mixing hiphop without intros

[Phi]

I was trying to mix into an outro but the vocals still clash because the outro isn't a break. Some hiphop tracks have breaks, but with newer hiphop your lucky to even get a part to mix in. This is why most hiphop DJs nowadays suck, all they do is put an effect and mix in or scratch.

Go buy some good instrumental hip-hop and use it to mix with.

Or buy the instrumental version of the song you're having problems with.

If you have a pile of accapellas and intrumentals from different hot tracks then you can get REALLY creative.

[DJArmani]

thanks Phi, +rep. And hyetothesky what are power downs?

[Boomcie]

Cutting the power to the turntable. The record will start slowing down more and more eventually stopping. It's a great technique when used correctly

[Hamza21]

From my Hip Hop Mixing Tutorial on djf 1.0

Transitioning Techniques

Transition on the Chorus

Now will get to the good part how to transition the Hip Hop way. This first transition is pretty standard and pretty self-explanatory. You beatmatch your songs and drop your incoming song, which usually would be the intro, on the chorus of the outgoing song, "the live track". You can fade in the incoming song and fade out the outgoing song OR you can just you can just place the fader in middle and wait to until the chorus is over and slide the fader to incoming song which should be right where your 1st verse or 1st chorus comes in.

Transition Squash Technique

Another variation of this technique would be using what I've heard been called a "squash". A squash where you hit the stop button on turntable thereby creating a slight delay effect. You can use the technique same Transition on Chorus but before sliding over the fader to new track . You first hit the stop button on outgoing track right last snare and move the fader over that track and then quickly over to new track.


Transition Backspin Technique

Yet another variation would instead of a squash you use a backspin. A backspin like the name suggests is just spinning the record backwards quickly. From the sample below you should hear to perform this technique.


Transition in Verses

Here is technique not much used and really it can't be used on most songs but it's nice technique to have in your arsenal. Instead of transition on the chorus of the outgoing song, "Live track" you stat your transition toward the end of a verse of the outgoing song.

To make this work you can fade in the incoming track so that by the fourth snare before cutting off the outgoing song you're incoming song is fully heard. Also if you dig deep enough you're find a track where there's no need to fade in. You can just drop the incoming track right on top of outgoing song and it will sound great. You can use the EQ on outgoing track by turning off the lows and lowering the mids to make the live track sound more like acapella to give your incoming track more emphasis.

[Sigma]

This is why most hiphop DJs nowadays suck

I think it's cos most don't put the effort into learning scratching, trick mixing, and transition techniques other than basic blends. A lot of hip-hop mixes I've listened to on here (and the old site) kinda sound like they were made by average EDM DJs having a go at mixing hip-hop.

If a DJ has Serato then they haven't really got any excuse. You've got instant doubles of all of your songs. You can loop up beats to extend them. You can edit tracks however you like beforehand. Just be careful you don't fall into the pattern of extending out intros and outros and doing the same "do a basic blend of these tracks with a tweak of a bass EQ knob" thing over and over again.

[DJArmani]

props to hazma21 on the tutorial ! and sigma i forgot about the instant doubles , just got serato lol

[AYoo]

Short cuts! you can also push the stop button on the 8, 1, 6, 7 whatever works and slam it in. hip hop basics!
but other than that it can help bring up the energy if you cut/blend in a short complimenting beat, loop or instrumental and then slam the verse in.

[funkyfresh]

Like some suggested, a few basic scratches to drop in at the right time will do just fine. It all comes down to knowing your tracks (i.e. where to cut in/out of a track).

[Pri yon Joni]

Before the existence of Funkymixes, mixing without intros is how it's always been done.....it doesn't always start on the 1....ever try to mix in the original of In Da Club? its real run....but it really challanges your sense of rhythm.

[mrkleen]

Before the existence of Funkymixes, mixing without intros is how it's always been done.....it doesn't always start on the 1....ever try to mix in the original of In Da Club? its real run....but it really challanges your sense of rhythm.

Disagree. Most old school hip hop tracks actually had the into built into their tracks.....as they were not made specifically for the radio. Listen to nearly any Eric B and Rakim, Gangstar, LL, Run DMC track - and they had nice clean beats to work with at the beginning.

Then again, if you consider In Da Club old school.....