El-P

Producer, MC, and Definitive Jux record label founder, El-P has been a pioneer in underground hip-hop and independent music for over a decade. Check out this video as he sits with us in his Brooklyn studio and walks us through some of the beat-making process.

[@bigleebrink]

I could watch hours of this shit. Dude's a genius.

[@SamPendleton]

I agree. 100%.

[@JosePerez-bl9gl]

Sam Pendleton add me to the watch el-p for hours club.

[@meccagold2009]

He has been a pioneer for over 20 years.

[@wojteksocha2002]

you mean almost 30?

[@sawssman965]

This is one of my favorite producers ever. His flows are underrated as well. His beats always lead me somewhere entirely different than where I expected to be. For instance, that sample and synth sequence in the middle end of TOJ absolutely melted me. The beat and theme of stepfather factory was so thorough. Love this guy!

[@mr.vincentvangoghiii5557]

The god of production...and don't sleep on his lyrical skills

[@liljuve13]

I think this legend went to musical engineering school, he knows his shit

[@onedeadpixel10]

liljuve13 h he did indeed. no degree though, took some classes, learned what he needed to and then became the dopest hip hop producer of all time

[@Eziokilla9595]

El-P might have the greatest discography in all of Hip-Hop.

[@dimein903]

you are insane but obviously he is good

[@thisismyname5657]

@@dimein903 Nah, very few people have a discography as consistent as El-P.

[@finkployd6110]

Honestly not sure if I can say the absolute greatest, but he has one of the greatest discographies in hip-hop. He's also proven with his film scores and jazz album that he's one of the greatest composers to do it, period.

[@DeathTrapProductions]

@First Of All Alchemist has been ESPECIALLY versatile lately. I never thought I'd hear him do something like that Armand Hammer while releasing classics with Freddie at the same time. Dude is a giant.

[@binary]

@First Of All Go listen to the Fantastic Damage instrumentals. Nothing those dudes make comes close to that stuff.....except for Timbaland. El-P is a technical master. I don't like his recent stuff tbh, but he's technically insane.

[@MouthlessSoundSystem]

I wish more beatmakers/producers would make videos like this. It's so cool to just be able to watch them in their element. It's not as if they HAVE to give away any of their production secrets or anything, people will be more than happy to just watch them work

[@thewisefromwest6941]

Congrats we know have Kenny beats

[@Eziokilla9595]

The harmonies on his backing synths are gorgeous. And, this drum pattern is out of this world.

[@eliandabilities]

Absolutely agree

[@dontsettlefor500mill]

EL: You came to Asheville for one of the final Moogfests, where I got to see you at Orange Peel and you made my sweetest dreams come true by performing "Patriotism" and I was the sole voice to scream "I'm America" when you asked who was. Made my night.

[@TheMcK777]

I do like how a lot of Def Jux folks that have moved on nowadays cite the necessary skill of being both a rapper and a producer to engineer their own work. I remember Lif and RJD2 talking about it on some sort of documentary clips way back in the day. Seeing El-P at the helm does provide credibility to the idea that he kinda instilled that mindset in anyone who was even remotely in contact with the label before it went on indefinite hiatus.

[@Eziokilla9595]

This dude is fucking incredible. From his lyricism, to his musical brain, El-P is unstoppable.

[@SuperSgtdan]

I wanna see El-P make more music.

[@SkrrrrrtReynolds]

look past your nose

[@theskelemoo6489]

I mean like he does RTJ but in terms of actual solo albums yeah he should make one soon

[@bigleebrink]

I'd love to see him more of these types of videos.

[@dozinoff2614]

@@SkrrrrrtReynolds I think he literally means he would like to watch El make music, like, video footage of El in the studio

[@phormyouluuh5276]

El p inspired me to get my first synth

[@biaybiaczynski6174]

3:37 Out of our planet. El-P give us more video like this

[@TheColorfulCube]

Every album he produces, the production is flawless.

[@chaosinorderrr]

This man is one of the best producers in hip-hop of all time.

[@JoeKooL25]

I wish he wouldnt have broke up jux or put it on hiatus.. his beats for the Cage album were sick.. RIP CAMU TAO..

[@bigleebrink]

I badly wanna see El do more of these types of videos.

[@db3crashcoursecinema]

EL-P and his production skills will go to higher levels,but it takes time.Madlib took the D'J.concept to another level,and J.DILLA put it back as a respected artform that was lacking in ''bling,bling era'',hip-hop.I support all my favorite producers past and present for going beyond the ''dumb'',and into evolution.

[@thewisefromwest6941]

Aged like fine wine

[@oldschoolfuturistic8084]

hellz yes, best producer/rapper in the game you been inspiring me the most since day one thank you man.Also your set up looks exactly how I set my shit up so that makes me think I'm in the rt direction lol

[@0oidiedinatimemachineo024]

this is raw. I think El P is my favorite producer. In Hip Hop at least. And damn this is funny seeing links to myspace an def jux.. Def jux doesnt even exist anymore and I donno if anyone even uses myspace anymore haha This was only 7 years ago doesn't even feel like that long lol.

[@theStepFamm]

cause u a time traveler

[@xXxXx-----xXxXx]

Your comment was also 7 years ago lol

[@Rankmoistmeat]

so awesome that you can create groovy music from your home....

[@cherylmarie5477]

Back in 2008 he couldn’t pay his rent now he owns the building

[@TheColorfulCube]

One of the greatest producers for sure.

[@KREMDemiK82]

He went to engineering school his senior year after getting booted from 3rd high school. His rhythm roulette is amazing as well

[@a1d5]

and then another version of this became "nothing left to say" from cages depart from me... such a sick beat its dope

[@wiseioso]

& time won't tell & overly dramatic truth

[@miltosmilos9554]

He is pure inspiration!

[@anthonyyowzer]

And he's still a fucking boss ten years later! Operating at an even higher level. So ready for RTJ 4. Fingers crossed it hits this year. 2019!

[@DeathTrapProductions]

This ended up becoming one of my all time favorite El-P songs "The Overly Dramatic Truth".

[@ltc9065]

it did not. this was after and actually went to Cage for his album "Depart From Me". Opening song "Nothing Left to Say"

[@DeathTrapProductions]

@@ltc9065 He definitely used this synth on all 3 of those productions if not ALL Def Jux hahaha. C'mon son.

[@worldcinema]

Terrific video. Really breaks down the artistic process.

[@GrahamPhisher]

i think this instrumental was given to cage.

[@a1d5]

yup

[@MrKissel]

Nothing left to say

[@Nostalgiator]

What its name ?

[@Skat9]

@@Nostalgiator you serious?

[@dontsettlefor500mill]

yes. thats right,. nothing left to say . and also check out el-p's instrumental.... "time wont tell"!!!

[@TheDrewDella]

this is my version of studying to improve the craft. shout out EL P.

[@JDofTargetSociety]

Ive been a musician for years and have always been been drifting through blends of genres. After developing an interest in beat making i gravitated to El-P through Run the Jewels and began working my way back through his work, I love getting to see some of his methodology during construction.

[@JEFFMAN90]

Dude is sick with the synths

[@omgilovedischannel]

This was SO fucking sick! El-p knows his shit! :D

[@scorber23]

EL-PRODUCTO × KORG 🔥 [ALL CAPS]

[@lexperienceur2783]

el-p one of my best emcee/producer's he is the shit !

[@cruelladevillies906]

This is so sick

[@raer5373]

This is Rhythm Roulette before Rhythm Roulette in which El-P did an episode too.

[@The3rdGunman]

I wish that beat actually went like that on the Cage joint. There's no beat and it's just the intro, then it changes up. This right here is unreal!!!!

[@villainrobot]

Yeah, you're right!!! This is "Nothing Left to Say"! And by the way, that track is SO F...ING GREAT!!!!

[@JosePerez-bl9gl]

Sounds kinda like a raw early version of the overly dramatic truth

[@jakepalmer4690]

That's what I was thinking, I'm pretty sure the notes are the same on the lead

[@djdancealone3419]

A true artist

[@kirby6891]

"I'm gonna do one of those, and then I'm gonna do one, and then I'm gonna fuck with the Kaos Pad." love it

[@kolbeinngauti3971]

El Producto!!

[@SilentBombr]

Great producer.

[@zeromaniac96]

Cage- Hells Winter. Fuck yes.

[@Godwithinagod]

EL P is a living breathing legend. Always was a pioneer and always did his own shizzle What can I say his productions lyrics and MC is hard as PHUK!!!

[@jobbo89]

Where can we hear the finished track?

[@adfletch7687]

Love ur shit bruv so cool how it comes together 💨🍻👉🏻🤛🏻

[@jessewrites3819]

Love

[@MisterioEternoPeru]

gotta buy one of those... what's the name of it? Marlboro?

[@OswaldBatesIIIEsq]

Do I hear bits and pieces of the intro to "Nothing Left to Say" by Cage?

[@clarktownsend8991]

Luther Reigns its the intro to the song. yes

[@luderchris3]

"I am just unable to feel or God fear, some people you may have met on the planet are not here..."

[@jonathanelsis8825]

literally my two favorite producers (el-p and the person he's remixing, Omar rodgiuez-lopez) does anyone know/have source of this actual remix and what song from the mars Volta its sampling from?

[@fullmetalsnowflake2508]

This is the finished tune kzbin.info/www/bejne/eJulXqOlgNBoqac idk about the mars volta

[@EntropyAcolyte]

4:35 sounds like a demo version of Time Won't Tell from his Wereallgoingtoallburninhellmegamixxx3

[@billc2850]

agreed

[@perincito]

damn, this is cool. great if you've ever wondered just how EL-P goes about it...

[@polishakon]

You can really hear some of the Run The Jewels sounds developing in this session. Maybe the song "Down" could be an example? Thanks to this man for making hip-hop exciting for me again!

[@deweygoeshard5617]

Legitness

[@UseHERname93]

@DruggyP dude.. the cage joint hes doin in this vid is hella dope... yea he always has me askin myself the same shit and for the most part thats wat makes El who he is.. and

[@baghead83]

@TheMusicShogun it is indeed

[@SunCityGamer]

@speakphoenix Snowgoons, Dj Premier, and Stoupe the Enemy of Mankind should be on your list too!!!

[@BiggzDarkLighter]

Nothing left to say beat

[@thetorontoproject2224]

The track ended up on Cage's album, "Depart from Me"

[@maliceentity]

whoa this was remix for The mars volta.

[@dontsettlefor500mill]

Time wont tell

[@deladoherty]

Does anyone know what the proper version of this song is called?

[@Theodiorr]

Dela Doherty Cage's Nothing Left to Say

[@gandillion]

You keep makin beats like that and the rent'll be golden...

[@UseHERname93]

@DruggyP Mmmmmmm! i thot u woulda said that Dr. Hellno joint.. im not big on that one i thot megamix3 was pretty dope aside frm a few tracks but cool thanks man

[@MrHappy1974]

@MEGAMANG i've always felt the same way.

[@garyesajas]

👉🤛

[@Neuri]

omg he has my synth

[@CitySkin09]

Apparently there is a method to El-P's madness...

[@MEGAMANG]

el-p is like the bombsquad (public enemy's producers) of the 21st century - ton of sounds lots of noise and a good melody

[@johnbutler7567]

Dude you nailed it I was just listening to an interview Killer Miker and El P did where KM was saying that El P is the modern Bombsquad and he wanted to be like Ice Cube when he left NWA and went to the bombsquad for his next album

[@defjuxisdope]

@JoeKooL25 he didnt put jux on hiatus man he just stepped down as creative director

[@elflacoloco9552]

Dude !!!I I just got "the clock works orange 🍊 feel like a muthafuca

[@thst_bot5368]

And this beat ended up on a Cage album

[@blackl1steddrums]

thats all it is folks

[@liljuve13]

Lol at the end

[@b3to2G]

this is the instrumental for Nothing Left to Say

[@faketree]

what the F does that chaos pad thing do to the sound?

[@TheDefconsd1]

1/9/11 9:10pm TANK YOU SpikeyJamez!!!!!!!! THE HOLE VIDEO SOUNDS WAY BETTER!!! Man...what was cage thinkin?!!!...

[@DruggyP]

@GettnPhatOnHax I would But I like Elp and I think he should make all the money he can off ISWYD

[@DMysticmc]

e el dats product tow!

[@windycityhoosier1386]

that shit was tight...i need some equipment! fuck

[@Saientific]

windycityhoosier138 - If you got a computer, you already have so much at your disposal! Just keep digging man!

[@User37621]

@Padooshka Some of El-p's best productions, that might make you think different towards him. Listen to : Cannibal Ox - The Cold Vein Album / El-P Presents Cannibal Oxtrumentals Company Flow - Funcrusher Company Flow - Little Johnny From The Hospital

[@ghostshipone]

Funcrusher Plus

[@ghostshipone]

Remember seeing Company Flow Live back a long time ago and it was probably one of the better shows I’ve seen in my life. I’ve seen a decent amount of shows.

[@hypergraphik]

The Cold Vein is exemplary.

[@6thDisciple]

plz id like to hear

[@cypha3d]

@CEASONE77 some of it sounds a lot like cage's "nothing left to say

[@yared8771]

Wata goat

[@JoeKooL25]

@Silo205 huh?? hes dropping a new project on rhymesayers with rob sonic i know that..so i think its official jux is over with!!

[@LORDHoekalledGAuhEY69TH]

yo dude to read this ten years later as a hail marry mallon junkie is so dope, yes telecatesent was in the works at this time

[@UseHERname93]

@DruggyP ahhhhh c'mon give us one track u think is horrible... im curious no hate or anything jus genuinely want to know ur opinion

[@Barefoot67]

not really feeling the R3, I just got the microkorg xl and from what I can tell the XL has much more character, it's dirtier, grittier

[@holy0damn]

9:35 i feel sad :/

[@kuhiygutvulybi]

those snares r all over the place. great beat overall tho

[@kuhiygutvulybi]

ohh i see. i didnt think it wuld make a huge difference seein all these artists smokin madd weed during thier sessions haha. but im new to the production game but thanks for the tip ill keep the smoking to a minimum

[@FionaAppleAddict]

Awesome dude! Check out SUICIDE KID - FOR HEADPHONES! ;)

[@kuhiygutvulybi]

y do u say that

[@silverballer1911]

el p only plays on steinways

[@steezbandit]

WHATS THE WEATHER LIKE KIDS? ITS ALWAYS SUNNY IN HELL!!

[@analogcrunch4716]

Loved Co Flow but find El Ps recent rapping a bit rough to stomach. However. Hes a legend and damn elite beat maker.

[@awareofmyself4564]

He has to dumb it down because he's with that stoog killer mike