16 bars (drums, bass, and main piano). Consider "airing out" the verse by pulling back some musical elements so the rapper has room.
To get an old-school sound, avoid clean digital pianos. Use upright piano patches or degrade the sound with effects like RC-20 , iZotope Vinyl , or bit-crushing to add warmth and "noise". boom_bap_type_beat_piano_instru_rap_old_school_...
Watch this breakdown to see how to layer these elements into a finished beat: 16 bars (drums, bass, and main piano)
Aim for a range between 80 to 100 BPM . Lower BPMs (80-88) often provide a better "groove" and "drag" for that classic 90s feel. Use upright piano patches or degrade the sound
Keep hi-hats simple. A secret technique is to shift every other hi-hat slightly off-grid to create a "dragging" effect.
Add a layer of vinyl crackle or tape noise throughout the beat. Side-chain this noise to your kick so it "breathes" with the rhythm. 5. Song Structure
4-8 bars (fading out with the original piano sample).