TONEDB

drums from “hypnotize” by the notorious b.i.g. | ToneDB

hypnotize

the notorious b.i.g.

drums

AI generatedv1.0

Tone Profile

Clean, punchy, and somewhat dry hip-hop drums with a prominent kick and snare, reminiscent of a classic sample-based sound. The overall vibe is tight and controlled, fitting the track's minimalist but powerful groove.

Gear

Various Drum Machines & Drum Kitsinstrument
ReverbSweetwater
Akai MPC3000drums
ReverbSweetwater
E-mu SP-1200drums
ReverbSweetwater
Akai S950drums
ReverbSweetwater
Native Instruments Kontaktdrums
ReverbSweetwater
Ableton Samplerdrums
ReverbSweetwater

ToneDB may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.

The Story

The drum sound on The Notorious B.I.G.'s "Hypnotize" was produced by Sean 'Puff Daddy' Combs at Daddy's House Recording Studio in New York City. The drums are primarily sample-based, following the classic late 90s hip-hop production approach of using samplers like the Akai MPC series to chop and sequence drum sounds. The track features tight, punchy kicks and snares that were likely processed through compression to achieve their controlled, impactful sound.

Production Credits

Producer: Sean 'Puff Daddy' Combs

Engineer: unknown

Recorded at: Daddy's House Recording Studio (New York City)

Signal Chain

Instrument: Various Drum Machines & Drum Kits

Recreation Tips

  • Start with a clean, punchy drum kit or drum machine sounds.
  • Layer the kick and snare to achieve the desired thickness and impact.
  • Use a sampler like Native Instruments Kontakt or Ableton Sampler to recreate the sampling workflow.
  • Apply compression to the kick and snare to tighten up the sound and add punch.
  • Consider using a vintage sampler emulation plugin to add some grit and character.
  • Pay attention to the overall groove and timing; hip-hop drums often have a characteristic swing or feel.

Original Gear

  • Akai MPC3000(drums)
  • E-mu SP-1200(drums)
  • Akai S950(drums)
  • Native Instruments Kontakt(drums)
  • Ableton Sampler(drums)

Substitutions & Recommendations

Akai MPC Live II$1,200-$1,400

Alternative to: Akai MPC3000

Modern MPC with the classic workflow for chopping samples and sequencing, essential for recreating that 90s sample-based drum approach

ReverbSweetwater
Rossum Electro-Music SP-1200$2,800-$3,200

Alternative to: E-mu SP-1200

Faithful reissue of the legendary SP-1200 that provides the distinctive gritty sound character of late 90s hip-hop drums

ReverbSweetwater
Tale S950 plugin$30-$50

Alternative to: Akai S950

Accurate emulation of the S950's 12-bit sampling sound that adds the vintage digital character to drum samples

ReverbSweetwater
Universal Audio 1176 plugin$150-$200

Alternative to: Studio compressor for drum processing

Classic compressor for tightening kick and snare hits to achieve that punchy, controlled 90s hip-hop drum sound

ReverbSweetwater
Akai MPC One$700-$800

Alternative to: Akai MPC3000

Budget-friendly modern MPC that maintains the essential sampling and sequencing workflow for hip-hop production

ReverbSweetwater

Sources

Frequently Asked Questions

Community Insights

No community insights yet. Be the first to contribute!