How to Make a Boom Bap Beat in Logic Pro (Stock Plugins Only)

Mixing and producing a sample-based boom bap beat can be frustrating—especially when you’re trying to make everything feel cohesive without losing that raw, gritty energy.

If you’ve ever struggled with chopping samples, layering drums, or getting the right swing, you’re in the right place. In this guide, I’ll break down how I produced a sample-based boom bap beat in Logic Pro using nothing but stock plugins.

By the end of this, you’ll know how to:

✔ Find and chop samples for that classic boom bap feel
✔ Program drums with swing and groove
✔ Arrange a beat for a rapper—no chorus, just straight bars
✔ Mix and master using only Logic Pro’s stock tools

And if you’re using Logic Pro, make sure to grab my 6 free mixing templates to speed up your workflow at subphotic.com/logic.

Now, let’s get into it.

Step 1: Finding and Chopping Samples

Boom bap is built on samples. The right sample can set the entire vibe of your beat.

For this track, I pulled samples from a sample challenge playlist and manually chopped them up using Logic Pro’s Quick Sampler.

Key tips for chopping samples:

• Pitching up/down: Small adjustments (like +3 semitones) can completely change the feel.
• Mono mode: Prevent overlapping chops for a cleaner, punchier groove.
• Manual slicing: Instead of auto-slicing, cut the samples by hand for more control.

✅ Action Step: Load a sample into Quick Sampler, slice it manually, and experiment with pitching it up or down.

Step 2: Adding Gritty Boom Bap Drums

Once the samples were locked in, it was time to add drums. I found a drum break inside another sample, but it had extra elements I didn’t need.

So, I used Logic Pro’s Stem Splitter to isolate the kick, snare, and hi-hats, then manually chopped and sequenced them.

Drum programming tips:

• Use ghost kicks (low-velocity kicks) to add swing.
• Layer a snappy, muffled kick for extra punch.
• Adjust velocity on hi-hats to make them feel natural.

✅ Action Step: Find a drum break, extract the kicks, snares, and hats, and program them with some swing to keep it loose.

Step 3: Adding Bass and Extra Textures

The sample I used had a very limited melody, which made adding a bassline tricky. Instead of forcing a melody, I kept it simple and gritty.

I also layered some extra textures to fill in the beat:

• A dusty bass sample
• A flute melody (chopped from another track)
• Subtle sound effects to glue everything together

✅ Action Step: Don’t overcomplicate the bassline. Start with one or two notes that support the main sample.

Step 4: Arranging the Beat for a Rapper

This beat was designed for straight spitting—no chorus, just one long verse.

The structure:

• Intro: Stripped-down version of the beat
• Verse: Full beat drops in after 4 bars
• Outro: Ends with a filtered effect and delay tails

To keep the beat interesting, I used:

• Automation on filters for dynamic changes
• Beat breaks for variation
• FX transitions (delay throws, reverbs, and filtering)

✅ Action Step: Arrange your beat with small changes every 8 bars to keep it engaging.

Step 5: Mixing & Mastering with Only Stock Plugins

Once the arrangement was locked, it was time to mix. Instead of using third-party plugins, I stuck to stock Logic Pro tools.

Here’s the mixing approach:

• EQ: Cut unnecessary lows/highs on each track
• Compression: Tamed the snare and kick for consistency
• Reverb & Delay: Used Logic’s Tape Delay for subtle depth
• Limiter: Controlled peaks and balanced the final mix

✅ Action Step: Use only Logic Pro’s stock plugins on your next mix and see if you can achieve a professional sound.

Want to hear the before-and-after mix? Watch the video!

Final Thoughts: Making Your Boom Bap Beats Stand Out

Boom bap is all about sampling, groove, and feel. You don’t need expensive plugins or fancy gear—you just need the right techniques.

Here’s what to do next:
✅ Load up a sample in Quick Sampler and start chopping
✅ Program drums with swing and add a few ghost kicks
✅ Arrange your beat with automation and FX transitions
✅ Mix it using only stock plugins to sharpen your skills

If you’re using Logic Pro, grab my 6 free mixing templates to speed up your workflow at subphotic.com/logic.

Now go make some fire beats!