Funky Tech Radio

Hip Hop Riff Of The Week 118: Obrigado Podcast episode out now. Full video on Youtube. Link to both in bio! Welcome back and happy 2020! This week, we will be learning how to play the bass line to ‘Obrigado’ by Freddie Gibbs & Madlib. Without a debate, easily album of the year material. So much so, that this bass line is from the intro! The artist and the producer are top tier creatives,...

Hip Hop Riff Of The Week 117: Make You Feel That Way This week, we will be learning how to play the bass line to ’117: Make You Feel That Way’ by Blackalicious. I love this song and this bass line because it’s so mellow, groovy and beautiful. What gives it this aesthetic beside the tone and lyrics? Those 9th chords! We’re in Db Major and the progression is Db to Ab major. Once again we’ll discuss...

Hip Hop Riff Of The Week 116: Hot Sauce To Go This week, we will be learning how to play the bass line to ’Hot Sauce To Go’ by Jadakiss. Jada has always been one of my proven favorites, then he went ahead and got Pharrell to produce this dumb smooth track to glide over. This is one of those beats you gotta wear sunglasses to, just because. We’re in D major this week, but this is a descending bass...

Hip Hop Riff Of The Week 115: Jus Lyk Compton This week, we will be learning how to play the bass line to ’Jus Lyk Compton’ by DJ Quik. Ooh man this bass line is cold! Definitely one the best composed Hip Hop bass lines I’ve ever heard. I’m not gonna lie though: this one is gonna take some work! The riff is in the key of G minor Dorian, which means the 6th note will be major and not minor. Very Fu...

Hip Hop Riff Of The Week 114: 5 Deadly Venomz This week, we will be learning how to play the bass line to ’5 Deadly Venomz’ by 2Pac. Ayo, we got a Pac track with Treach on it. Lets get to business. This groove in Ab major is mad fun to play, but take it slow and don’t get too excited. Make sure your technique is right and you’re not muting any strings when you try to speed it up. Overall a nice so...

Hip Hop Riff Of The Week 113: No Names This week, we will be learning how to play the bass line to ’No Names’ by Danger Doom. The Mouse and the Mask is one of my favorite DOOM albums by far. All the beats are fresh and the lyrics are top tier. And on top of all that, we get to use Hip Hop to learn the blues this week! This riff is a G minor blues, I-IV progression. Classic, simple and funky! &nbsp...

Hip Hop Riff Of The Week 112: Hell Of A Life This week, we will be learning how to play the bass line to ’Hell Of A Life’ by Kanye West. I remember first hearing the distorted bass line to this track when it first dropped. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy was a game changer of an album. We get to practice some chromaticism with this riff, which is in the key of Bb minor. Lets rock and roll! @kany...

Hip Hop Riff Of The Week 111: Hi. This week, we will be learning how to play the bass line to ’111: Hi.’ by J Dilla. This beat is in my top tier of favorites from the Donuts album. I break down how to play the original song and how the sample is chopped in this one. Super fun groove to play. We got a four note riff in Ab major this week, so lets spit the scrilla with Dilla! @officialjdilla Subscri...

Hip Hop Riff Of The Week 110: Put Your Hands Up This week, we will be learning how to play the bass line to ’Put Your Hands Up’ by Jadakiss. Ya’ll remember when this joint came out back in 2001? I sure do: this was back when I was internalizing music way before I started playing any instruments. This song is one of the first songs I tried to play once I had a bass because I’ve known it internally...

Hip Hop Riff Of The Week 109: Mind Playin’ Tricks This week, we will be learning how to play the bass line to ’Mind Playin’ Tricks’ by Geto Boys. First of all, RIP Bushwhack Bill, who we lost earlier this year in June. This riff is a a real simple riff in A minor pentatonic. It feels good when a popular song is simple to play: it give you confidence and its always fun to play around with a classic...

Hip Hop Riff Of The Week 108: The Tamburo 5 This week, we will be learning how to play the bass line to ’The Tamburo 5’ by People Under The Stairs. One of my top favorite hip hop acts of all time recently hung up their hats after providing us with decades of pure unadulterated Hip Hop feeling. Personally a sad state of affairs, yet I’m happy they left us a legacy that will last multiple lifetimes:...

Hip Hop Riff Of The Week 107: The Hop This week, we will be learning how to play the bass line to ’The Hop’ by A Tribe Called Quest. Man, ATCQ has so many joints that jam its ridiculous. We’re in Db major this week, lets hop to another vibing bass line. One of my favorites! @qtiptheabstract @alishaheed @jarobiwhite RIP Phife Dawg! Subscribe: Funky Tech Radio is on Spotify, Anchor.fm, and anywhere...

Hip Hop Riff Of The Week 106: They Reminisce Over You This week, we will be learning how to play the bass line to ’They Reminisce Over You’ by Pete Rock & CL Smooth. Alert: We got another classic on our hands! Not only is this riff in G# minor fun to play, but I feel like the history and impact of this song in the Hip Hop community adds a level of energy to each note you play. We’ve been bless...

Hip Hop Riff Of The Week 105: Coming Of Age This week, we will be learning how to play the bass line to 'Coming Of Age’ by Jay-Z. I feel like this song is fitting now that we’re in triple digits. This groovy riff is in the key of Bb minor and only four notes. Growth is important, and what better time than now to step it up! Lets go! @rocnation Subscribe: Funky Tech Radio is on Spotify, Anchor.fm,...

Hip Hop Riff Of The Week 104: Stakes Is High  This week, we will be learning how to play the bass line to 'Stakes Is High’ by De La Soul. Not only is this one of my favorite songs, its one of my favorite bass lines to play, probably because of the odd meter. This is a riff in F minor7, and the way this riff dances around the chord is a beautiful example of how bass lines intera...

Hip Hop Riff Of The Week 103: Ain’t No Game  This week, we will be learning how to play the bass line to 'Ain’t No Game’ by Masta Ace. This line is only 3 notes, but we get real funky. B major is the name of the game, but this game ain’t easy. Keep your finger coordination and handwork strong, or else you’ll lose the groove. Lets break it down! @mastaacepics...

Hip Hop Riff Of The Week 102: The Realest  This week, we will be learning how to play the bass line to 'The Realest’ by Mobb Deep. This is one of those rare occasions where we take a trip up past the 12th fret and stay there. In fact, the first note is Bb on the 15th fret. But as you know, funk has no boundaries. We’re in Db major so lets take that hike! @mobbdeepqb @mobbdeephavoc S...

Hip Hop Riff Of The Week 101: This D.J.  This week, we will be learning how to play the bass line to 'This D.J.’ by Warren G. It’s only right to proceed as the century mark with some G Funk. This riff in Bb minor is only four notes, but full of groove. G-Funk is undeniable so give in and get funky! @warreng Subscribe:  Funky Tech Radio is on Spotify, Anchor.fm, &...

Hip Hop Riff Of The Week 100: Same Song  This week, we will be learning how to play the bass line to 'Same Song’ by Digital Underground. We made it to 100 riffs baby! Ayee!!! Thank you all for staying locked in and rocking with the low end funk, now lets keep the grind strong! We’re hitting this groove in G# minor hardbody: simple riff, just pure funky rhythm. No...

Hip Hop Riff Of The Week 99: Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik  This week, we will be learning how to play the bass line to 'Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik’ by Outkast. We’re about to hit triple digits so we gotta keep it super funky! We got a riff in F minor thats mad fun to play, so much soul involved in this track. Come hit this southern funk with a brotha! @outkast @bigboi @andre...

Hip Hop Riff Of The Week 98: Wild Cowboys  This week, we will be learning how to play the bass line to 'Wild Cowboys’ by Sadat X. One of my favorite tunes I keep in the cut. This smooth groove is in the key of G minor, and really maintains the foundation for the rest of the track. We’re almost at 100, so turn up! @sadatx Subscribe:  Funky Tech Radio is on Spotify, Anc...

Hip Hop Riff Of The Week 97 :  Superhoes  This week, we will be learning how to play the bass line to 'Superhoes’ by Funkdoobiest. The movie Friday got gems, y’all. I’m a sucker for smooth, heavy bass lines over hard ass drums, and this song provides that energy and satisfies that part of my soul. There’s only one rule here: follow the drums on the 1 and 3. Hop to it! @fun...

Hip Hop Riff Of The Week 96: Build Ya Skillz  This week, we will be learning how to play the bass line to 'Build Ya Skillz’ by KRS-One. We gotta gritty drums, gritty bass, and authentic gritty hip hop lyricism, packed in a gritty ass package. We’re in the key of D this week, and the message of this track is the epitome of this whole entire series: Build Ya Skillz! @teacha_krson...

Hip Hop Riff Of The Week 95: I Don’t Understand It  This week, we will be learning how to play the bass line to 'I Don’t Understand It’ by Big L. I’ma let y’all know off rip: this riff is a tongue twister. Well, finger twister. This deceptively simple riff is a progression from C#m to F#m. Take this riff slow, you’re bound to make mistakes thinking its sweet out...

Hip Hop Riff Of The Week 94: F*** What You Heard  This week, we will be learning how to play the bass line to 'F*** What You Heard’ by Diamond D. This riff is just as iconic as Sally Got A One Track Mind. And similar to that track, it sounds much more complicated than it actually is. Let me break down this riff in C major for ya’ll. @diamondditc Subscribe:  Funky Tech...