Hip hop production is the creation of
hip hop music. While the term encompasses all aspects of hip hop music, it is most commonly used to refer to the instrumental, non-lyrical aspects of hip hop. This means that
hip hop producers are the instrumentalists involved in a work. Modern hip hop production uses
samplers,
sequencers,
drum machines,
synthesizers,
turntables, and live instrumentation. A hip hop instrumental is casually referred to as a
beat, and its
composer is casually referred to as a
producer or
beatmaker. In the studio, however, a hip hop producer also functions as a traditional
record producer, being the person who is ultimately responsible for the final sound of a recording.