How to Make a Drake Type Beat (2026 Tutorial)
Drake's production style has defined modern R&B and Hip-Hop for over a decade.
From "Hotline Bling" to "Rich Flex," his beats share specific characteristics that create that signature OVO sound—atmospheric, emotional, and instantly recognizable. This isn't another vague tutorial telling you to "add reverb and make it moody." You'll learn the exact techniques that capture the Drake aesthetic.
What defines the Drake sound. The emotional core matters more than any technical element. Drake's producers—Noah "40" Shebib, Boi-1da, and others—prioritize mood over complexity. Space is used intentionally. Silence carries weight. The beat supports the vocal rather than competing with it.
Atmospheric elements dominate. Reverb-soaked pads, delayed vocal samples, sparse arrangements that let moments breathe. This approach connects to R&B production fundamentals—both styles prioritize feel over technical showmanship.
Tempo and key selection. Drake type beats typically sit between 70-90 BPM. This slower tempo creates intimacy and gives space for his melodic delivery. Minor keys dominate—A minor, C minor, G minor appear constantly. The darkness of minor scales matches the emotional vulnerability in his music.
Start at 76 BPM in A minor. This combination appears across dozens of Drake hits and gives you the classic foundation to build from.
The drums. Drake drums prioritize texture over aggression. Kicks are present but not overwhelming. Snares often have room sound and reverb tail. Hi-hats stay relatively simple—16th note patterns without excessive rolls.
The 808 approach differs from trap. Drake-style 808s are smoother, more sustained, less aggressive. They provide low-end foundation without dominating. Subtle slides, longer sustain, cleaner tone. The 808 should feel like it's underneath the track, not punching through it.
Creating atmosphere. Pads and textures define the OVO sound more than any other element. Layer ambient synthesizer pads—evolving, moving, alive. Omnisphere excels here—its atmospheric presets sit perfectly in this style.
Reverb and delay create space. Long reverb tails on melodic elements. Tempo-synced delays that add rhythm without cluttering. The goal is creating a world the listener falls into, not just a beat they hear.
Piano appears frequently—usually soft, often processed. Not bright and present like pop piano. Filtered, reverbed, sitting back in the mix. Electric piano textures work equally well.
Arrangement philosophy. Less is more. Drake productions often strip down to almost nothing—a pad, a kick, maybe one melodic element. Then layers add gradually. The hook might have more elements, but verses stay sparse.
This connects to mixing principles—if every element fights for attention, nothing stands out. Drake's producers understand that space makes the elements you do include more impactful.
Reference tracks to study. "Passionfruit" demonstrates the atmospheric pad approach perfectly. "Jungle" shows how sparse a Drake beat can get while still hitting emotionally. "Rich Flex" with 21 Savage proves the style works with harder elements. "Hotline Bling" remains the template for melodic, minimal production.
Study these on YouTube with producer ears. Notice the space between elements. Notice what's NOT playing.
Taking it further. Once you understand Drake's approach, you can blend it with other styles. The atmospheric foundation works with Travis Scott's darker aesthetic or Lil Baby's melodic trap energy. The key is understanding what makes each style work before combining them.
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