How to Make Beats Like Apollo Brown | MPC Tutorial – Masta Kraft
In this detailed MPC tutorial, producer and YouTuber Masta Kraft dissects the production style of Apollo Brown, one of the most prolific beatmakers in underground hip-hop and rebuilds it from scratch using the official Apollo Brown drum kits from Drum Broker. The video walks through what makes Apollo Brown's sound immediately recognizable: punchy, hard-hitting drums with heavy swing, soulful gospel-influenced sample choices, aggressive sidechain compression, and the dusty vinyl texture that ties it all together. Rather than just talking about these elements, Masta Kraft demonstrates each one on the Akai MPC Live III, recreating the techniques so viewers can use these techniques in their own beats. What the Video Covers The breakdown begins with a listening session, analyzing several Apollo Brown tracks to identify the core characteristics of his drum programming. Masta Kraft then recreates those drum patterns on the MPC, highlighting what's unusual about Apollo Brown's approach to drum sound selection and layering. A significant portion of the tutorial focuses on swing, how Apollo Brown uses it, how to dial it in on the MPC, and practical advice on when and how much to apply. This is one of the more overlooked elements of boom bap production that separates generic beats from ones with real groove and feel. From there, the video moves into melodic sample selection, breaking down the types of source material Apollo Brown gravitates toward, gospel, soul, and other emotionally rich samples and why those choices matter for the overall tone of a beat. The tutorial then tackles sidechain compression, arguably the most critical piece of the Apollo Brown sound. Masta Kraft covers two different methods: one specific to the MPC and a second approach that works in any DAW. He also addresses a common debate in the hip-hop production community, whether sidechain compression is overused or misunderstood and explains why it's essential to getting that signature pumping effect right. The final sections cover the small production details that pull a track together: subtle additions that Apollo Brown uses across his catalog, proper mixing techniques, and a plugin recommendation that applies beyond just the drums. The video wraps with the completed beat. Chapter Timestamps 0:00 - What makes Apollo Brown special? 0:25 - Step 1: Listen to the drums 1:37 - Recreating his drum pattern technique 3:08 - Step 2: What is unusual about his drums? 3:41 - How to make swing on MPC 5:51 - Advice on applying swing 7:39 - Step 3: What melodic samples he chooses 11:04 - Step 4: Why it doesn't sound like Apollo Brown yet 11:23 - How to make the right sidechain on MPC 14:16 - Is sidechain a bad thing in hip-hop? 15:17 - Second way to make sidechain anywhere 17:39 - Step 5: Add this detail in every track 18:46 - How to mix the track the right way 20:41 - Add this plugin not only to drums 21:29 - Finished beat Who This Video Is For This tutorial is aimed at MPC producers and beat makers who want to understand the mechanics behind Apollo Brown's production style rather than just imitating it superficially. It's useful for anyone working in boom bap, sample-based hip-hop, or soulful instrumental production who wants to tighten their drums, improve their use of swing and sidechain, and develop a more intentional approach to sample selection and mixing. The video uses the official Apollo Brown drum kits available from Drum Broker, giving viewers access to the same sounds used in the demonstration.