drums a gritty edge.

Original Gear

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Substitutions & Recommendations

Roland TR-8SShop on Reverb$450-$550

Alternative to: Roland TR-808

Authentic TR-808 samples with modern features and individual outputs for processing

SSL Fusion Stereo Bus CompressorShop on Reverb$1,800-$2,200

Alternative to: SSL 4000 G+ Console

SSL's signature bus compression and character in an affordable hardware unit

Warm Audio WA76Shop on Reverb$600-$750

Alternative to: Urei 1176 Compressor

Faithful 1176 reproduction with the fast attack needed for punchy drum transients

SSL SiX Channel Desktop MixerShop on Reverb$800-$900

Alternative to: SSL 4000 G+ Console Channel Strip

SSL G-Series EQ and compressor character for drum processing in compact format

Ableton Live's Drum Rack with 808 samplesPlugin Boutique$99-$400

Alternative to: TR-808 samples

High-quality 808 samples with flexible processing and layering capabilities

Waves SSL 4000 Collection and CLA-76Plugin Boutique$60-$120

Alternative to: SSL Console and 1176 combination

Digital emulations of both the SSL console EQ/comp and 1176 for budget-friendly recreation

Sources

Frequently Asked Questions

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