5 common hip hop chord progressions for beatmakers

So much of hip hop is carried forward by rhythm and groove, including the vocals. But hip hop beats and instrumentals are what give the iconic hooks and verses legs to stand on. A significant part of this genre’s sound lies in its underlying harmonic structures — the chord progressions. Knowing at least a handful of essential hip hop chord progressions can transform your track into something captivating, regardless of whether you’re making hard trap or classic boom bap.