Hip hop music production is a vastly competitive art form, and it's easily one of the most recognizable forms of music within today's music culture. Producers are continuously vying for that top position as hip hop's most sought after producer, and you gotta be able to effortlessly incorporate some innovation as well as your own swag into making your own beats. If you can accomplish these things, then you will be well on your way!

I would like to share with you a few tips that I use that will help you to get them beats turned up tp the max, as well as keep your swag on 100. Don't blame me once the platinum plaques and the pretty women, cars and clothes soon follow!

• Don't be afraid to get dirty

I don't necessarily care for clean sounding hip hop, think about some of the earlier records from Nas or Wu Tang Clan, or Dr. Dre in Deep Cover even. Those tracks were dark, thick, funky; it felt as if you could cut through them literally. So if you have yourself a bizarre ride from the Pharcyde, ala "Can't Keep Running Away", you just might be on to something. Use your ears and follow your gut.

• Use Effects For Creative Purposes Only

Don't use reverb and compression to supposedly fix issues within your mix, those tools are there to make your mix that much more sweeter! Use these sparingly, or even read up on how to use effects such as delays, reverbs, compression and limiting properly. Your mix will greatly thank you for it.

• Decide from the Beginning in Which Direction You Want Your Tracks to Go

Are you thinking uptempo club track, or a laid back game spitting type of vibe? If you establish this from the beginning, you will already have the mindset to better follow through with the complete concept of your track. All destinations have to be planned out, and road maps need to be created to guide you to those destinations, so is the same with planning your beats. Plan it out, and follow the beat to where it leads you.

• Listen To Everything!

And I mean everything. Inspiration is everywhere, even in Country music! You might hear a funky lick that may be of some use to you, or you might hear a dope drum break that might take your tracks to the next level. Incorporate those otherwise un useful elements into the beats that you are making, and you can easily score something dope and innovative. Try it!

• Follow Your Heart

Clear hearts and sound minds can't lose. If you dedicate yourself to becoming the best that has ever done it, and you work at it and tell yourself this on a daily basis, then guess what's going to happen? You will become one of the best that has ever done it, period. Winning is on the inside of you, and so is a wealth of fresh, new, innovative sounds. Do you, and follow your heart with your productions. I guarantee that you'll shine like a trillion watt light bulb. Word to Hova. Better Beats Ahead.