Beats, breaks, and brilliance: Hip-Hop & R&B masters inspire the next wave at Loyola New Orleans University We teamed up with Loyola University New Orleans, along with our fellow brands from the Focusrite Group, to host an event to provide an in-depth look at Hip-Hop and R&B production styles from some of these genres' most acclaimed creators.
The final weekend of September wasn't just another date on the calendar for students at Loyola University-it was a transformative moment for aspiring producers and the future of hip-hop and R&B. Presented by the Focusrite Group, the event turned the university's state-of-the-art production spaces into hubs of creativity, education, and inspiration.
Designed in partnership with Loyola's renowned Hip-Hop and R&B program, which is part of Billboard's annual Top Music Business Schools list, the event brought together GRAMMY winners and iconic names in production, including DJ Spin, KC da Producer, Josh Gannet, Rockwilder, and Deezle. These veterans, whose work spans legends like Wu-Tang Clan, Jay-Z, and Lil Wayne, didn't just share insights; they deconstructed their creative processes, spoke about their journey from starting to being at the top of their game, and echoed the importance of collaboration.
Keynote speaker and program architect Lovell U-P Cooper underscored the program's mission to democratise access to high-quality tools and expertise. When you get people like Rockwilder or Deezle here, the first thing they say is, If I had this in the '90s ' That's exactly why we're doing this. We're giving young producers the tools, the studios, and the mentorship we only dreamed of back then.
The event wasn't just about theory; it was about action. Students explored hands-on workshops led by the guest producers, dissecting track creation, perfecting mixes, and learning how to approach their work with both precision and vision. The day culminated in students showcasing their own productions-receiving direct, constructive feedback from the panelists themselves.
Raney Antoine Jr., another of Loyola's Hip-Hop & R&B professors, reflected on the impact of this transparent approach. The pros didn't just highlight their successes-they talked about the mistakes, the missed opportunities, and the lessons they've learned. That's the stuff our students need because we're here to prepare them for the real world, not sell them a fantasy.
Behind the scenes, the Focusrite Group has been integral to shaping Loyola's cutting-edge studio ecosystem, which features our renowned RedNet and Red audio interfaces. These Dante -enabled systems allow seamless collaboration across the university's five studios, creating a dynamic, interconnected learning environment. This innovative setup has not only revolutionised the way students learn music production but also proved its adaptability during the pandemic by enabling remote ensemble recordings.
To cap the event, Focusrite donated funds to Save the Music, specifically for J Dilla Music Technology Grants in New Orleans schools - an ongoing commitment we take for nurturing the next wave of musical talent, from high school classrooms to university studios.
For students, hobbyists alike, and aspiring creators and engineers, the event was a reminder: the tools, knowledge, and connections you need to create the next big hit aren't just for industry insiders anymore. They're accessible-and they're waiting for you to dive in.
Most recent headlines
18/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
18/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
18/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
18/12/2025
Long-term agreement includes the SES SCORE platform and hybrid distribution worldwide to deliver more than 5,000 hours of golf tournaments annually featuring th...
17/12/2025
Investigative journalists across the Western Balkans and T rkiye continue to con...
17/12/2025
Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame Inducts 10 Industry Icons During Unforgettable ...
17/12/2025
ESPN to Debut MNF Playbook with Next Gen Stats, a New AI-Driven NFL Data-AltCastThe series, powered by Adrenaline TruPlay AI, launches Dec. 22 and runs through ...
17/12/2025
Inaugural Optum Golf Channel Games Debut Under the Lights' in Primetime on ...
17/12/2025
The right playlist is essential on New Year's Eve, building the energy as you get ready and keeping it high as you count down to midnight. This year, Spotif...
17/12/2025
eds3_5_jq(document).ready(function($) { $(#eds_sliderM519).chameleonSlider_2_1({...
17/12/2025
Audiences Watched Over 103 Billion Minutes of TV on Thanksgiving Day
NFL Games ...
17/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
17/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
17/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
17/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
17/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
17/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
17/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
17/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
17/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
17/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
17/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
17/12/2025
KPop Demon Hunters Stars Visit Berklee for Weeklong Celebration Andrew Choi and EJAE, who voiced the film's main characters and contributed to its soundtr...
17/12/2025
December 17 2025, 17:00 (PST) Dolby and LG Unveil a New Era of Home Audio With ...
17/12/2025
Wednesday 17 December 2025
Heated Rivalry will be coming to Sky and streaming service NOW on 10 JanuaryTurn on cookies to view this content. Go to Privacy opti...
17/12/2025
Back to All News
Inside The Unseen World Of Indian Customs: Netflix Reveals The...
17/12/2025
Back to All News
Netflix announces PAPARAZZI KING: the docu series coming to Ne...
17/12/2025
Back to All News
Netflix Unveils First Look at Jo Nesbo's Detective Hole Pr...
17/12/2025
Back to All News
Netflix Welcomes Warner Bros. Discovery Board Recommendation
Business
17 December 2025
Global
Link copied to clipboard
After Careful Revi...
17/12/2025
RT has announced that Kathy Fox has been appointed Commissioning Editor with re...
17/12/2025
The Hao AI Lab research team at the University of California San Diego - at the forefront of pioneering AI model innovation - recently received an NVIDIA DGX B...
17/12/2025
Editor's note: This post is part of Into the Omniverse, a series focused on ...
17/12/2025
With the new season of Dancing with the Stars shimmering in the not-too-distant future this New Year, the celebrity and dancer pairings of the twelve couples ha...
16/12/2025
Hawkins has landed on Spotify, just in time for Stranger Things Season 5, Volume...
16/12/2025
Wherever you are, your favorite music and audio content should go seamlessly with you. That's why Spotify has partnered with NAVER Corp, Korea's leading...
16/12/2025
2025 Wrapped arrived bigger and bolder than ever. This year's experience is designed to be ultra personal and shareable, with new features like Wrapped Part...
16/12/2025
Three 12-kilowatt Advanced Electric Propulsion System thrusters, supplied by L3Harris Technologies, form the core of Gateway's propulsion system. Pictured i...
16/12/2025
The challenge facing America's defense industrial base is not just about speed - its about rebuilding the foundation that makes speed possible. Our nations ...
16/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
16/12/2025
SEVILLE, Spain Canal Sur, the public broadcasting service for Andalusia, Spain, has completed a total technology refresh based on Pebble's resilient, softwa...
16/12/2025
NEW YORK Teleprompting hardware provider Telescript International has acquired all software code and intellectual property previously owned by Telescript West. ...
16/12/2025
As cable operators face increased competition from 5G fixed wireless access providers, a new report from Ookla Research finds that T-Mobile is the FWA speed lea...
16/12/2025
Apple has announced a major upgrade to the Apple TV app for device owners outside the Apple ecosystem with news that the Apple TV app for Android now supports G...
16/12/2025
Space42 grows Direct-to-Device partner ecosystem through a Memorandum of Underst...
16/12/2025
16 Dec 2025
VEON Announces Release Date for Full Year and Fourth Quarter 2025 R...
16/12/2025
16 Dec 2025
VEON's Kyivstar Invests in Renewable Energy in Ukraine with Acq...
16/12/2025
Back to All News
Emma Appleton, Fares Fares, Frida Gustavsson and Jakob Oftebro...
16/12/2025
Back to All News
Docu-reality My Korean Boyfriend Gets a Trailer and Premiere D...
16/12/2025
Harmonic's XOS Advanced Media Processor Improves Streaming Video Quality and Boosts Viewer Engagement SAN JOSE, Calif. - Dec. 16, 2025 - Harmonic (NASDAQ: ...
Beats, breaks, and brilliance: Hip-Hop & R&B masters inspire the next wave at Loyola New Orleans University We teamed up with Loyola University New Orleans, along with our fellow brands from the Focusrite Group, to host an event to provide an in-depth look at Hip-Hop and R&B production styles from some of these genres' most acclaimed creators.
