I made this using FL Studio!
Lately I’ve been listening to a lot of early Eminem, especially tracks from The Marshall Mathers LP, The Slim Shady LP, and D12 records like Purple Pills. The production from Eminem and Jeff Bass really stands out. Those beats had this strange balance of being goofy, unsettling, and incredibly catchy.
I wanted to see if I could capture that feeling without recreating one of those records.
Finding the Sound
Unlike some of my other tracks, this one wasn’t built around a sample or a bass line.
It started with the main melody. As soon as I had that bouncing around in a loop, I knew it felt like something that could have lived somewhere in the early 2000s. Instead of trying to modernize it, I leaned into it.
The Drums
The drums in these old tracks are surprisingly simple when Eminem is programming.
Nothing feels overproduced but every hit lands exactly where it should. I added a little of my own flair with some triple hi-hat hits.
I spent more time moving drum hits around than adding new sounds. The groove is more important than complexity.
Building the Track
The arrangement is a bit sparse to give the verses room.
Every few bars something changes, whether that’s a percussion hit disappearing, a sound dropping out, or another layer quietly entering the mix. Those little changes keep the beat moving.
I also tried not to overcrowd it despite there being well over ten instruments on this.
One thing I admire about those early Aftermath records is how much space they leave between sounds. It lets every instrument have its own personality.
Looking Forward
I like beats that feel slightly off in a way that’s fun. I think there’s a lot more room to explore that direction, and it’s probably closer to my own style than trying to chase whatever happens to be popular at the moment.
Villains is available to stream for free on YouTube or the Music page.
Interested in licensing or collaboration? Email me at nickstambaugh@proton.me