Starboy Outtatown Drum Kit -
Here’s a professional write-up for the Starboy Outtatown Drum Kit, suitable for a producer’s marketplace, blog, or social media drop.
Technical Integration
Integration into a DAW workflow is straightforward:
- Import WAV/AIFF one-shots into a sampler (e.g., Simpler, Native Instruments Kontakt, Ableton Drum Rack) for pitch manipulation, ADSR shaping, and layering.
- Use 808s as root notes—tune them to song key via sampler pitch or dedicated 808 plugins, and apply saturation/parallel compression to increase presence.
- Program hi-hat rolls with MIDI or slice hat loops into samplers for velocity variation and natural-feeling humanization.
- Employ transient shapers, EQ (high-pass for non-bass elements), multiband compression, and sidechain techniques to carve space between kick and 808.
- Use staging FX (risers/impacts) at bar changes and automation to maintain interest.
Best practices include normalizing samples, managing headroom (-6 to -12 dB) before bussing for group processing, and creating layered drum chains (e.g., layered sub-kick + click) for clarity across systems.
Who Is This Drum Kit For?
The Starboy Outtatown Drum Kit is not for the EDM producer looking for massive festival kicks. It is specifically designed for:
- Afropop Beginners: You want to make beats like Burna Boy or Rema, but you don't have access to live percussionists. This kit gives you the authentic building blocks.
- R&B Producers: The drums are softer and more organic, perfect for bedroom pop and alt-R&B.
- House & Amapiano Producers: The percussion loops (especially the shekeres) are instantly usable in Amapiano log drum stacks.
Final Pro Tip
Layer this kit with one acoustic drum kit (e.g., Addictive Drums or a 70s break). Blend 80% Starboy / 20% acoustic. The organic texture will make your trap beats stand out from 99% of producers using the same 808s.
Now load up the kit, pick 4 sounds, and make a loop in 10 minutes. Speed and sound selection are everything.
The "Starboy Outtatown" drum kit typically refers to a collection of sound samples (808s, claps, snares, and hi-hats) curated to match the signature production style of . This duo is best known for their work with Playboi Carti (specifically on the Whole Lotta Red Ken Carson Core Elements of the Sound
The production style associated with these kits is characterized by: High Energy/Aggressive Beats:
Often featuring "rage" or "super-trap" influences with heavy distortion and metallic textures. Melodic Contrast:
While Outtatown is often credited with bouncy, "empty" melodies and accent leads, Starboy tends toward fuller, cinematic, or EDM-influenced chord structures. Signature Synths: Production frequently utilizes presets from plugins like Starboy Outtatown Drum Kit
to create the "wah" sounds and synth leads common in the Ken Carson aesthetic. Where to Find Similar Kits
If you are looking for these specific sounds to use in your own production, you can find them through several community and retail platforms: Official/Curated Releases: Producers often release kits on sites like or their own personal websites. Community Forums: Platforms like the Reddit "Drumkits" subreddit
often host user-made "Type" kits that emulate the Starboy and Outtatown sound. YouTube Tutorials:
Starboy & Outtatown production style, characterized by its "chaotic," high-energy Hyperpop and Rage aesthetic for artists like Ken Carson, is often packaged in "stash" or "circuit" kits. These kits typically include a blend of aggressive drums and synth presets for plugins like Serum. Typical Kit Contents
Official and community-curated kits in this style, such as the starboyrob 2023 drum stash , generally contain over 700 sounds: ProducerWAV Percussion One-Shots
: 260+ 808s, 50+ Claps, 60+ Hi-Hats, 60+ Snares, and various Rims/Percs. Melodic Elements : 50+ Bass one-shots and high-quality FX. Utility Files
: Drum MIDI patterns and FL Studio Mixer presets to achieve the signature distorted sound. Synth Banks
: Often includes Serum or Massive presets like "Synth Souls," "Metropolic Lead," and "Fat Rio Bass". Sound Design & Production Tips To replicate the Starboy/Outtatown "Chaos" style: : Use a high BPM, typically between 132 and 146 BPM Key Sounds
: Look for "metal-like" percussion and aggressive, distorted 808s. Essential VSTs Here’s a professional write-up for the Starboy Outtatown
: Serum is the primary synth used for the signature "melee" and "fragile" lead sounds. Where to Find Premium Stash Kits : Available on platforms like ProducerWAV Rocket Powered Sound Free "Type" Kits : Community-made versions like the 2hollis + Starboy Type Kit Starboy Sample Packs Reddit Communities
The Starboy Outtatown Drum Kit is a foundational toolkit for the "Rage" and "Hyperpop" trap subgenres, curated by the production duo responsible for defining the sounds of artists like Playboi Carti, Ken Carson, and Lil Uzi Vert. Signature Sound & Core Features
This kit focuses on a high-energy, digital aesthetic characterized by:
"Crunchy" Instrumentation: High-distortion drum samples designed to cut through dense, "maximalist" synth walls.
Futuristic 808s: Booming, glitchy bass lines that are often heavily processed to sound "liquid-metallic".
Hyperpop Elements: Crisp, high-pitched claps and "noise hats" that drive the fast-paced (often 140+ BPM) rhythms common in Ken Carson's A Great Chaos era.
Bouncy Percussion: Unlike Starboy’s solo EDM-leaning cinematic sounds, the collaborative kits lean into Outtatown’s "bouncy" and "empty" rhythmic style to create more room for vocal flows. Production Applications
Producers use this kit primarily to achieve the "Evil" or "Addictive" beat styles popularized on albums like Whole Lotta Red and X.
Dynamics: To avoid a "static" sound, users often bus percussion elements (kick, clap, percs) and use them to sidechain the high-end, creating a more professional, moving groove. Technical Integration Integration into a DAW workflow is
Complementary Tools: The drums are frequently paired with synth presets from Massive and Serum, specifically "metal-like" leads and "aggressive" plucks. Community Reception
The Starboy & Outtatown Drum Kit is widely regarded as a staple for producers aiming to capture the signature "Rage" and "Hyperpop" sound popularized by artists like Ken Carson and Trippie Redd. Key Highlights
Signature "Rage" Sound: These kits are essential for creating the high-energy, distorted, and synth-heavy beats characteristic of the modern underground scene.
Industry Standard Quality: Many users highlight that these kits contain the exact "industry standard" sounds used in major placements, including hits from Ken Carson’s X and A Great Chaos.
Versatile Percussion: While famous for aggressive 808s, the kits also include "bouncy" and "fun" plucky sounds that add unique textures to beats.
Production Credibility: Starboy and Outtatown are credited with pioneering the "Rage" sound, giving their kits immediate authority and reliability for professional use. Example Review
"If you're trying to make beats like Ken Carson or Yeat, this kit is non-negotiable. The 808s have that perfect mix of punch and distortion without muddying up the low end. It’s not just a collection of recycled sounds; you can tell these are the exact tools used on some of the biggest tracks in the underground right now. It definitely saves time when you need that specific 'Rage' bounce instantly."
For more insights into the specific production techniques of these kits, you can check out tutorials on platforms like YouTube. star boy | Credits - Dork
Why It Works
The Starboy Outtatown kit isn’t about loudness. It’s about space. Every sound has air between its transients. The 808s are deep but pillowy — they don’t rumble your car trunk; they sink into your chest like a secret. The melodic loops (yes, there are a few — warped guitar plucks, a detuned music box, a vocal chop saying something that might be “outtatown” backwards) feel like memories you never had.
This is the kit you reach for when you want to make beats that sound like they were made in a basement underneath a closed roller rink. It’s the sound of leaving the city but not knowing where you’re going.
1. The Kicks (Subsonic & Knocking)
The kicks are not designed for 808 Mafia style distortion. Instead, they focus on the "click" and the "thump."
- The "Starboy" Kick: Short decay, heavy top-end click (around 5-8kHz), and a sub tail that lasts exactly one beat. It sits perfectly under a bassline without clashing.
- The "Outtatown" Kick: This is rounder, often layered with a bit of saturation. It sounds like a fist hitting a leather couch. It has mids.
Limitations and Critiques
- Homogenization: Popular kits can lead to similar-sounding productions across artists, reducing uniqueness unless samples are heavily manipulated.
- Overprocessing: Pre-processed samples can limit flexibility; producers may prefer raw one-shots for custom shaping.
- Quality variance: Not all kits maintain consistent sample quality—some may contain noisy or poorly edited files requiring extra cleanup.