One of the most popular genres in the music industry, hip hop has evolved from a streetwise style of rap music to an art form that is set to gross $131 billion annually by 2030. The modern sound of hip hop is a hard-hitting blend of high-tech synth sounds with gritty drum machine grooves — but it wasn’t always like that. Hip hop was about musical experimentation on an extremely budgeted scale in its early days, using whatever instruments were available to create something new.
It was a time when drum machines were cheap, and keyboards were a luxury item, so using samples became a convenient way to avoid purchasing a well-stocked keyboard rig. A digital sampler was at the heart of the sound in its infancy. Still, since then, hip hop has evolved into one of music’s biggest genres made with sophisticated instruments, including the midi keyboard.
More Demand for Midi Keyboards in 2022
Midi keyboards have become popular in recent years as more people are eager to learn more about music tech tools and are turning to music as a career. This is because of the popularity of streaming platforms that pay artists for the music they create. There are many competitors for midi keyboards for hip hop production at the current stage in the market. With a huge demand for the best midi keyboard, manufacturers launch new and advanced products with each passing day. Due to this, research and development are taking place across various countries to come up with something new. These three midi boards are expected to become in demand this year due to their features that make them perfect for making hip hop tunes.
Akai Professional MPK Mini MKII
The Akai Professional MPK Mini MKII is one of the most popular midi keyboards on the market right now. It features 25 synth-action mini keys, eight pads, four knobs, and some other buttons. The Akai MPK mini is also bus-powered, which means that users can plug it directly into the computer or laptop using a USB cable. There’s no need to worry about extra power supplies or batteries. This makes it extremely portable and ideal for hip hop producers on the go.
Alesis V49
Alesis makes some of the best MIDI keyboards on the market, and they’re known in particular for making affordable controllers that have all the features one might need. The Alesis V49 is another great option for hip-hop producers. The Alesis V49 is no exception — it’s a 49-key MIDI keyboard with eight drum pads and four knobs (expandable to 12 knobs). It also comes with Ableton Live Lite software, which one can use to start making beats right away. The drum pads can also play chords if one wants to add some extra flavor to one’s beats.
Nektar Panorama P4
The Nektar Panorama P4 is an excellent midi controller for hip-hop producers who use FL Studio. It comes pre-mapped with the DAW and allows one to use the faders and knobs directly in the app. The keyboard itself has 49 keys and eight drum pads which can be used to trigger different sounds or samples. It also includes the popular MPC software with over $400 worth of MPC sound packs for one to make beats on the go. This is great for hip hop producers because it’s almost like having an entire studio in one backpack.
The number of people using midi keyboards is expected to increase in the next couple of years because more people want to elevate their craft. Musicians need high-tech tools to help them create new sounds and melodies that will make their songs stand out from what’s playing on streaming platforms, so it’s likely that more independent hip hop producers and artists will be investing in midi keyboards this year.
