GoKawiilProducer Decap discusses his gear behind sample packs used by Kendrick Lamar, Bad Bunny
Nicholas Piantedosi, known as Decap, is the producer behind the Drums That Knock sample pack series, now on its 11th release since debuting in 2016. His sounds have been used across tracks by Kendrick Lamar, Olivia Rodrigo, Charli XCX, Bad Bunny, BTS and Ludwig Göransson's Oppenheimer score, and producer Kenny Beats credited him with having 'changed a million lives with a single snare.'
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The interview highlights how influence in modern music production can come from behind-the-scenes tool and sample creators rather than visible artists, suggesting a shift in how sonic trends spread across genres. His comments on phone speakers point to an ongoing tension between producers' pursuit of low-end fidelity and the reality that most listeners hear music on limited hardware.
- Decap created the widely used Drums That Knock sample pack series, now in its 11th edition.
- His sounds appear on tracks by major artists including Kendrick Lamar, Bad Bunny, and BTS, and in Oppenheimer's score.
- He relies on Ableton Live and a 1998 Boss SP-202 Dr. Sample, and is frustrated by phone speakers' inability to render low bass.
Akai Professional MPK Mini MK3 — For anyone inspired by Decap's beat-making craft, a compact MIDI controller like the MPK Mini is a perfect way to start building drum patterns and sampling your own sounds. It's portable, plugs into any DAW, and gives you the pads and knobs needed to program the kind of hard-hitting drums that made Drums That Knock famous. A great entry point for producers who want to actually feel their beats rather than just program them by mouse.
See Akai Professional MPK Mini MK3 on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: theverge.com — Terrence O'Brien, 2026-09-26
Published there as: “Decap is the man behind the drums behind your favorite song”
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