How to Make a Boom Bap Beat
Step-by-Step Guide for 90s Hip Hop Fans
Boom bap beats are the heart of 90s hip hop — dusty drums, swung melodies, hard-hitting basslines, and off-beat accents that defined the golden era. If you want to make a beat that feels authentic, you need to understand tempo, structure, bass, off-beat elements, and workflow. This guide dives deep, showing you how to craft your own boom bap beats.
“Before we dive in: we’re not claiming this is the ultimate or only way to make a boom bap beat. These are proven, foundational techniques inspired by 90s hip hop that have worked for countless producers. The real magic happens when you take these methods — chopping samples, layering drums, crafting basslines, and adding off-beat elements — and mix them with your own creative vision. Use these tips as a starting point, experiment freely, and make the sound your own. That’s how you evolve from following the basics to mastering your unique boom bap style.”
Step 1: Set Your Tempo & Start With Drums
Most boom bap beats sit around 85–95 BPM, giving that relaxed yet head-nodding groove typical of 90s hip hop. Start a new project in your DAW (Ableton Live, FL Studio, Logic Pro, or Reason) and set the tempo.
Drum Selection & Layering
Choose a punchy kick and snappy snare as your foundation.
Add hi-hats, cymbals, and percussion, keeping some hits on off-beats to create swing.
Layer samples — for example, combine a snare with a clap for extra snap.
💡 Pro Tip: Ghost notes on snares or hi-hats add subtle groove and human feel. Even small off-beat hits can make a big difference in giving your beat swing.
💥 Fat Cat Beats Tip: Our Boom Bap Drum Kits include kicks, snares, hi-hats, percussion, and one-shots designed for authentic 90s swing and groove.
Step 2: Pick & Chop Your Melodies
Boom bap melodies often come from chopped loops sampled from jazz, soul, or funk. Here’s how to work them into your beat:
Chop loops into 1–2 bar segments for repeatable patterns.
Experiment with pitch shifting, reversing, or time-stretching for variety.
Arrange chops to create call-and-response patterns between instruments.
Musical Notes
Common structures: 16-bar verses, 8-bar intros/outros, 4-bar transitions.
Less is more — let the drums and bass carry the groove.
💡 Pro Tip: Use subtle automation on filter cutoff, volume, or pan to give movement and prevent loops from sounding static.
💥 Fat Cat Beats Tip: Our Classic Hip Hop Sounds packs feature pre-chopped loops, jazzy chords, and gritty basslines ready to drop into your DAW.
Step 3: Add Bass & FX (Bass Drives the Beat)
In 90s boom bap, the bass is front and center — not subtle. It locks in with the kick and gives the beat its weight.
Bass Tips
Make a punchy, melodic bassline that follows or complements your kick.
Sidechain your bass slightly to the kick for clarity.
Experiment with off-beat bass hits or slides to create swing and groove.
Off-Beat & Flavor Elements
Ghost notes on snares or hi-hats add human feel.
Add subtle percussion, vinyl scratches, or reversed cymbals on off-beats to make the beat alive.
Off-beat elements are key to 90s swing and help the beat breathe.
💡 Pro Tip: Don’t be afraid to let your bass dominate in certain sections — this is part of the golden era boom bap sound.
💥 Fat Cat Beats Tip: Our one-shot packs include basses, horns, FX, and vox, letting you create strong low-end grooves and off-beat accents that capture the 90s vibe.
Step 4: Arrange Your Beat (Groove & Dynamics)
Boom bap arrangements are straightforward but dynamic:
Intro: 4–8 bars — start with melody, percussion, or off-beat elements.
Verse: 16 bars — full drums and bassline; minimal melody.
Hook/Chorus: 8–16 bars — highlight melodies and off-beat percussion.
Outro: 4–8 bars — fade drums, melody, or add a scratch/FX layer.
💡 Pro Tips:
Drop instruments in/out to create energy changes.
Vary hi-hat and ghost note patterns every 4–8 bars for movement.
Offset bass or drum hits slightly from the grid for extra swing.
💥 Fat Cat Beats Tip: Swap drums or melodic loops mid-track keep your beat dynamic while maintaining the vintage feel.
Step 5: Mix & Finalize
Mixing gives your boom bap beat the punch and warmth of 90s records:
EQ: Remove low-end clashes between bass and kick.
Compression: Glue drums together and add consistency.
Panning: Center drums; spread melodic elements to create space.
Saturation: Add subtle tape or analog emulation for warmth.
💡 Pro Tips:
Reference your mix against classic boom bap tracks to check punch, swing, and groove.
Keep drums and bass upfront; let melodies sit slightly behind for that old-school vibe.
💥 DAW Tips:
Ableton Live / FL Studio: Perfect for sample chopping, layering drums, and arranging loops.
Logic Pro / Reason: Great for sequencing melodies and bass.
Pro Tools: Excellent for final mixing and mastering.
Conclusion:
Boom bap is about groove, texture, and dynamic swing. By understanding tempo, structure, chopping, bass, off-beat elements, and mixing, you can create authentic 90s-style beats that hit hard and groove naturally.
Ready to start? Check out Fat Cat Beats’ 90s Boom Bap Sample Packs — royalty-free, pre-chopped, and packed with everything you need to make your next classic hip hop track.