Best Studio Monitors for Hip Hop & Rap Music

Author: Dedrich Schafer | Updated: | This post may contain affiliate links.

If you are just getting into hip hop and rap production, a good set of monitors is vital. Without them you won’t be able to judge if what you are producing sounds good or not.

To that end, here is a quick look at some of the best studio monitors for producing hip hop and rap music.

8 Best Studio Monitors for Hip Hop & Rap

1. Yamaha HS8

Yamaha is one of the most common names in professional audio. Their equipment can be found in both home and professional studios.

The HS8 is one of their best monitors. With a quality in sound that some monitors twice the price can’t even compete with.

This monitor sounds fantastic across the frequency spectrum. The low end is meaty and has a great thump to it. The bass is especially impressive for how powerful it is. You won’t be needing a subwoofer with the HS8.

The mids are deep with a nice warmth, and the highs are crisp and crystal clear. On top of that, you have a very flat frequency response for accurate sound.

There is also a nice tightness to the sound. I never felt like the bass was overpowering or the highs were piercing.

If you make very bass heavy hip hop and rap, the low end is going to make it pop. Or your beats are more lofi, melody driven, the mids and highs are going to sound crisp and smooth.

At the back you have controls for High Trim and Room Control. I found the Room Control especially useful.

If you have the HS8 set up close to a wall, you can adjust the Room Control. This is to prevent bass buildup, keeping the sound clean.

These are 8 inch speakers, So, they aren’t the most budget friendly. They also take up quite a bit of space on a desk. The HS8s also come in an install version if space is limited.


2. ADAM Audio T7V

ADAM Audio has won over many professionals with their AX and S series monitors. Their T series, like the T7V, is their entry into the entry-level market.

This is definitely a worthy contender in the entry-level range of monitors. The T7V is well designed and offers a fantastic audio experience.

Highs are clear and refined, while the bass is punchy and responsive. The mids are also clear and smooth, although I didn’t notice a little bit of mush in the lower mids. Not too noticeable to hamper the experience, but it is there.

If you are working with a lot of bass, which is often the case with rap and hip hop, I would recommend a subwoofer. The bass is strong enough on the monitors alone, but they certainly benefit from a sub for those very deep lows.

The best way I can describe the overall sound is transparent. Every detail is crisp and clearly audible. 

If your songs are very busy with a ton of effects and instruments, being able to hear everything clearly is vital. With the T7V you will be able to create some very complex hip hop tracks.

Something that I appreciate is the look of the T7V. Monitors tend too look a bit same-y. But ADAM Audio has at least given the tweeter a distinct look and added some angles to the front of the monitor. This isn’t a big deal, but it is a nice way of making the monitors a bit more visually appealing. 


3. Kali Audio LP-6 V2

Kali Audio is constantly surprising me with the excellent quality of their monitors. The LP-6 V2, an updated version of the LP-6, has quickly become my favorite monitor of theirs.

The V2 might be an updated LP-6, but I feel like it is a totally new monitor. The improvements made over the previous version are just incredible.

Clarity is present across the frequency range. The highs are crisp, without ever becoming harsh or too bright.

The mids are full, rich, and well rounded. Vocals are especially nice, which is great since hip hop and rap vocals are mostly in the midrange.

The low end is the real stand out for me. It has a lovely warmth and depth to it, while still being punchy and accurate. If you make hip hop that is a bit lighter on bass, I think you might be inclined to start adding more once you have listened to the V2.

As for the size and power, it is nice to have a monitor that is a middle ground between 5 and 8 inch monitors. Sometimes 5 inches isn’t enough, but 8 inches is too much. The V2 sits in that Goldie Locks space, just right.

Apart from the sound, my favorite part of this monitor is the handy diagram at the back. This shows you the best RCA settings for the monitor depending on its positioning and whether it is mounted or not.

The only downside is that the V2 is only available as individual monitors. No set or bundle options available.


4. JBL 305P MKII

JBL is one of the biggest names in professional audio. They make some of the best monitors on the market.

And they don’t just make high end monitors. The 305P MKII is not just one of their best entry-level monitors, but an excellent entry-level monitor in general.

The highs and mids are both crisp and clear. But the lows are where the 305P really performs.

For hip hop and rap producers, I think you will be quite impressed with the low end. There is some extra emphasis on the low end, giving the 305Ps some heavy, punchy bass.

I was very impressed by how big these monitors sound. This is thanks to JBL’s Image Control Waveguide, giving the speaker a wider sound stage. Even though this is a smaller monitor, they work great in a larger studio.

One thing I noticed was that the monitors have a slight hiss. This seems to only occur at low volumes, with medium and high volume having no issues. It isn’t too bad, but it is enough to be noticeable.

The frequency response is also not as wide as even other 5 inch monitors. The frequency range is 49Hz to 20kHz. You will be missing out on some detail in the low and high end.

The 305P is also fairly lightweight and compact, even compared to other 5 inch monitors. They are pretty easy to move around, and they don’t take up too much space. Great if you don’t have a ton of space on your desk.


5. KRK ROKIT 5 G4

While not as popular as some brands, KRK is no stranger to professional audio. Their monitors can be found in many home and professional studios.

The ROKIT 5 G4 is part of their new series. The G4 being the new version of their highly popular G3 series.

The G4 has a much better balance than the G3. The lows and highs are less pronounced, giving a much more even listening experience.

The redesigned front facing port has also added extra punch and definition to the low end. This makes the G4 much better suited for hip hop and rap producers.

The ROKIT 5 also has some great features. You can download the KRK app that allows control over the monitor.

With the app, you can adjust the EQ on the monitor and even use it to calibrate the monitor. This is an easy and convenient way to set the monitors up according to your room for the best sound.

What impressed me the most is the frequency response of the ROKIT 5. Somehow, KRK has managed to give the ROKIT 5 a frequency response of 40Hz to 40kHz.

That is more than some high end monitors. That is more than I think I have ever seen on a 5 inch monitor.

Unfortunately, the frequency response isn’t the flattest. There are dips and boosts here and there, so sound recreation isn’t as accurate as on other monitors. Despite that, I would say the frequency response is still flat enough and your mixing should really suffer for it.


6. Mackie HR 824

For mixing modern beats in trap, hip-hop, and rap, I rely heavily on my Mackie HR 824 monitors. I previously used the Mark 1 version, but this upgrade is exceptional.

When Mackie initially released these monitors, many high-end engineers were doubtful. This was because Mackie is known more for level and PA system type monitoring.

However, when the reviews started pouring in, many in the dance and hip-hop communities were amazed at the bass these monitors could reproduce.

The frequency response specs are 37 Hz to 20 kHz, which is impressive for a system without a subwoofer. What really stands out is how it creates the bass.

Using a technology called zero-edge baffle design, they've managed to create an acoustic transducer that captures the attack of sounds excellently.

What makes these monitors ideal for hip-hop is their ability to capture the transient attack of the 808 kicks and the overall punch in the 90 - 180 Hz range, contrary to the common belief that the punch in hip-hop comes from the subs.

These monitors accurately capture that range. They also have excellent power amplification, something Mackie has always been known for.

By using a fast recovery (FR) amplifier, the woofer recovers at a faster speed than usual, allowing it to constantly be at its optimal range for percussive sounds and kicks.

Despite the limited high-frequency range, the 1-inch titanium dome tweeter has a very accurate and neutral tone while still sounding polished. This is essential for producing great hi-hats and synth tones, which are equally important for hip-hop and rap music.

The only issue I've had with these monitors is that I've blown a woofer before, but that could have been due to me turning the volume up too high! I can't help it; they just sound that good.


7. Barefoot Sound Footprint02

For all EDM fans, Barefoot sound monitors are a common sight in big producers' studios, from deadmau5 to Calvin Harris. These artists mix their music through these high-quality monitors.

As the worlds of hip-hop and electronic music have merged, hip-hop and rap artists like Drake, Timbaland, and Snoop Dogg have also adopted Barefoot monitors.

These Barefoot Footprint02 monitors are known for their massive sound, despite the relatively small size. These are the monitors you'll want to crank up when the label head is reviewing and approving your record; they'll be up and bouncing with joy hearing the beats come through these monitors.

Barefoot monitors are active three-way monitors that consist of a 1-inch dual ring radiator tweeter, a 4-inch aluminum cone mid-range driver, and two opposing 6.5-inch dual force subwoofers. Interestingly, the subwoofers are on the side of the speaker, not on the front like most woofers.

The Class D Design amplifiers are part of what makes these monitors special. Each speaker has a DSP crossover and its own driver, so the subwoofers receive 200W while the high-frequency drivers get 150W.

As if all of this wasn't enough, they come loaded with MEME technology, which stands for Multi Emphasis Monitor Emulation. This feature virtually transforms your monitors into other popular monitors, such as vintage and consumer playback, and many other popular ways of listening to music.

This is an innovative solution to the ongoing challenge of mixing in hi-fi setups and professional studios: how will it sound through cheap computer speakers or car speakers?

 This is usually something addressed during the mastering session, but now you can actually mix through different consumer scenarios, which is very useful, especially for hip-hop.


8. Dynaudio BM6A

The Dynaudio BM6A, a true and ruthless speaker, is a worthy replacement for my old NS 10 monitors. Its sound is polished and beautiful, yet unforgiving if your mix is off.

This is ideal for hip-hop and rap, as the wide range of frequencies - from high lead synths to sub 808 kicks and Moog basses - requires absolute accuracy.

I primarily use my BM6A for vocals. While some speakers may sound great and glossy, they might overemphasize the highs and lows, creating a misleading impression of where the vocal sits.

This is not the case with the BM6A. It offers a perfect stereo image, and whether you're listening through AirPods or Coachella stage speakers, I'm confident that your vocals will translate well.

Another advantage of these speakers is the clean bass produced by the 6.7-inch woofer. Although the bass only goes down to 41 Hz, the overtones are very true, and mine reflect around 34 Hz.

They also have a great tuning system and a bass reflex back cabinet that minimizes false perceptions of excessive bass.

The BM6A is ideal for hip-hop and rap due to its magnesium silicate polymer frequency driver, which provides an excellent transient response for beats. Although the tweeter only goes up to 21 Hz on paper, I've used these speakers with a Manley Massive Passive EQ that shelves up to 27 kHz, and I've heard overtones and harmonics of up to 28 kHz.

The design of these speakers, combined with the excellent SPL handling, provides one of the most precise and clean signals for mixing bass-driven music such as dance, hip-hop, and rap - a credit to their MOSFET amplifiers.

My only wish is that these monitors were a bit lighter. Their solid construction makes them quite heavy, requiring a sturdy stand.


Choosing the Right Monitors for Hip Hop and Rap Production

If you want to make the best hip hop and rap possible, you are going to need the right set of monitors. Here are a few things to consider when picking out a set of monitors.

Active vs Passive 

Monitors come in two varieties: active and passive.

Active monitors have a built in amp that requires batteries or an external power supply to work. Passive monitors don’t have a built in amp and require an external one.

Along with this, active monitors usually have additional features like mic preamps, EQ, etc. This needs to all be added externally with passive monitors.

This does mean that passive monitors are generally much cheaper than active monitors. However, the cost of adding an external amp and other features can quickly increase the total cost.

Active monitors are a good all-in-one solution. Good active monitors also don’t have to set you back thousands of dollars. Even if you are just starting out, active monitors are a better option since they will give you more to work with for longer.

Size

While it is easy to assume that bigger is better, this isn’t really the case. Just because a monitor is bigger, doesn’t automatically mean that you are going to get a better sound.

You should keep in mind the size of your studio. Sound bounces around, and bigger monitors generally produce more power. This in turn creates more sound, which will then bounce around more.

If your studio is in a small room, maybe your bedroom even, smaller monitors will be better. You will have less sound bouncing around that could end up ruining the overall sound, affecting your ability to mix and master.

Space

You also need to consider the space available. Are you placing the monitors on your desk or are you mounting them?

Larger monitors will need more space on a desk, or behind it if you are mounting them. Smaller monitors will, of course, need less space.

You also need to consider the space available between you and the monitors, as well as between the monitors themselves. The reason for this is that you want the monitors to be equidistant from each other and from you.

This simply means that the distance between the monitors, and the distance between them and you, is the same. Larger monitors need to be further from you and each other than smaller monitors.

Frequency Response

Frequency response refers to how a monitor reacts to certain frequencies. In other words how it boosts or suppresses a frequency.

The ideal monitor will have as flat a frequency response as possible. Meaning that no frequencies are being boosted or suppressed more than any others.

You also don’t want monitors that color frequencies. This is so that you are present with a neutral tone that is as accurate as possible.

Since hip hop and rap consists of a lot of beats, rhythms, and samples, it is important that the sound doesn’t change anywhere. This is so that you are able to fine tune as accurately as possible.

But since there is also a great emphasis on bass in hip hop, you want monitors that have a good low end response. Make sure the monitor covers a wide range of low frequencies, and is able of producing a punchy, impactful bass.

Most good monitors won’t require a subwoofer. But make sure the monitor has good bass before buying it.

Tuning Features

Finally, as the frequency response can vary depending on your room's acoustics and monitor placement, I advise hip-hop and rap producers to purchase monitors that can be tuned to their specific spaces.

This includes the ability to adjust bass or treble based on the room's reflections. Although bass and sub-bass are crucial for hip-hop and rap, they must be accurately represented.

Hearing a subharmonic reflection from your cabinet bouncing off a wall due to close proximity, without any adjustment, could be detrimental. Monitors like the Mackies and Dynaudios offer a variety of tuning tools, conveniently located on the speaker's back.

Some speakers even have digital DSP capabilities to optimize their placement and performance within a room. While these features may entail a higher cost, they are well worth it, in my opinion.

Final Thoughts

This is certainly not a definitive list of the best studio monitors for hip hop and rap. This is just a handful of some of the best monitors available.

This list should serve as a good starting point for anyone unsure of what to choose. It should as serve as a good way of gauging what to look for in a good hip hop studio monitor.

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About Dedrich Schafer

Dedrich is a guitar player, songwriter and sound engineer with extensive music production and studio experience. He mostly listens to classic rock and punk bands, but sometimes also likes listening to rap and acoustic songs.

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