Hip-Hop is set to take over the Super Bowl halftime show this year - find out who is set to perform and how you can get started making some G-Funk beats of your own
The Super Bowl Final is due to be contested this weekend in what is sure to be one of the most thrilling sporting events of the year. Set to kick-off at 11:30pm (GMT) on Sunday, the game will see the Los Angeles Rams and the Cincinnati Bengals face-off for the chance to put their names down in NFL history.
Here at PMT though, we’re much more excited for the halftime show. Taking to the stage in 2022 is an awesome lineup featuring a who’s who of hip-hop royalty, with performances from Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Kendrick Lamar, Eminem, and Mary J. Blige.
In the same week that Snoop Dogg has procured ownership of the iconic Death Row Records - which is set to release his latest album ‘B.O.D.R (Bacc on Death Row)’ - it’s a great time to revisit some of the gear responsible for the revolutionary West Coast G-Funk sound.
Describing his return to Death Row as a ‘homecoming’, we’re excited to see what’s in store for viewers this weekend, with the performance at LA’s SoFi Stadium expected to take place around 1am GMT.
Keep reading to find some of our favourite bits of kit that you can use to tighten up your production and beatmaking skills..
Akai Professional MPC Live II
The Akai MPC is a staple in hip-hop production, having been used extensively by artists such as J Dilla, Kanye West, and DJ Shadow.
This latest iteration of the MPC comes with a host of modern conveniences that make integrating it into any production workflow super easy. It now even features stereo monitoring and battery operation, meaning it can be used entirely as a standalone unit when you’re on the move and need to chop up samples in a hurry.
Boasting a 7-inch high-resolution multi-touch display and 16 velocity-sensitive RGB pads, it also acts as an intuitive control surface for MPC software that means it is a truly versatile tool to have in your arsenal.
Moog Grandmother Analogue Synthesizer
Whether you’re after an epic sub-bass sound or a funky synth lead, nothing quite comes close to a Moog - and the Moog Grandmother Analogue Synth is one of our favourite bits of kit for nailing those sounds.
The keyboard on this synth is endlessly playable, and the semi-modular design means that the range of sounds at your disposal can be tweaked and edited to your liking. In addition to a superb arpeggiator and 256-step sequencer, this synth is powered by 2 analogue oscillators from the Moog Minimoog.
The Mixer section here is taken from the CP3, whilst also boasting a Moog 904 Filter and Moog 911 Envelope Generator, as well as a Moog 902 VCA section.
In addition to this, it combines an analogue ADSR Envelope Generator, a patchable 1-Pole High pass Filter, Classic 4-Pole 10Hz-20kHz Ladder Filter and an Analogue LFO with audio-rate capabilities.
The Moog Grandmother is not one to miss out on if you want to add some West Coast flavour to your tracks.
Korg Volca Range
If you want to get started with creating beats but don’t want to break the bank then we recommend the Korg Volca range. Check out these 3 unique bits of kit and get ahead of the pack with drums, bass, and sampling:
Volca Bass
Volca Beats
Volca Sample
Stratocaster Guitars
If you want to play some guitars inspired by the sounds of the Super Bowl halftime show then we recommend a Stratocaster. It’s a revolutionary instrument across genres but it’s particularly well-known for its role in funk music which was sampled extensively by artists like Dr Dre and Snoop Dogg.
Take a closer look at some of our favourites here:
If you want your guitars to get really funky then check out this MXR M222 Talk Box Vocal Guitar Effects Pedal. Think about the vocal samples from ‘California Love’ and you’ll get why this pedal is so useful in creating G-Funk sounds.
Extended Range Bass
Sometimes a sample just won’t cut it, and the synth bass sound won’t do either. Many modern bass players are opting for extended range instruments to get the best of both worlds - funky, rhythmic playing that can still hold down the low-end and shake the soundsystem.
Kendrick Lamar has collaborated with Thundercat in the past to add this cool style of playing to his music - check out our range of 5 and 6-string Bass Guitars below:
Still not sure how to get a G-Funk guitar sound? Need some extra help with setting up a West Coast synth sound? Call us on 0151 448 2089 or check out your local store to speak to one of our Experts about your needs.
