The DR-660 had no sampler or obvious melodic capabilities aside from a 'Synth Bass' and a 'Slap Bass' sound. DJ Spanish Fly had been producing his own tracks since the 80s, but by 1992 he began using the Boss DR-660 drum machine which was a major turning point for the Memphis Rap Genre. This led to DJs such as Spanish Fly experimenting with slow, bass-heavy drum beats combined with freestyle raps. All of the Memphis DJs were releasing mixtapes made up of popular club songs, but soon they wanted to create their own tracks to compliment these songs. There were many important hip-hop DJs in Memphis during the late 80s and early 90s, but one of the most influential people who helped craft the Memphis Sound is DJ Spanish Fly. DJs soon began experimenting with affordable drum machines and tape recorders to create their own music.

While mainstream East Coast/West Coast producers had access to top-of-the-line samplers and drum machines, the majority of Memphis Producers did not have access to this type of gear due to its high price tag. In my opinion, one of the biggest reasons Memphis Rap sounded so unique was due to the equipment they used. Memphis Rap beats in the early to mid 90s had a very different sound compared to East Coast Boom Bap or West Coast G-Funk. The techniques of 90s Memphis production are being used daily by modern producers, many of them without even knowing it. It's familiar production sound and rap flow patterns have led people to realize that Memphis Rap was extremely ahead of its time.

The reason new listeners are becoming drawn to these underground tapes is due to their undeniable influence on modern music genres - Trap, Phonk, Drill etc. This was the perfect storm for the sound of eerie lo-fi Memphis Rap which has been steadily gaining notoriety online as new generations discover this underground subgenre of hip-hop. Memphis Rap during the 90s was often created in DIY home studios with cheap drum machines, limited samplers and 4-track cassette recorders. Much of Memphis Rap's sound is a result of its production approach. This article will cover the gear, techniques, and history of 90s Memphis Rap production. Have you ever wondered how Memphis Rap producers got their sound during the 90s?Īfter much research - speaking to other producers, reading forums and watching many interviews, I have compiled all of the known information about 90s Memphis Rap Production.

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