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00:00:00 – 00:14:02
The YouTube video delves into the emergence and characteristics of the Barber Beats music genre, tracing its roots and evolution in the 2020s. This genre, characterized by heavily sampled downtempo tracks influenced by trip hop, new jazz, and atmospheric hip-hop, originated from a producer known as Haircuts for Men, with notable works like "Marble Fantasy" and "Down Tumble and Die." The video also credits the record label Alo City World for coining the term 'Barber Beats.'
Prominent artists in the genre include Macroblank, oblique occasions, Modest by Default, and Snowpoint Lounge, the latter known for unique, video game-inspired releases such as "Barber Shop Simulator." The genre's distinctive aesthetic often features vintage yet modern artwork, sometimes involving cultural references like UFC fighters or Pokemon themes.
The creator addresses the genre's controversial aspects, such as minimal modifications to existing samples, stirring debates about originality and artistic integrity. Issues of intellectual property and the struggles around monetizing heavily sampled music are highlighted, noting that entire discographies have been removed from platforms like Bandcamp due to copyright concerns.
Discussions also cover the broader ethical implications of repurposing existing music and the blend of love for physical media with the creative sharing spirit of the genre. Despite these controversies, the genre continues to grow, driven by its catchy nature and the community fostered through live events and shared enthusiasm. Viewer engagement is encouraged to explore the ethical and creative boundaries of Barber Beats.
00:00:00
In this segment of the video, the creator discusses the emergence and characteristics of the online music genre known as Barber beats. This genre, which gained significant popularity in the 2020s, features heavily sampled downtempo tracks inspired by various musical styles like trip hop, new jazz, and atmospheric hip-hop. Despite its popularity, Barber beats are controversial due to the minimal modifications made to the original samples. The video outlines the history of the genre, tracing its origins to a producer called Haircuts for Men (HFM), and mentions significant works like “Marble Fantasy” and “Down Tumble and Die.” Additionally, it points out that the term ‘Barber beats’ was likely coined by Alo City World, a leading record label in promoting this genre. The segment also touches on the distinctive artwork associated with the releases, characterized by vintage yet modern aesthetics.
00:03:00
In this part of the video, the discussion centers around the “haircuts for men” music genre, particularly the notable release “Marble Fantasy,” which is known for its mellow, reverb-soaked drum beats. Other significant projects mentioned include “Down Tumble and Die,” characterized by soothing drums and washed-out vocals. The genre, initially dominated by “haircuts for men,” has seen growth with various artists like Macroblank, oblique occasions, and Modest by Default contributing significantly. Key highlights include Macroblank’s “it hurts forever” and oblique occasions’ “Anathema,” noted for its jazz-influenced samples. The segment also touches on unique projects like those featuring UFC fighters in artwork, and Snowpoint Lounge’s Pokemon-themed releases. Additionally, a brief mention is made about supporting the creator on Patreon and the benefits it offers.
00:06:00
In this part of the video, the creator discusses Snowpoint Lounge’s passion for the series and highlights the slower pace of Brazilian-based artists within the barber beat scene, noting their distinctive atmospheric releases inspired by video games. The mentioned artist’s notable works include “Barber Shop Simulator,” “Metaverse Sports Resort,” and “Pyromaniacs,” all influenced by video game art. The creator mentions an interview with Solar Paace and hints at future discussions about the darker, industrial twist in barber beats showcased in releases like “Skin Dance” and “The Creep Tapes.” The video then addresses the controversial nature of barber beats, which often involve minimal edits to sampled tracks, stirring moral debates about the practice of recycling existing music. Many creators in this scene struggle with labeling themselves as producers or artists due to their heavily sampled content, with some candidly acknowledging this in their online bios.
00:09:00
In this part of the video, the discussion revolves around the challenges and controversies associated with producing and monetizing Barber Beats music. Slower Pace mentions that he views himself as an enthusiast rather than a producer. The segment highlights issues like entire discographies being removed from platforms like Bandcamp due to the heavy sampling of existing music, which raises debates about the originality and effort involved in creating Barber Beats. The narrator reflects on the subjective nature of these controversies, acknowledging that similar low-effort sample manipulation exists in other music genres. They point out the paradoxical evolution of vaporwave into Barber Beats and discuss the financial impracticality of making significant profits from these projects, whether through ad revenue on YouTube or physical releases like vinyl and cassettes. The discussion underscores the complexity of intellectual property in this genre and the blend of love for physical media with the desire to share creative mixtapes.
00:12:00
In this segment of the video, the speaker discusses the ethical and creative boundaries within the music genre of Barber Beats and similar electronic music. They raise questions about the legitimacy of repurposing existing music, such as slowing down or adding drums to samples, and whether this constitutes creativity or theft. The prevalence of such practices is referred to as a sign of the times due to the vast amounts of content uploaded online daily. The speaker expresses appreciation for projects that push the boundaries of sample usage and highlights the importance of live events in fostering community and creativity within the genre. They also solicit opinions from viewers on the ethical considerations of Barber Beats and its appeal, noting the genre’s catchy nature and growth.