Using the Akai sampling machine, I drew inspiration from RZA’s signature production style to create a gritty, soulful piece. My approach began with carefully selecting and manipulating sounds that would bring a raw, textured quality to the track. I sampled a snare and kick directly from the Akai, opting for drums that had a natural, gritty resonance, echoing the rugged, unrefined sound that RZA is known for in his early Wu-Tang Clan productions. The snare provided a crisp punch, while the kick added a deep, resonant backbone, grounding the beat in a way that felt both heavy and organic.

Next, I layered in a Japanese jazz sample that brought a unique, atmospheric feel to the piece. This sample was central to capturing the soulful undertones, echoing RZA’s affinity for cinematic, global samples that add depth and narrative to his beats. I looped, stretched, and filtered the sample to integrate seamlessly with the drums, adjusting the pitch and tempo until it felt cohesive within the track’s moody, ambient space.

In Ableton, I used EQ and reverb to refine the sounds, ensuring that each element retained a raw quality while blending harmoniously. The Akai’s samples were gritty on their own, so I avoided over-polishing the track in post-production, opting instead to let the imperfections shine through. I added subtle saturation effects to the snare and kick to amplify their warmth, giving them that “dusty vinyl” texture often found in RZA’s work.

For the structure, I kept the arrangement minimalistic, allowing the jazzy sample and drums to dominate, much like RZA’s style of creating loops that draw listeners in with repetition and subtle progression. I used Ableton’s swing function to create a looser feel, letting the beat breathe organically and sit slightly off-kilter, lending a spontaneous, almost improvisational quality. This technique added authenticity, emulating the unpredictability that characterizes RZA’s work.

Ultimately, the combination of the Akai’s snare and kick, along with the Japanese jazz sample, produced a track that channels RZA’s signature rawness and soulfulness, merging sampled texture with modern digital production. By embracing the unrefined, gritty elements, I crafted a sound that balances the weight of classic hip-hop with an emotive, atmospheric twist.