What did the producer mean when he said

The intentional lag of drums behind the beat, from James Gadson's funk to J Dilla's "drunk" grooves, shapes neo-soul's hypnotic pulse and hip-hop's golden era.

Tracklist

  1. Feel Like Makin' Love — D'Angelo
  2. On & On — Erykah Badu
  3. Ascension (Don't Ever Wonder) — Maxwell
  4. Use Me — Bill Withers
  5. Electric Relaxation — A Tribe Called Quest
  6. The Light — Common
  7. Cissy Strut — The Meters
  8. Josie — Steely Dan

Transcript

Welcome to OffStereo. Hope your afternoon's going well. Let's dig in.

Feel Like Makin' Love — D'Angelo

Questlove describes learning to loosen and lay back the drum pocket across Voodoo, and identifies this as the song where he played snare.

On & On — Erykah Badu

Erykah Badu's debut single features a signature laid-back groove, where the drums sit comfortably behind the beat, creating a hypnotic and soulful pocket that is central to the neo-soul sound.

Ascension (Don't Ever Wonder) — Maxwell

This neo-soul classic showcases a smooth, unhurried drum performance that contributes to its sensual and atmospheric vibe, characteristic of the 'quiet storm' genre and intentionally behind the main pulse.

Use Me — Bill Withers

James Gadson's drumming on 'Use Me' is a masterclass in playing behind the beat, providing a supple syncopation that makes the track feel incredibly funky and deeply grooving without rushing.

Electric Relaxation — A Tribe Called Quest

A hallmark of hip-hop's 'golden era,' this track exemplifies the art of the 'lazy' or laid-back drum beat, where the drums are intentionally placed slightly behind the grid to create a relaxed yet compelling head-nodding rhythm.

The Light — Common

Produced by the legendary J Dilla, 'The Light' features his signature 'drunk' or 'quantized but off' drumming style, where beats are intentionally placed slightly out of perfect time to create a unique, humanized, and deeply soulful groove.

Cissy Strut — The Meters

Zigaboo Modeliste's drumming on 'Cissy Strut' is a prime example of a deep pocket groove in funk music, where the drums feel incredibly locked in but with a relaxed, slightly behind-the-beat feel that defines New Orleans funk.

Josie — Steely Dan

Known for their meticulous production and exceptional session drummers, Steely Dan often featured drums that sat perfectly in a deep pocket.

A producer saying drums are "intentionally late," as Questlove might reveal about D'Angelo's grooves, highlights rhythm as a deliberate art. Thanks for listening to OffStereo; consider the magic created when a beat intentionally finds its own unique space.

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