The fusion of gritty UK or Brooklyn drill with the haunting, melodic textures of Middle Eastern vocals has created a powerhouse sub-genre. This style—often dubbed "Arabian Drill"—pairs aggressive sliding 808s with traditional vocal "shots" or loops. The Anatomy of an Arabian Drill Beat
Look for dry vocal samples. Add your own "Valhalla" style reverb and a 1/4 note delay to give it that "desert" vastness.
It separates the track from generic "dark" beats.
Try putting a "Gross Beat" or "HalfTime" plugin on the main Arabian melody to create a dark, underwater B-section.
Use portamento on your 808s. When the vocal hits a high note, let the bass slide up to meet it for maximum impact.
151 Comments