10 Things I Wish I Knew When I Started Making Beats
Written by: Ramon "Illmind" Ibanga Jr
Published on October 7, 2024
Time to read 4 min
"As a music producer, the journey can be filled with ups, downs, and unexpected lessons."
Looking back on my career, there are some crucial insights I wish I had known when I first started. Whether you're just beginning or already in the game, these lessons might help you fast-track your success—and avoid some of the mistakes I made along the way.
Here’s a breakdown of the 10 things I wish I knew when I started as a music producer:
1. No One Cares How You Made the Beat
When I first started, I would get caught up in the details of how I made the beat. But here's the truth: no one cares. The listener only cares about how the beat makes them feel. Whether you used a $5,000 studio or just your laptop, all that matters is the vibe. It’s not about the tools—it’s about what you do with them.
2. Don’t Make Beats to Impress Other Producers. Impress Yourself
Early on, I would get stuck in a loop of trying to make beats that would impress other producers. The reality is, you should be making music that excites you. When you create for yourself, that authenticity shines through, and people will gravitate toward your sound. Trust your gut, and don’t chase trends just to get validation from other producers.
3. You Don’t Need a Manager If There’s Nothing to Manage Yet
I see a lot of upcoming producers thinking they need a manager early on. The truth is, you don’t. Focus on building something worth managing first. What you really need is a good lawyer—someone who can help you navigate the business side when things start picking up. When the time is right and you have more to manage, the right manager will come along.
4. People Will Help You If They Like You, Not Just Because Your Beats Are 🔥
Talent is important, but in this industry, relationships are just as crucial. People will help you if they like you. Being cool, humble, and easy to work with will get you far. Don’t assume your beats alone will do all the talking. Focus on building genuine relationships with people, and opportunities will follow.
5. You Can Have Quality AND Quantity
One of the biggest myths out there is that you can either have quantity or quality, but not both. That’s false. You can absolutely achieve both if you focus on perfecting your process. If you can consistently create high-quality work while pumping out a solid amount of content, you’re already ahead of 99% of producers. The key is refining your workflow—which by the way, I put together this amazing course to teach you the tactics to optimize your workflow, allowing you to produce more while keeping your quality high. It’s all about mindfulness and smart practices, which have helped me land major placements and win Grammys.
6. AI Won’t Replace You. Humans Using AI Will
AI is not the enemy. It’s an amazing tool, and producers who know how to use AI will have a massive advantage. AI can help speed up processes, suggest new ideas, and open up creative possibilities you might not have thought of. The key is learning how to integrate AI into your workflow without losing your human touch. Stay ahead of the curve by using technology to your benefit, not fearing it. I actually trained my own Ai sample maker ethically, which you can use RIGHT NOW to level up by clicking HERE.
"I trained my own Ai sample generator."
7. When You Get a Hit, Don’t Sleep on Publishers
You work hard to get a hit, but the work doesn’t stop there. If publishers start hitting you up, don’t ignore them! They want to help you collect while your song is hot. If you wait too long, they’ll move on to the next hot track, and you’ll miss out. This industry moves fast, so be ready to act quickly when the opportunities come.
8. Let Go. Don’t Wish and Don’t Predict
When you’re making music, don’t get attached to the outcome. Create, let go, and move on to the next track. You can’t predict how the market will react, so don’t waste time obsessing over it. Trust the process, stay consistent, and let the universe do the rest. This mindset shift has been a game-changer for me and is something I dive deep into in my Mind of a Wolf course.
9. The Beats You Don’t Love Are the Ones They’ll Choose
I can’t count how many times I’ve created a beat that I wasn’t in love with, only for it to become the one an artist picks up. You never know what people will resonate with. The key is to keep creating and putting your work out there, even if you’re not 100% sold on it. Someone else might hear something you didn’t.
10. Everything is Cringe Until It Isn’t
In the beginning, everything feels cringe. You second-guess yourself, worry about what others will think, and hesitate to put your work out there. But here’s the truth: everything is cringe until it isn’t. The pioneers are the ones who try new things, even when it feels uncomfortable. Don’t be afraid to experiment and push boundaries—that’s how you’ll set yourself apart.
So, How Do You Apply All of This?
This list of lessons took me years to learn. The good news? You don’t have to make the same mistakes I did. If you’re serious about leveling up and becoming the best version of yourself as a music producer, I’ve created something that can help.
Introducing my course, Mind of a Wolf. It’s designed to teach you the true secrets behind success in music production. From workflow optimization to mindfulness techniques, this course has everything you need to break through the noise and start landing major placements.
Here’s what you get in the course:
- 8 Modules of guided video lessons hosted by me, !llmind
- Downloadable worksheets to keep you organized
- A complete list of books and resources I personally recommend
- Access to my Black Box Bundle (25GB of sounds) to fuel your creativity
- Special insights on how to build your brand and grow your network
If you’re ready to focus your energy, believe in your craft, and take real action, this course is perfect for you. Whether you’ve been producing for 1 week or 10 years, I’ll guide you step-by-step through the process that helped me achieve 2 Grammy wins, 10 Grammy noms, and countless placements.
Stop second-guessing yourself. It’s time to level up.
Illmind
Ramon "!llmind" Ibanga Jr. is a 2x Grammy Winning/10x Grammy Nominated multi-platinum music producer who's worked with artists such as Kanye West, J Cole, Drake, Kendrick Lamar, Beyonce & Jay-Z, Future, Lil Uzi Vert, Romeo Santos, Lin Manuel Miranda (Hamilton + Moana) 2 Chainz & many more. He is the founder of "Blap-Kits", a series of "beat-making" tools available for music producers which eventually helped pioneer the now multi-million dollar per year "drum kit & sound pack" industry. As a consistent advocate and voice in the music production world, his weekly podcast "Illmind Put The Loop On" boasted a die-hard music producer driven following, including industry special guests such as Boi-1da, Murda Beatz, Ryan Leslie, Russ, Brian Michael Cox and many more. He is also known for traveling to various cities, bringing together up-coming music creators in "secret studio locations" to network, vibe, play music & engage in their creative community.
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