Type beats in India: what they are and how to use them
Type beats in India explained: what type beat means, why the format works, how Indian rappers and producers use it, and how to licence a type beat safely.
Type beats in India are beats a producer names after an artist or style they sound like, such as "drill type beat", so rappers can find that sound in search. The name describes the style only. The artist named is not involved. To release a song on a type beat, you still need a licence from the producer.
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Type beats in India are one of the main ways rappers find beats and producers find buyers. A type beat is an instrumental that a producer names after an artist or a style it sounds like. A rapper searches for that sound, finds many beats in that style, and buys a licence from the producer they like.
In short
- “Type beat” is a search label for a style, not a deal with the artist.
- You still need a licence from the producer to release a song on it.
- Start with a lease, and move to an exclusive if the song takes off.
This guide explains what “type beat” means, why the format works, how Indian rappers and producers use it, and how to licence a type beat so your song is safe to release.
What does type beat mean?
Type beat means an instrumental made in the style of a known artist or genre and named after it, so people who like that sound can find it. When a producer calls a beat “[artist] type beat”, they mean “this sounds like something that artist might rap on”. The artist did not make it, has not heard it, and has no deal with the producer.
The name is a search label. Type beats can also be named after a genre or mood rather than a person, such as “drill type beat”, “boom bap type beat”, “lo-fi type beat” or “desi hip hop type beat”.
The format grew on YouTube, where producers post one video per beat and use the type beat title so it shows up in searches. Today the same naming is used on beat stores too. For an artist, a type beat is just a beat, and you still need a licence from the producer to use it.
Why do type beats work for producers and rappers?
Type beats work because they match how people search. A rapper rarely searches for a producer’s name they have never heard. They search for a sound they already know, such as a style, a mood or an artist whose beats they like.
For producers, a type beat title is a way to be found without fame. A new producer with a good drill beat can appear next to well-known ones when someone searches for drill. For rappers, it is a fast way to hear many beats in one style and pick the one that fits a verse.
Type beats also come at different price points. Many are offered as leases, which are cheaper because the producer keeps selling the same beat to other artists. If a song takes off, the artist can move to an exclusive licence, and that mix of easy discovery and low entry price is why the format has lasted.
How do Indian producers and rappers use type beats?
Indian producers and rappers use type beats the same way as everywhere else, with a few local habits. Producers in India often run a YouTube type beat channel next to a beat store. The video is how artists find the beat, and the store is where they buy it, pay in rupees with UPI (or in dollars from abroad), and download the files.
Many Indian type beats sit in global styles such as drill, trap, boom bap and lo-fi. Others use desi sounds, such as Punjabi melodies, Hindi samples, tabla, dhol or sarangi, on hip hop drums. Indian rappers write in Hindi, Punjabi, English, Tamil, Malayalam, Marathi and many other languages, so producers often tag beats by mood and region as well as genre.
Rappers use type beats to record demos, test songs live, and release singles on Spotify, JioSaavn, Apple Music and YouTube. To sell your own, read our guide on how to sell beats on YouTube.
Does a type beat title mean the artist is involved?
No. A type beat title does not mean the named artist is involved, has approved the beat, or has any link to the producer. The name only tells you the style.
It is fair for a producer to say a beat sounds like an artist’s style, but not to suggest the artist made it, used it or endorses it. Good producers keep their titles honest: the artist’s name sits next to “type beat”, and the beat has its own name. Also, do not stuff a title or tags with names that have nothing to do with the beat.
YouTube’s spam policy covers misleading metadata, and videos that break it can be removed. As a buyer, a “[famous artist] type beat” gives you no right to use that artist’s name to promote your song. Watch for titles or covers that claim more than a style, as listed below.
- “Prod. for” an artist when the artist never used the beat.
- An official-looking logo that suggests a label deal.
- A photo of the artist used as the cover.
How do you licence a type beat?
You licence a type beat the same way as any other beat: you buy a licence from the producer who made it, and the licence says what you can do with your song. Most type beats are sold as leases first. A lease is non-exclusive, so other artists can licence the same beat, and it costs less.
An exclusive licence costs more and takes the beat off sale for anyone new. On Airtune, every Easy licence (MP3, WAV and Stems) allows unlimited audio streams and unlimited monetised music videos. The Exclusive adds the project file and takes the beat off sale.
Every sale comes with a licence signed in your legal name, saved as a PDF with a QR code that anyone can check. Our guide to leasing beats explains each option in more detail.
| Lease (Easy MP3, WAV, Stems) | Exclusive | |
|---|---|---|
| Other artists can use the same beat | Yes | No new buyers after you |
| Price | Lower | Higher |
| Audio streams on Airtune licences | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Monetised music videos on Airtune licences | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Project file | No | Yes |
| Good for | Demos, first singles, testing a song | A song you want to own the sound of |
Worked example: lease first, exclusive later. On Airtune, the lowest price a producer can set is ₹999 for an Easy WAV and ₹4,999 for an Exclusive. So a lease can start at ₹4,000 less than an exclusive, at those minimums. Producers can charge more, and the beat page always shows the real price.
Watch out: do not download a type beat from a YouTube video and release a song on it. The tagged version is a preview, and using it without a licence puts your song at risk.
This is general information, not legal advice. For a big deal, ask a music lawyer.
What are the most popular type beats?
The most popular type beats change with what is in the charts and on social media, so there is no fixed list. Styles rise when an artist or a sound breaks through, and then other producers make beats in that style. Some styles stay in demand for years.
Drill, trap, boom bap, lo-fi and melodic rap beats are common examples, and many Indian producers also make desi hip hop and Punjabi-influenced beats. To see what people want right now, use the checks listed below.
For producers, the best style to make is one you are good at and that has steady searches, not only the one that is hot this week. For rappers, the best type beat is the one that fits your voice and your verse, whatever it is called. Browse beats by genre, BPM and key on Airtune Explore.
- YouTube suggestions: type “type beat” into YouTube search and read what it suggests.
- Beat stores: check which type beats are listed and new.
- Your own numbers: see which of your uploads get the most plays and sales.
Tip: name the beat itself too, for example “Melodic drill type beat ‘Monsoon’”. Artists remember a name, and it helps them find the beat again.
Next steps
- Rappers: shortlist a few type beats in your style and start with a lease. Read beats for rappers in India.
- Check the licence before you pay, using our guide to buying beats online in India.
- Producers: set up your channel and store together, keep your titles honest, and browse Airtune Explore to see how beats are listed.