How to Make a Jersey Club Beat: Tempo, Kick Pattern and Sound

You can spot jersey club right away: fast, bouncy kicks, chopped vocals and that famous bed squeak sound. It shows up more and more in rap and pop. Below you'll build your own jersey club beat step by step. It works in any DAW, and the examples use FL Studio terms.

What is jersey club?

Jersey club comes from Newark, New Jersey, and took shape in the late 1990s and early 2000s. It was first called Brick City club, after Newark's nickname. The style grew out of Baltimore club, but Jersey producers went for harder kicks and more chopped samples. Well-known names from the early days include DJ Tameil and the Brick Bandits crew. These days you can hear its influence in mainstream rap too, for example in Lil Uzi Vert's "Just Wanna Rock", which became a big hit in 2023.

The tempo: 130 to 140 BPM

Jersey club usually sits between 130 and 140 BPM. Unlike trap, it isn't half-time: it feels as fast as the number says. Read more about the tempo on our jersey club BPM page. Want to know the tempo of a reference track? Drop it into the free Beat Lab.

Step 1: the kick pattern

This is the base of almost every jersey club beat. The pattern is two quarter notes, two dotted eighths and one eighth. In a 16-step sequencer, put the kick on:

  • step 1
  • step 5
  • step 9
  • step 12
  • step 15

Listen to it: that's the familiar "boom, boom, boom-boom-boom". Swap it for a quick kick roll or triplets at the end of a phrase to get that bouncy jersey feel. Pick a kick with a tight attack and enough low end, because the kick carries the whole beat.

Step 2: clap, hi-hats and percussion

A clap or snare on beats two and four keeps things clear. Around that you can sprinkle percussion: short hi-hats, rimshots or a shaker. Keep it light. The kick should stay the main character.

Step 3: vocal chops and the bed squeak

Chopped vocals are a big part of the sound. Think short, stuttering bits of voice, call and response between two chops and short shouts that land on the kick. The bed squeak sound is just as recognizable.

Do watch the rights. Using a sample from an existing song without permission can get your release into trouble. Record a few words yourself, use royalty-free sounds or chop your own vocals. That way you're always safe.

Step 4: 808 and melody

An 808 that moves with the kick gives the beat its weight. Keep the melody simple: a short loop with a piano, pluck or synth often works better than a full chord progression, because the drums already move so much. Need chords? Try the free chord generator.

Step 5: an arrangement with room for an artist

Making the beat for a rapper or singer? Leave room. Take out a few elements in the verses, like the vocal chops, and bring them back in the hook. A short break with just the melody before the hook makes the kicks hit even harder when they come back.

Jersey club in rap and pop

Jersey club often gets mixed with other styles, like drill and trap. A few examples from the shop, so you can hear how that sounds:

Find more beats by Hooptie Beats in the NAME & Friends: Hooptie Beats collection. Type beats are inspired by an artist's style. The artist isn't involved.

FAQ

What BPM is jersey club?

Usually between 130 and 140 BPM, without a half-time feel.

Is jersey club the same as Baltimore club?

No, but they're related. Jersey club grew out of Baltimore club and usually uses harder kicks and more chopped samples.

Can I make jersey club in FL Studio?

Yes. You can set up the kick pattern in the step sequencer in seconds. It works just as well in Logic Pro, Ableton or any other DAW.

Can I use the bed squeak sample?

Don't use samples from existing songs without permission. Pick royalty-free sounds or record something yourself.

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