Lo-Fi Hip Hop

Downtempo · 2003 · 70 to 90 BPM · also known as Lofi Hip Hop, Lo-Fi Beats, Chillhop

Lo-fi hip hop is dusty instrumental hip hop that became, through YouTube and its lofi hip hop to study radios, the background soundtrack of an entire generation. Its roots are noble, running through J Dilla and Nujabes, with their human swing and hazy jazz samples. The current scene has turned into a playlist industry, but the original idea, the beauty of an imperfect beat, still holds true among the best producers working in it.

8 reference tracks

1. Madlib: Slims Return (2003)
2. Nujabes: Aruarian Dance (2003)
3. Nujabes: Feather (2005)
4. J Dilla: Time: The Donut of the Heart (2006)
5. Emancipator: Soon It Will Be Cold Enough (2006)
6. Powfu feat. beabadoobee: death bed (coffee for your head) (2020)
7. potsu: just friends (2017)
8. Kupla: Unity (2024)

At a glance

• Tempo: 70 to 90 BPM
• First appeared: around 2003
• Machines: Akai MPC3000, Ableton Live, Magnétophone à cassette, Fender Rhodes
• The sound: MPC3000 (Dilla) et swing déquantifié, Samples jazz voilés, Souffle vinyle ajouté, Basses rondes courtes
• Labels: Stones Throw Records, Hydeout Productions, Lofi Girl, Chillhop, College Music
• Key artists: J Dilla, Nujabes, Madlib (frange), potsu, Jinsang

Producing Lo-Fi Hip Hop

Lo-fi hip hop runs 70 to 90 BPM with a human feel above everything, deliberately dequantized the way J Dilla turned off his MPC's quantization so the kick lands early, the snare late, and the hats hesitate. The kit is short and muffled, a kick from a soul break or tuned 808 through a gentle filter, a snare blended from a break hit and a clap until it is almost a dull thud. The bass stays round and short, an 808 or saturated sine playing just a few notes, usually the tonic and minor third, sometimes gliding, cut around 250 Hz so it stays under the sample. A hazy jazz sample, piano, Rhodes or guitar, slowed slightly through a low filter and cassette style wow and flutter, is the heart of the sound.

The full production course, in French: tempo, drums, bass, sounds, arrangement, mix, plugins and machines, and a step by step start.

Frequently asked

What is Lo-Fi Hip Hop?

Lo-fi hip hop is dusty instrumental hip hop that became, through YouTube and its lofi hip hop to study radios, the background soundtrack of an entire generation. Its roots are noble, running through J Dilla and Nujabes, with their human swing and hazy jazz samples. The current scene has turned…

What tempo is Lo-Fi Hip Hop played at?

Between 70 and 90 BPM.

Who are the key Lo-Fi Hip Hop artists?

J Dilla, Nujabes, Madlib (frange), potsu, Jinsang.

In the same family

• Downtempo
• Trip-Hop
• Bristol Sound
• Chill-Out
• Lounge
• Balearic
• Ambient House
• Nu Jazz
• Psybient
• Chillwave
• Folktronica

Listen to Lo-Fi Hip Hop in the atlas · Cette page en français