r/makinghiphop • u/Duron_Huemfrai • 3d ago
Resource/Guide Daughter wants to be an MC
Hey y'all! Proud dad here looking for whatever insights you can offer.
My daughter (10) wants to make her own music. She has aspirations of being a rapper. Some of her favorites include Aesop Rock, Homeboy Sandman, and Prof. She's been working on her writing. But she wants to learn to do it all. She wants to learn how to program her own instrumentals.
I remember back in the day there were apps like Acid that had relatively easy loops to program. But many moons has passed since I've had an experience with it.
If anyone could suggest a good program for a kid to start learning with that isn't too daunting, but also doesn't have a Fischer Price sticker on it, it'd be appreciated.
Thanks for your time
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u/steviebones 3d ago
Koala sampler is very very intuitive and a great sampler option for someone starting out.Koala Sampler
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u/rumog 2d ago edited 2d ago
Another vote for Koala here, great app. Also OP, imo 10 isn't too early to start learning to navigate a full daw. It'll take time, but kids learn and adapt super fast. You can just help her walk though some tutorials on making the kind of beats she likes, and she'll start picking it up fast and probably be able to navigate pretty fluidly within a year or two.
My kids were using a web based tool called Soundtrap for a while (actually one still does). It's like a simplified daw and they have a bunch of samples that automatically go to your project's key and tempo when you drag it in. They definitely liked it but now it's hard to get the one that still does it into a more standard daw, I think bc it feels intimidating and he's just already used to soundtrap after using it so long.
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u/_AnActualCatfish_ 2d ago
Another vote for Koala. I have an old MPC and some other hardware samplers and there are ways that it's better - chiefly that I always have my phone on me.
It can import video, so anything you screen record can be sampled.
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u/A_RAMIREZ89 2d ago
Honestly if u think she serious I would also suggest an interface, MacBook and a decent mic. A little home studio because the sooner she gets comfortable with her voice and hearing herself back, the faster she finds her voice and flow as well. As for the rapping consistantly writing is essential to getting better and save all ideas asap because u will forget
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u/n0v3list 2d ago
This is really solid advice. Becoming a better emcee involves a lot of intimacy with your own voice and finding how to change it.
Record, record, record. Write, write, write.
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u/JuggaliciousMemes 3d ago
at 10 years old, jumping into a full proper DAW would probably be overwhelming, but Reaper is free
but if you want an age-appropriate option that isnt too expensive:
ipad plus garage band to get her started off
you can find ipad-compatible microphones on amazon
If she gets older and wants to produce more in-depth, go for FL Studio or Ableton, although for hip hop theres probably more online educational resources for FL Studio, and you can work out the microphone/etc hardware when you actually come to that bridge
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u/ToothlessTheRapper 2d ago
10 years old isnt too old for FL or ableton, youd be surprised how intuitive kids can be, especially with learning tools like youtube etc. at 11 i took apart an xbox mic and wired it to usb, so i could record in 2007 audacity… not something i shouldve been able to do but after a couple days i was able to record. That little experiment turned into me using FL within 3 months and having a base knowledge ready.
In todays age, id assume jumping into FL or ableton would be easier with the AI helpers, and abundance of tutorials.
Jump in with both feet, you’ll swim i swear
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u/thesandrobrito 2d ago
GarageBand on iOS is what I recommend. It’s great, and allows to play cords with just a finger which is great.
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u/ZarathustraXTC 2d ago
Sony Acid is now Magix Acid and is not a good program, not much has changed I have not got it to run anywhere near as well as Sony Acid 7.0 - for a cheap way to start composing maybe FL studio mobile ($10 or $15 app). Cakewalk is a free DAW which you can do a lot in which has a lot in parallel with Ableton, but it can be a little intense to learn.
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u/sick__dave 2d ago
For a kid, I’d try Koala sampler, SDS-x, or just Garage Band.
Koala is a very easy to use sampler, SDS-x makes it easy to program drums, and then Garage Band works how you’d think.
If she’s using a computer, I’d recommend starting with FL Studio. There’s tons of videos on how to use it and a huge part of the learning curve is figuring out how to use a DAW. I got so fucking good at PowerPoint when I was a bored 10 year old. I knew every feature.
I wish someone had put me in front of FL Studio. I’d have some insane tricks by now.
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u/50_Hertz 2d ago
If she has an IPAD there is an MPC app for 10 bucks that is over powered.
If you guys have a computer that is really the way to go. Just get FL studio. It is by far the best value, because you get free updates for life for the initial investment of a couple hundred bucks.
If you have an apple computer, just get logic pro.
The real sauce is getting one program and just sticking with it.
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u/cratesofjr 2d ago
Congratulations on your daughter’s dreams and I’m proud of you as a father for supporting your daughter and what she aspires to be in life. In terms of a DAW to program her own instrumentals I recommend Beatmaker. It the easiest program that I’ve used. Also the SP 1200 emulation by the company ESPI is simple and straightforward.
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u/Cheap_Purchase5917 2d ago
Someone else said MacBook/interface/mic and I agree - if she wants to be a MC more than a producer this is way more crucial, just pirate Logic Pro and she can download beats from YouTube pretty easily. Logic is a proper DAW but takes no time to learn to “hit record” the more she uses it the more she’ll learn. As she gets older she can look up YT tutorials on producing with Logic since she’s already comfortable with it
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u/Mammoth-Giraffe-7242 1d ago
Program? Nah. Get her trained as a musician. Musical fundamentals are way more important than whatever gear someone has. Gear changes but you never forget how to count, stay in time, recognize pitches, speak the language with other musicians etc
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u/IcyGarbage538 2d ago
Get her on an MPC and have her read the manual. Plenty of tutorials on YT for this stuff and is a staple in hip hop production.
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u/Skakkurpjakkur 2d ago
Get her FL studio and watch beginner beatmaking tutorials on YouTube, it's never been as easy to learn like right now and kids pick up shit real quick..a year from now she'll be making some nice beats
For the emceeing part..
Introduce her to the greats like Black Thought, Nas, DOOM, Pharaohe Monch, Andre 3000 etc.
Also for the positive female role models I recommend you show her rappers like Queen Latifah, Lauryn Hill, Apani B, Bahamadia, Jean Grae, Ladybug Mecca, Che Noir and Doechii.
The more inspired she gets the more she'll want to delve into the craft.
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u/Temporary_Fig3628 2d ago
If she’s serious about rapping and wants to eventually make her own instrumentals, FL Studio is probably the most kid-friendly DAW that still feels professional. Tons of YouTube tutorials too
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u/ToothlessTheRapper 2d ago edited 2d ago
FL studio or ableton, get her on one asap, get a splice subscription, and let her play around in the DAW everyday.
Making beats and rapping are two different jobs, but knowing both offers a creative control rarely seen in most art forms.
Id focus on one or the other more and leave one as “fun” … as far as rapping, cadence, and delivery are key. Writing is a huge part but feeling the way words come out of the mouth along with learning how air passes through different places, and how that all affects the sound is very important. Some days i will say a line 30 times before hitting record because it gives me trouble, or i need to find a new air passage for that line.
10 years into my art i remember realizing that rapping, is almost like turning your voice into a drum set. Explosiveness and rhythm in the vocals is something a lot of artists disregard or dont think about. The voice is just as much of an instrument as a guitar or piano.
I say this to say; she should worry about HOW she says things, instead of WHAT she says at first.
As far as production, youtube is her best friend if y’all cant get her into a studio setting. Grab FL or Ableton, splice or tracklib, and have her experiment. The annoying part is all the learning. Theres a lot of technical stuff she will learn a long the way, that will eventually be second nature… but the process to learn that is long, and frustrating at times.
FL Studio now has a built in AI helper (akin to clippy) where she can ask it how certain things are done. Lets say she wants to learn about side chaining; she goes to youtube, looks up how to do it; goes to FL, and has the bot help her maneuver the DAW and implement what shes learned.
Its a great expressive tool, though im not sure about career. I have been producing and doing vocals for 15+ years and still live hand to mouth. I am not the best example as i have had my own unique setbacks and hurdles, but all the same, the arts is hard right now. That being said, encourage her as much as possible. Build that image, that self respect, self confidence, and support her as much as you can. When its good enough to others (you have biased parent ears i assume) start chaperoning her to cyphers or beat comps, etc.
As far as you can go, go. Help her with the clothes, the socials, the promotion, the website etc. all this stuff comes after she finds her sound and such which will be a long while… but you can prep for it. Research, save, and be ready to put her on the map when she is ready to be seen. A huge part of music now is branding, and finance. Thats where you can help prepare her.
Its always so good to hear the youth are still getting excited about the arts, especially in todays age. Much luck - dwella
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u/Markhidinginpublic 2d ago
I currently use Acid still it's a dino... But it's what I'm familiar with.
I see you are instilling the proper culture, awesome dad.
Teach her how to count bars and proper sound structure. A lot of people I come across tell me "I just rap till the beat changes. That is not how you improve to be a wizard. Learn the structure.
Once that is in. Write.
So far me I write any note during a day that I think is interesting or makes me smile, you never know when it will be useful. Not too long ago I used a bar from 2004 that finally had its place, you never know.
If working on a song write every idea you have about the concept down, maybe some of it rhymes.
Typically before I craft a verse I'll have 40 bars of material.
I then take that material to my DAW and start writing my verse and recording 2 bars at a time. This records are dead sounding vocals just to get the timing down. Get a mic arm and strap it to the desk and go!
I then listen a bunch and see where for where I can improve it. Come up with ideas inflections, go back and lay proper vocals.
Work on proper inflections, pronouncing then hardet them pop.
For me my tone depends on the song.
I've got more, but I don't want to wall you with text.
When she gets that come back to me, we can give her the line skip that most people don't do.
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u/bordgamer219 Producer/DJ 2d ago
The best way to start making beats is FL Studio. You can use the demo and then upgrade to the $99 bundle if she likes it. You can get a cheap drum pad and MIDI keyboard controller, or you could get her an iPad and she can make music on that.
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u/boombapdame Producer/Emcee/Singer 3d ago edited 3d ago
Get her an iPad Pro as GarageBand is free and introduce her to the Akai MPK Mini MK3 which comes w/MPC Beats but that DAW needs a laptop (get a refurbished MacBook Pro from the current era but without a Touch Bar, hit “Mac Of All Trades”). Get her an MXL 990 (hit “Music Go Round” online as they have them in excellent condition)
I recommend ATH-M50X cans aka headphones
Get her a Scarlett interface preferably 2i2 2nd Gen or 2i2 4th Gen (I only have the 2i4 2nd Gen because I originally was going to connect mine to an Akai MPC 2KXL but it’s collecting dust as a non expensive musical relic paperweight)
Tell her she doesn’t have to do it all as “Jack Of All Trades, Master Of None” is real!
Ask her why does she want to be a rapper and go from there.
Introduce her to academics like Tricia Rose (“The Hip Hop Wars”), Gwendolyn Pough (“Homegirls Make Some Noise”), Cheryl Keyes, Tracey Denean Sharpley-Whiting (“Pimps Up, Hoes Down: Hip Hop’s Hold On Young Black Women”) who have written extensively about women (particularly Black, what I am) experiences within the context of Hip Hop
DM me
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u/Duron_Huemfrai 3d ago
Much appreciation, dude. I'll start doing my research.
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u/wrexmason 3d ago
The Koala app on the iPad is also a great tool. It’s basically the tablet version of an SP-404 MkII (which it’s compatible with). You could also look into Ableton or FL Studio
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u/boombapdame Producer/Emcee/Singer 3d ago
“Dudette” here 😁 & you’re welcome
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u/Duron_Huemfrai 2d ago
My apologies. I use dude as a nongender. But I appreciate the insight and clarification regardless.
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u/Technical-Issue-1302 2d ago
Your daughter has great taste, you should definitely be proud.
Koala sampler is a very good place to start.
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u/BLeSSinBoy 2d ago
Bandlab? Idk
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u/Cheap_Purchase5917 2d ago
Dunno why you got down voted didn’t Nettspend make like most of his break out songs on band lad + apple headphones. She probably technically already has the tools to do this
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u/genecalmer 2d ago
I 100% recommend getting her into drums. Being an MC, especially like Aesop Rock or Prof, requires a really solid awareness of rhythm. Even something like Guitar Hero or Rock Band. Beatsaber. Other rhythm games. I see a lot of people post their tracks and their flow is all over the place. Off tempo. Off beat. Its like they threw their vocals on a random instrumental. In my opinion rhythm is the foundation of being a solid MC.