Hip-Hop Frequency Spectrum vs. Pink Noise
Five Hip-Hop records measured against pink noise, every track gain-matched to -14 LUFS:
- Kendrick Lamar “Not Like Us”
- Travis Scott “FE!N (feat. Playboi Carti)”
- Central Cee & Lil Baby “BAND4BAND”
- GloRilla “TGIF”
- Doechii “DENIAL IS A RIVER”
Hip-hop is the sub genre: 20–60 Hz sits nearly 11 dB above pink, fully mono, and the bass and low mids follow at +6 and +4. The midrange is a couple of dB over pink and the highs taper to 5 dB under, and the stereo image is narrow all the way up.
Hip-Hop frequency spectrum vs. other genres
The same pink-noise comparison for two related genres and three very different ones.
Hip-Hop Mixing Guide: instrument frequency ranges and levels
The kick and sub outlines overlap at 29–100 Hz; in these records they are effectively the same part. A snare is outlined in only one track, at 193–205 Hz.
| REFFREY // Hip-Hop Parts Breakdown | ||
|---|---|---|
| Part | Level vs loudest | Peak frequency |
| Foundations | ||
| SUB | −10 to 0 dB | 29–100 Hz |
| KICK | 0 dB | 29–100 Hz |
| SNARE | −10 dB | 193–205 Hz |
| Mids | ||
| SUPPORT | −30 to −26 dB | 293 Hz – 6 kHz |
| PROMINENCE | −15 to −3 dB | 539 Hz – 3.8 kHz |
| Highs | ||
| AIR | −50 to −41 dB | 6–22 kHz |
| SPLASH | −32 to −25 dB | 6–22 kHz |
How loud each part peaks compared with the song’s loudest part (0 dB). Not a fader setting. Each range covers all five tracks, every one gain-matched to -14 LUFS, so the balance compares across tracks and across genres.
Hip-Hop parts vs. other genres
Where Hip-Hop’s sub, kick, snare and mid layers sit next to five other genres.
Hip-Hop Full Reference Stack: Peak, Average, and Stereo Width curves
Average (filled) and peak (dashed) spectra of every reference, with the stereo width strip below. Width is the side-to-mid level per frequency, averaged over the analyzed section: 0 dB means the sides are as loud as the centre, MONO means there is no difference between left and right at all.
Reference tracks and sections analyzed
The 5 Hip-Hop tracks behind this RefMap and the section of each that was analyzed. This is the Hip-Hop set that ships inside REFFREY.
- Kendrick LamarNot Like Us
- Travis ScottFE!N (feat. Playboi Carti)
- Central Cee & Lil BabyBAND4BAND
- GloRillaTGIF
- DoechiiDENIAL IS A RIVER
Captured September 2026 from the REFFREY default set “Hip-Hop”. Analysis only — no audio is included.
Mix like the Pros with REFFREY
This Hip-Hop set ships inside REFFREY. Load it, drop your mix on top, and DIFF and PARTS show exactly where yours differs — in real time from your DAW.