Have you ever noticed if you use the same sound samples that after a while your beats start to sound very similar. This is a very common problem with producers. Keeping a fresh source of sound samples is a must for anyone who makes beats - no matter what type of music you produce.

If you listen closely, you'll hear the super producers changing their sound samples every once and a while. For example, many of the beats the neptunes were doing started to really sound the same. Check out the drum sounds used in the following songs:

Ray Jay - "Formal invite"

Usher - "You don't have to call"

Kelis - "Get along with you"

Jadakiss - "Knock yourself out"

These are just a few examples of songs with really similar drum kit sound samples. But you'll notice that the sounds have changed considerably in more recent songs like:

Nelly - "Hot in herr"

Snoop Dogg - "Drop it like it's hot"

Neptunes aren't the only producers to do this, you can find the same trend in any major producer. Check out some of Timbaland's earlier work and you'll here the same prominent snare used over and over. But you don't hear it that often in tracks like Omarion - "Ice box".

I believe this is what really defines a super producer. We all fall in love with certain sounds that go together. This is a natural occurrence as a producer. But super producers will keep coming out with new sound samples and redevelop their signature sound over and over.

Look at what's happening to Lil Jon. His signature synthesizer and club claps and kicks were used in at least a dozen songs, but now you don't really hear anything from him. I don't want to classify Lil Jon as a super producer or not, but I guarantee that if Lil Jon doesn't come out with new sounds to define his beats that he'll be a nobody in no time.

With the advent of rap music in the mid 70's there emerged a true rap icon that is considered the most consistent among the artists and the musicians because of his unique ability to blend the music to speak in the language of the urban society and maintain the music's heritage at the same time. DJ Quik has four gold and platinum albums to his name and over one hundred million soundscan recordings. Quik also has production experience with 2Pac, Jay-Z, Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre to his credit.

In mid 90's DJ took cues from Dr. Dre's Death Row Records and made a name for himself in the music field. He made records in the g-funk style that inspired him to the level that he learned to use the talkbox from Roger Troutman and George Clinton and later made it a trademark character in his musical creations. In the year 1994, DJ Quik joined Death Row under the management of Suge Knight, the CEO of Death Row and together they went on to produce "Safe + Sound" that had Death Row as a guest appearance. While working with Death Row, Quik produced an unknown amount of songs among which some were never released. Under Quik's production, the most famous of Death Row song is "Heartz of Man", sung by 2Pac on his debut Death Row Record album "All Eyes on Me". Although he is known for the production of the album, DJ also did additional production work of mixing half of the album.

As DJ Quik worked hard against the personal and professional problems, he managed to fathom out of them, however, in the process, he changed his name to Quik and rubbed the DJ out of his name.

The Death Row Records, founded in the year 1991 by Dr. Dre and Suge Knight is considered amongst the most notorious records in the history of music. The label was once the breeding place for some of the stalwarts of music like the Snoop Doggy Dogg, Tupac Shakur and DJ Quik. Dr. Dre whose real name was Andre Romell Young, at one point of his career, left Ruthless Records and started Future Shock Records, a label of his own that was later named the Death Row Records; with Suge Knight and John Payne by his side.

However, in the year 1996, Dr. Dre filed a lawsuit against the label Death Row Records. He alleged that the Death Row and the bankruptcy administrator are trying to sell the copyright of the album featuring hits like “Nuthin” But a ‘G’ Thang” which are exclusively owned by him. He was vocal about his disapproval of the selling of the copyright to the album “The Chronicle”. However, in the year 1992, Dr. Dre permitted the Death Row to distribute the album in exchange of royalties. In an agreement in 1996, Dr. Dre agreed to change hands with the copyright of the album “The Chronicle” in return of royalties. However, in the year 2000 he was compelled to cancel the agreement by claiming that the company who bought the copyright of the album deprived him of the royalties that were promised to him. However, in the year 2008, February 5, Warner Music bought the assets of Death Row for $25 million.

Dr. Dre

Photo: Getty Images

Legendary music genius, Dr. Dre, filed papers on February 5 requesting documents from former label Death Row. His efforts are to help identify the amount of unpaid royalties.

Dr. Dre, real name Andre Young, is doing so under Rule 2004 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, which allows judges to order companies to turn over documents containing sensitive or private information such as financial affairs, assets, and liabilities.

This is not the first time the music mogul has done this. His last filing was in 2007. The disputes are for the royalties of Dr. Dre's solo debut, The Chronic.

The label, at one time, held a power house of artists including Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, 2 Pac, and many more. Dr. Dre originally helped Suge Knight start Death Row in 1991and initially held 50 percent ownership. In 1996, when Dr. Dre decided to part ways, he agreed to surrender his ownership in the company in exchange for royalties. According to Andre, though, Death Row never held its end of the deal.

Suge Knight

Photo: Getty Images

Founder and CEO of the notorious Death Row Records is one of many alleged "gang members" the city officials in Los Angeles banned from a neighborhood in Compton, California.

As reported by the Associate Press, the city officials requested a judge, in a proposed injunction introduced 01/24/08, that members of the street gang "Mob Piru"be banned from staying out past 10:00 PM, drinking alcoholic beverages in public, carrying weapons, or congregating in general.

Marion "Suge" Knight was just one of an estimated 200 people included in the injunction. The Death Row Record mogul said the proposed order was "crazy" and referred to it as a "publicity stunt."

Death Row Records, with infamous tactics of Suge Knight, spawned a generation of hardcore, gangster rap. Many famous artists such as DJ Quik, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg, Kurupt, and Daz owe their roots to Death Row Records.

Kevin Gilliam, better known as DJ Battlecat (or just Battlecat), is best known for his contributions to west coast style productions. His track record includes some of the top artist in the music industry like Snoop Dogg, Kurupt, Tha Eastsidaz along with other west coast rappers.

His musical progressions are strongly influenced by the early '90s G-Funk sound pioneered by artists like Dr. Dre and DJ Quik. This style can be characterized by growling bass synthesizers and soulful keyboard chords.

Take a look at this video of Battlecat in the studio working on his customized Akai MPC 3000.

The Fixxers

Photo: mtv.com

DJ Quik (now known as just Quik) is Compton, California's rap legend. In a recent interview with XXL Magazine that is long-anticipated album with The Fixxers, a coloaboration with AMG, was recently made available for sale on the internet without his permission. The album, "Midnight Life,” was a 12-track compilation which was believed to be released through Interscope and DJ Quik's label Dirty West. As of December 10, 2007, it was available for sale on a MySpace page called the Secret Music Group.

The Secret Music Group looked legitimate and appeared to be affiliated with Quik, AMG, and The Fixxers; but Quik explained this is not the case. He claims the album being offered on MySpace is an unfinished version which was stolen from a prior business partner.

Quik was quick to point out Hudson Baxter as the perpetrator. "He is a nobody from St. Louis who's trying to be Suge Knight, a tough guy, he's trying to be up everybody in Los Angeles… He stole my shit, and he's posting stuff and he's trying to advertise it, " explained DJ Quik.

Stepping away from the Fixxers, Quik will now focus on working with Snoop Dogg on his new, upcoming album Ego Trippin'.

Will.i.am has worked with artists like Justin Timberlake, Fergie, Snoop Dogg, and Nas. This earned him a Grammy nomination for producer of the year. Now will.i.am is teaming up with Michael Jackson to work on his comeback album, which is tentatively rumored to release after the new year.

Check out this exclusive video with will.i.am and Michael Jackson in the studio collaborating.

Michael Jackson and super producer will.i.am have been doing, "a lot of talking on the phone, a lot of brainstorming." Their conversations have involved how Michael Jackson can use new technology, like social networking sites, to help promote the album in hopes to boost sales.

What did Michael Jackson have to say about will.i.am's musical style? "I think he's doing wonderful, innovative, positive, great music," says Michael Jackson.

Also rumored to collaborate on the album is, of course, Akon and even Chris Brown. The release of Michael Jackson's album would be the first since "Invincible" in 2001.