Producing rap songs went from this:

To this:

And it's not a bad thing.

I remember when making rap songs - just 5 or 6 years ago - meant getting together in someone’s home studio (I mean mine 😅), figuring everything out on the spot.

That still happens now and then, but honestly, most of the songs I’ve worked on lately came together online.

Me sending beats, the artist sending vocals back, mixing remotely, etc.

And to be fair, I love it that way - because creating rap music has never been easier than it is today.

If you’re talented and trying to learn how to produce rap music, you don’t need a fancy studio or a big team. You just need a process. You need to know how.

That’s what this article is all about.

As always, let’s get into it. 👊

So, how do rap songs actually come together today?

In most cases - especially when working remotely - it all starts with a beat. 🥁

The artist might have a producer friend who makes beats for them, or they might go online and search for beats to rap on.

There are a lot of platforms like BeatStars, Airbit, and Soundee where artists can find instrumentals. They can also just type “rap beats for sale” or “hip hop beats for sale” or any type of genre beats for sale into Google and find tons of websites where producers sell their work.

Let’s focus on that scenario.

The artist finds a beat, catches a vibe, and records a demo. That’s the spark.

From there, the process usually moves through three phases: demo, production, and mix/master.

When I’m the main producer on a track, I like to keep these stages in mind.

The demo and production phases are where I - and the artists I work with - let creativity take the lead. We try new things, record different takes, play with structure, layer sounds, and chase whatever feels right.

These parts are all about feeling. If we nail that, the rest is just a formality. 📝

There are plenty of songs out there that aren’t mixed perfectly, but they still sound amazing because the energy is real and sound selection is on point. 

That’s why, for me, the first two stages matter the most.

That said, the third stage still plays a crucial role.

When it’s time to mix and master the track, I shift into a different mindset. This part is more technical and analytical - balancing levels, cleaning up any muddiness, and making sure the track sounds great on every speaker.

Mixing is about preserving the emotion but making the track sound polished, clear, and impactful.

In the end, each phase has its own rules. And when I follow that rhythm, the whole track comes together naturally.

1. The Demo: Catching the first spark

Like I said - it all starts with a beat. So...

Here's me making a beat. 🎹

This is the stage where the song first takes shape. Artists finds a beat, lays down their first vocal ideas - maybe freestyling, maybe sketching out verses and hooks.

It’s not about perfection here. It’s about capturing that first spark of energy that made them (or you) want to jump on the beat in the first place.

Sometimes those demo recordings end up being the final vocal takes - especially when the emotion hits just right.

Other times, they’re just a rough sketch we’ll improve later.

If you are the artists reading this the point here is: don’t overthink it. Just record what feels good and trust that it’ll lead you somewhere. For me, that’s what makes creating rap music feel organic and authentic.

That doesn’t mean you can’t throw on some reverb or delay, just to help set the mood. A little FX can go a long way in shaping the vibe - even this early.

And again, when I'm producing the song, this is also where I start reading the artist - listening for flow, natural cadences, tone of the voice. That tells me how I’ll shape the beat later on in the production stage.

So.

Let's sum up the demo phase:

• Choose the right beat - Look for energy, tempo, and mood that feels right. Does it make you (or your artist) nod your head or catch a vibe immediately?

• Record a rough demo - Don’t chase perfection. The goal is to capture a feeling.

• Get feedback - Once it’s recorded, take a step back and ask yourself: did you really capture the vibe you were going for?

• Adjust - If something feels off - melody, tone, energy - it’s easier to fix now than later. Especially if you're keeping parts of the demo for the final mix.

Now it’s time to move on to the next stage.

This is where things start getting real.

2. Production: Shaping the sound

Once the demo’s locked in, it’s time to take that raw idea and start building the actual record.

This is where creativity meets structure.

Also, when producing rap songs, this is my favorite part of the process. 💪

Here’s a demo screenshot from my FL Studio session:

And that's after production stage:

If the demo was all about emotion and momentum, the production stage is all about intention.

Sometimes, if the demo is really solid, my work here is minimal. Maybe just a few tweaks to the arrangement, some added FX, or extra layers to enhance the energy.

But when the demo is super raw? That’s when the real work begins.

That might mean adding new instruments, flipping the drums, reworking the arrangement, or even removing elements that don’t fit anymore.

In some cases, the original beat stays mostly the same - just cleaned up and tightened.

Other times, I rebuild the entire instrumental from scratch to better match the artist’s energy.

That’s the beauty of making music: you never really know where it’s gonna take you. 😅

At this stage, I try to stay focused and intentional:

• I figure out what emotion we try to create.

• I choose sounds that support it - and remove the ones that don’t.

• I try to create standout moments: a drum drop, a pause, an unexpected bridge - anything that makes the track feel alive.

This is also when I take care about transitions - using risers, drops, and FX to help each section flow naturally into the next. These details help the song feel complete, like it’s telling a story - even if there’s no story being told.

Sometimes the artist re-records their vocals - either because it’s necessary, or just to get a better take. Other times, the original demo vocals stay right where they are.

And while I still follow my instincts, this phase is where planning starts to kick in. I’m thinking about the big picture - the arc of the song. When to build tension, when to pull back. When the beat should knock, and when it should breathe.

Let's sum up the production phase:

• Refine the beat - Adjust sound selection, add or remove elements to match the vocal energy.

• Shape the arrangement - Structure the song clearly so the listener knows what’s what (hook, verse, etc).

• Make it flow - Use drops, risers, and FX to create smooth transitions between sections.

• Follow your taste - If you want a long intro or an unexpected moment, do it. Trust your ears.

And our grande finale...

3. Mix & Master: Making it knock everywhere

Once the production is done and we're happy with the arrangement, it’s time for the final stage: mix and master.

This is where the mindset shifts.

Up to this point, everything’s been creative and emotional. Now it’s more technical.

It’s about translating all that raw energy into a version of the song that sounds clean, powerful, and consistent on. every. speaker. 🔊

At this stage, I’m not experimenting much anymore. I’m locking things in. 🔒

Of course, if something’s really off, I’ll revisit the production - or even the demo - but I try not to go backwards.

When it comes to rap music sound engineering is about keeping the energy alive while bringing clarity, punch, and balance to the mix.

I adjust the levels so nothing’s too lound or too quiet. I make sure the vocals cut through the mix with clarity and sit right where they belong. I carve out space using EQ, tighten the low-end, smooth out harsh frequencies, and glue the whole thing together with subtle compression.

The goal? A clean, dynamic mix where everything has its place and the emotion is still there.

Then comes mastering.

That’s the final 5%. It’s what brings up the loudness, enhances consistency across all systems, and gives the track that final coat of polish.

Once the song’s done, I always check how it sounds and feels across devices - laptop speakers, headphones, phone, car. 

If it knocks everywhere, I know it’s ready. Especially if it knocks in car. 🚗💨

Some people overcomplicate this step and mix their songs for weeks or even months. I don’t recommend that. If the demo and production phases were strong, mixing and mastering should feel like finishing touches - not damage control.

To sum up the mix & master phase:

• Shift your mindset – this stage is less about creativity and more about clarity, precision, and polish. But yeah, it still needs to feel good.

• Balance the mix - Make sure every element has its place. Vocals should sit right, drums should hit, and nothing should overpower the rest.

• Clean it up - Use EQ, compression, saturation to make the track sound "rich".

• Master with intention - Finalize the loudness, glue everything together, and make it sound great on any speaker.

• Don’t overdo it - If the earlier stages were strong, this should be about enhancing, not fixing.

A strong mix and master brings out the best in the song - but it can’t fix a weak demo or poor production. If your takes weren’t solid or you weren’t happy with them early on, you won’t be proud of them after mixing either.

Do each step right, and this final phase will feel natural.

Wrapping it up

That’s the full journey - from spark to song.

Whether you’re in a studio with your friends or building tracks across three time zones (yes I did that too😂), the process of creating rap music is still the same at its core: emotion first, polish later.

Start with a beat that moves you.

Catch the energy in the demo.

Shape it into a real track in the production phase.

Finish strong with a clean mix and master that makes it hit everywhere.

There’s no single way on how to produce rap music - but having a process helps you stay consistent and creative at the same time.

Hope this breakdown gave you a clearer view of how it all comes together.

Take care,

Baxon

If you are artists looking for beats you can check out my catalog.