.png)
October 6, 2024
Sampling has been a cornerstone of modern music production, allowing producers to reimagine and breathe new life into old tracks. Whether you're producing hip-hop, EDM, or any genre, knowing how to...
Read more.png)
October 6, 2024
When selecting EQ and compressor plugins, musicians and producers look for more than just a shiny interface or brand recognition. It's all about how these tools perform in real-world scenarios...
Read more.png)
October 6, 2024
Drum sounds form the backbone of many music genres, and while sample packs are popular, designing your own drum sounds from scratch can elevate your production to a whole new level. Crafting custom...
Read more.png)
October 6, 2024
In modern music production, one of the most common challenges is the clash of frequencies between instruments. For example, bass guitars and drum kits often compete for space in the lower end of...
Read more.png)
October 1, 2024
Studio One by PreSonus is an incredibly powerful DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) that offers a variety of tools to streamline your music production workflow. However, like many DAWs, getting the...
Read more.png)
October 1, 2024
Crash cymbals often get buried in the mix, especially when using complex miking techniques like Glyn Johns, which balances close mics with overheads. While re-recording with higher cymbals may be a...
Read more.png)
October 1, 2024
GarageBand is often seen as an entry-level DAW (Digital Audio Workstation), but it has powerful tools that, when used effectively, can create professional-quality tracks. Many indie musicians and...
Read more.png)
October 1, 2024
When working with MIDI in Ableton, one might notice that although MIDI clips can send program changes, most of Ableton's native plugins don’t seem to respond to these changes effectively. This can...
Read more.png)
September 21, 2024
Read more.png)
September 20, 2024
One of the most common challenges for songwriters is deciding whether to write the music or lyrics first. This can feel like a "chicken-or-egg" situation, but there's no one-size-fits-all answer...
Read more.png)
September 20, 2024
Releasing a new single or album is a huge milestone for any musician. However, without proper planning, your work may not get the attention it deserves. It’s not just about putting the song online...
Read more
September 20, 2024
When it comes to music production, getting the low end right can be tricky. Many producers face a common issue: after the initial mix sounds perfect, a few days later, the low end starts to feel...
Read more
After a six-year silence, Chance the Rapper is officially back. On August 15, 2025, he will drop his sophomore album, Star Line, marking a new chapter filled with growth, travel, and creative evolution.
Chance collaborated with longtime producer DexLvL to shape the album, incorporating his vision and sound from his trips to Ghana, Jamaica, and international art fairs. Lyrical themes of identity, resiliency, and cultural legacy will be paired with a blend of hip-hop, soul, and experimental textures.
Chance the Rapper teamed up again with Brandon Breaux, the artist who designed the covers for Chance’s earlier mixtapes: 10 Day (his first project in 2012, inspired by being suspended from high school), Acid Rap (a 2013 breakout mixtape that made him famous for mixing rap with trippy sounds), and Coloring Book (a 2016 Grammy-winning mixtape full of gospel and uplifting themes).
For his new single “Tree,” Chance features Lil Wayne and Smino. The track also pays tribute to India Arie, an R&B/soul singer famous for her empowering songs about self-love and Black identity. Alongside the music, Chance directed a short film that flips stereotypes about marijuana businesses; he centers the story on a Black women-owned dispensary, showing it not as something negative, but as a space of joy, independence, and cultural pride.
He’s Touring and We Are Back Too
Right as the album drops, Chance will embark on the “And We Back Tour”, a 15-city North American journey starting September 26 in Houston. Stops include stops in New Orleans, Toronto, NYC, Los Angeles, and a homecoming in Chicago, concluding mid-October. Fans are ecstatic for the new tracks and fresh performances.
The Significance of This Moment
Departure and Return: Many questioned whether Chance had permanently regressed. On the contrary he is building on legacy; and this record tells a tale of Black spiritual advancement, artistic diaspora, and mobility. However, Chance is forceful and optimistic, reclaiming storytelling agency in both the album art and the video's setting.
Lessons for Creators