Hitmaka Drum Kit May 2026

The Ultimate Guide to the Hitmaka Drum Kit: Recreating the "Biggest Sound in the Room"

In the landscape of modern hip-hop and R&B, few producer tags are as instantly recognizable as the pitched-down, confident drawl: “Hitmaka.”

Whether you are listening to YG’s “Big Bank,” Ty Dolla $ign’s “Love U Better,” or Chloe x Halle’s “Do It,” the sonic signature is unmistakable. Hitmaka (formerly known as Yung Berg) has pivoted from artist to one of the most sought-after beatmakers of the 2020s. His secret? A gritty, loud, and incredibly polished mixing style, anchored by a very specific collection of sounds.

For producers searching for the Hitmaka drum kit, you aren’t just looking for 808s. You are looking for the secret sauce to make your tracks slap as hard as a Timbaland track but sound as buttery as a Mustard beat. hitmaka drum kit

In this article, we will break down exactly what makes the Hitmaka sound, what drums he actually uses, where to find the kits, and how to mix them to achieve that "Wall of Sound" texture.

A. 808s (The Core of His Sound)

Sliding 808s: Multiple samples of 808s with built-in pitch slides (a signature Hitmaka move).
Saturated & Distorted: Warm, analog-style saturation (like an SP-1200 or pushed SSL console).
Sub-heavy: Clean, deep sub-808s without mids for minimal beats.
Short & Long Decay: Versions for tight pop-R&B and extended trap verses.

What’s Actually in the Kit?

Forget 5,000 random samples. Hitmaka’s signature kit (often leaked, debated, and worshiped on r/drumkits) is lean and deadly. You’ll find: The Ultimate Guide to the Hitmaka Drum Kit:

Lazy, swung hi-hats – pitched down, with a touch of shuffle. They don’t rush; they float.
Soft but piercing claps – not the aggressive trap clap. The “shoulder roll” clap. The kind that sits behind the vocal.
Bouncy 808s – short decay, clean distortion, and often layered with a subtle kick for punch. These don’t rattle your trunk—they massage it.
Toms and percussion fills – used sparingly, but when they appear, they feel like breath between bars.
Vocal chops and texture hits – because Hitmaka builds beats like a DJ first; rhythm isn’t just drums, it’s atmosphere.

The Signature "Hitmaka" Sound Profile

To understand the kit, you have to understand the producer’s philosophy: "Less is more, but the bounce is everything." Hitmaka’s drums are designed to leave room for the vocalist while making the head nod immediately. Here is the breakdown of the four core elements.

The "Soft Clipper" Trick (Essential)

Hitmaka’s engineer, Ivy Berry, has revealed in interviews that they clip the master channel aggressively. Sliding 808s: Multiple samples of 808s with built-in

Turn up your drums hitting the master channel.
Insert a Soft Clipper (or Fruity Soft Clipper in FL).
Push the gain until the waveform just starts to square off.
Result: The 808 and kick will glue together, sounding loud without digital distortion.

The "Mid/Side" EQ on 808s

To sound like Hitmaka, your 808s need to be mono below 100hz and wide above 100hz. Use a plugin like Ozone Imager to make the sub frequencies narrow and the distortion wide.