This is blasphemy I know but...

All I really wanted to know was HOW to go about making beats

plant them.

Beets_produce-1.jpg
 
Yeah I do dabble in pop/hip-hop/dance. I get bored from time to time and smack some tunes out...

Check this out

Parody Hip Hop Track

That's just something I wrote for a laugh when I was bored one day.

Addiction - track inspired by Timbaland and Britney Spears 'Blackout' album. Though you probably wouldn't guess it.

Also Pop/Rock Track has 80's feel inspired by Michael Jackson and Timbaland in parts.

As far as samples and libraries I mainly use...

EWQLSO Silver.
EWQL RA. (Ethnic instrument library)
Peter Siedlaczek's Complete Classical Collection (Use this library the most)
DFH Superior
Zero-G Nostalgia
Various synth plugins.

I have plenty of different attempts and Hip-Hop/Pop tracks lying about my computer. Unfinished, of course... I always end up leaving them unfinished because I just don't have the time to work away at them when I should either be composing or writing rock music... However, if I could get a good singer or rapper it would be much more rewarding than writing instrumentals that will never see the light of day.