Lesson 18: Hip-Hop Genre Project 1 / 10
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Hip-Hop Genre Project

Proyecto de Género: Hip-Hop
Create Your Own Beat in Soundtrap
Crea Tu Propio Ritmo en Soundtrap
Tuesday, March 3, 2026 • General Music • Mr. Mbagwu
Unit 4: Music Technology & Production
← L17: DAW Introduction
DO NOW 3 Minutes • While Chromebooks Distribute
03:00
Soundtrap DAW Interface — Mr. Mbagwu's screen from yesterday's lesson
Click to enlarge • This is the same Soundtrap you used yesterday

What Makes Hip-Hop Sound Like Hip-Hop?

¿Qué Hace que el Hip-Hop Suene como Hip-Hop?
On your paper (while you wait for your Chromebook), write down:

2–3 things you hear in Hip-Hop that make it different from other genres.

Think about: the drums, the bass, the speed, the vibe.
En tu papel (mientras esperas tu Chromebook), escribe:
2–3 cosas que escuchas en el Hip-Hop que lo hacen diferente de otros géneros.
Piensa en: los tambores, el bajo, la velocidad, la vibra.
Today YOU become the producer. Hip-Hop was born 5 miles from this school.

I Can…

Yo Puedo…
QUICK CONTEXT • 3 MIN

Hip-Hop DNA — What Defines the Sound

ADN del Hip-Hop — Lo Que Define el Sonido
🎸

BPM: 85–115

BPM: 85–115

Hip-Hop lives in the 85–115 BPM range. Classic boom-bap: ~90. Modern trap: ~140 (but half-time feel = ~70).

El Hip-Hop vive en el rango de 85–115 BPM. Boom-bap clásico: ~90. Trap moderno: ~140 (pero en half-time = ~70).
🥁

Drum Patterns

Patrones de Batería

Kick + Snare + Hi-Hat = the backbone. Kicks hit heavy, snares crack on beats 2 & 4, hi-hats ride on top.

Kick + Snare + Hi-Hat = la base. Los kicks golpean fuerte, los snares suenan en los tiempos 2 y 4, los hi-hats encima.
🔈

808 Bass

Bajo 808

Deep, booming bass from the Roland TR-808 drum machine. You FEEL it in your chest. Defines modern Hip-Hop.

Bajo profundo y retumbante de la máquina Roland TR-808. Lo SIENTES en el pecho. Define el Hip-Hop moderno.
🎙

Samples & Loops

Muestras y Bucles

Hip-Hop was built on sampling — taking pieces of old records and making something new. Today: drag & drop loops.

El Hip-Hop se construyó sobre el sampling — tomar piezas de discos viejos y crear algo nuevo. Hoy: arrastra y suelta bucles.

Born in the Bronx: DJ Kool Herc, 1520 Sedgwick Ave, August 11, 1973 — 5 miles from Wings Academy. Hip-Hop started right here in YOUR borough. Today you continue that tradition.

Nacido en el Bronx: DJ Kool Herc, 1520 Sedgwick Ave, 11 de agosto de 1973 — a 5 millas de Wings Academy. El Hip-Hop comenzó aquí en TU borough. Hoy continúas esa tradición.
Soundtrap Loop Library — Hip-Hop loops available to drag and drop
WATCH • 3 MIN

Making a Hip-Hop Beat in Soundtrap

Creando un Ritmo de Hip-Hop en Soundtrap

Video requires internet connection

▶ Open on YouTube

Hip-Hop Beat — Live Build

Source: Soundtrap (Official)
Duration: First 3 min (auto-clipped)
About: Watch a producer build a Hip-Hop beat from scratch in Soundtrap using the Trunk Sound Pack — drums, 808 bass, and melody layers
Watch for: How they layer the drums first, then add bass, then melody on top
You’re about to do the exact same thing. Pay attention to the order of layers!
Estás a punto de hacer exactamente lo mismo. ¡Presta atención al orden de las capas!
YOUR MISSION

Build a Hip-Hop Beat — Step by Step

Construye un Ritmo de Hip-Hop — Paso a Paso

Production Steps

1
Open Soundtrap → New Project → Music Maker
2
Set BPM to 85–100 (click the tempo number at the top)
3
Browse Loops → search “Hip-Hop” or “Trap” → drag a drum loop to Track 1
4
Add a bass loop (search “808” or “bass”) on Track 2
5
Add a melody or sample on Track 3 (keys, piano, synth)
6
Arrange: Intro (2 bars) → Main beat (4 bars) → Variation (2 bars)
7
Open Mixer → adjust volume levels so everything sits together
Soundtrap Loop Library — Search for Hip-Hop and Trap loops
Click to enlarge — The Loop Library where you’ll find Hip-Hop sounds

Minimum Requirements

  • 3 tracks minimum (drums, bass, melody)
  • 8 bars minimum length
  • BPM 85–100 (Hip-Hop range)
  • Title your project “HipHop_[YourName]”

Level Up (Extra Credit)

  • Add a 4th track (hi-hats, FX, vocal chop)
  • Use Beatmaker to create your own drum pattern
  • Add effects (reverb on melody, EQ on bass)
  • Create a variation (change something in the last 2 bars)

Stuck? Try This

Search these keywords in Loops: “trunk”, “boom bap”, “trap”, “808”, “hip hop”

Busca estas palabras en Loops: “trunk”, “boom bap”, “trap”, “808”, “hip hop”
📚 Submit on Google Classroom

Production Time

Tiempo de Producción
20:00

Headphones ON • Volume reasonable • Stay in Soundtrap
Mr. Mbagwu is circulating. Raise your hand if you need help.

Audífonos PUESTOS • Volumen razonable • Quédate en Soundtrap
El Sr. Mbagwu está circulando. Levanta la mano si necesitas ayuda.
BPM
85–100
Tracks
3+ min
Length
8+ bars
Name
HipHop_Name
📚 Submit on Google Classroom
LISTENING PARTY • 5 MIN

Share Your Beats

Comparte Tus Ritmos
05:00

How It Works

  • 🎧 Volunteers share their beat (~30 seconds each)
  • 🎧 Mr. Mbagwu plays it through the SmartBoard speakers
  • 🎧 Class gives ONE glow (something they liked)
  • 🎧 No negative comments — respect the producer
Voluntarios comparten su ritmo (~30 segundos cada uno). El Sr. Mbagwu lo reproduce por los parlantes. La clase da UN elogio. Sin comentarios negativos — respeta al productor.

Glows to Give

  • ✨ “I like how you layered the drums with the bass”
  • ✨ “The 808 hits hard — it feels like real Hip-Hop”
  • ✨ “Your melody choice gives it a unique vibe”
  • ✨ “The arrangement has good variety between sections”
“Me gusta cómo combinaste los tambores con el bajo” • “El 808 suena fuerte — se siente como Hip-Hop real” • “Tu elección de melodía le da una vibra única”

Remember: Every producer was a beginner once. Metro Boomin started making beats at 13 in his bedroom. Your first beat doesn’t have to be perfect — it just has to be YOURS.

Recuerda: Cada productor fue principiante alguna vez. Metro Boomin empezó a hacer ritmos a los 13 en su habitación. Tu primer ritmo no tiene que ser perfecto — solo tiene que ser TUYO.
EXIT TICKET 4 Points • Classwork (40%)
04:00
Q1 — Genre Knowledge (2 Points)

What BPM range defines Hip-Hop? Name 2 musical elements you used in your beat today and explain why they fit the Hip-Hop genre.

¿Qué rango de BPM define el Hip-Hop? Nombra 2 elementos musicales que usaste en tu ritmo hoy y explica por qué encajan en el género Hip-Hop.

2 pts: Correct BPM range AND 2 elements with genre connection

1 pt: Partial answer (BPM or elements, not both)

0 pts: No response or off-topic

Q2 — Reflection (2 Points)

What was the hardest part of creating your Hip-Hop beat? If you had 10 more minutes, what would you add or change?

¿Cuál fue la parte más difícil de crear tu ritmo de Hip-Hop? Si tuvieras 10 minutos más, ¿qué agregarías o cambiarías?

2 pts: Specific challenge AND specific improvement plan

1 pt: Vague answer (e.g., “it was hard” without specifics)

0 pts: No response or off-topic

Multiple means of expression: Written • Verbal share with Mr. Mbagwu • Audio recording
📚 Submit on Google Classroom

Coming Up Next

Próximamente
Tomorrow: R&B / Soul Genre Project — same process, different genre. Different BPM, different loops, different vibe.
Mañana: Proyecto de Género R&B / Soul — mismo proceso, diferente género. Diferente BPM, diferentes loops, diferente vibra.
One genre per day this week. By Friday, you’ll have multiple beats across different genres.
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord.”
— Colossians 3:23
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