How to Make a Makko Type Beat (+ Free Loops)

What BPM and key is a Makko type beat?

His beats sit in a mellow pocket, roughly 117 to 140 BPM, often felt in half time so they breathe. The tempo serves the mood, not the energy. If you lean more into the lo fi trap side, producers go faster: one makko style tutorial builds the whole beat at 160 BPM but keeps it relaxed, so the number matters less than the half time feel.

The key is minor. Lean melancholic but warm, electric piano, piano and guitar carry the feeling rather than a dark synth. A simple two chord minor progression is enough, with one chord moved down a few steps from the first.

Makko type beat in 6 steps

The loops in step 1 stream right here and the mp3 is free. Then run the six steps.

1. 1Pick a sample▾

   A warm electric piano, a soft piano or a clean guitar in minor, nostalgic and a little lo fi. Build a simple minor chord progression, then add the seventh to each chord as a short passing note for movement, pushed slightly behind the chord so it feels human. Grab one of the loops below if you would rather not play it in.

   • ▶
     Chop
     140 BPM · A#min
     AmbientFloatingVirtual
     @ndacompany
     ↓
   • ▶
     Crisp
     140 BPM · G#min
     AmbientFloatingSynth
     @ndacompany
     ↓
   • ▶
     Needs
     140 BPM · F#min
     AmbientPianoSad
     @ndacompany
     ↓
   • ▶
     Nikes
     140 BPM · A#min
     AmbientEpianoHappy
     @ndacompany
     ↓
   • ▶
     Culture
     140 BPM · Emin
     AmbientEpianoVintage
     @ndacompany
     ↓
2. 2Make it feel natural▾

   Randomise the velocities on the melody notes and pull the ones you want less present down by hand. A perfectly even loop sounds programmed, and his sound lives on the handmade feel.
3. 3Set the drums▾

   Mellow but hard hitting trap drums, this is where the contrast lives. A punchy kick, a light snare or clap on the three, soft hats. Place an open hat before the snare and use a cut group so the snare chokes it off, a classic trap trick for a tight groove.
4. 4Lay the 808▾

   Layer the kick with the 808 or sub so they hit as one, and keep the kick louder than the snare so it leads. Round and gentle with short glides, the bass supports the melody here, it does not dominate.
5. 5Add texture▾

   A touch of vinyl noise, tape warmth or a light reverb keeps the melody soft and worn. Add a quiet second melody layer dropped an octave to widen the chords, with a low cut so it only supports the main sound. A pop punk guitar layer fits his diary entry feel. Keep it all subtle.
6. 6Arrange and clip▾

   Leave plenty of space for the vocal, Makko tucks his voice back and talks more than he shouts. On the master, a soft clipper lets the drums cut through for that typical trap punch while the melody stays mellow underneath.

The Boloboys and the lo fi diary sound

Makko, real name Christoph Makowski, is a Berlin rapper and part of the Boloboys collective. His style has been described as sitting between lo fi trap and a diary entry, sometimes melancholic, sometimes rough, always personal.

His breakout Nachts wach, made with Miksu and Macloud in 2022, became one of the most streamed German songs of that year. Earlier tracks like Kuehlpack came with producer Vini Paff. He has since crossed over far beyond the scene, working with The Chainsmokers.

The production is largely DIY and avoids Autotune entirely, which keeps the voice raw and human. Typical elements are chill trap drums, guitar sounds and a pop punk touch.

The melancholic melody

The melody carries the sadness. A warm electric piano or a simple guitar line, a little detuned, a little nostalgic. Keep it to a two chord minor progression and add the seventh of each chord as a short delayed note, which is enough movement without turning it into a busy riff.

Keep the progression simple and loopable. One phrase that repeats sits better under a spoken, diary style flow than a busy riff.

On the melody channel, dip the mids a little and lift the highs, then add a dry reverb and a touch of air. A slow attack keeps the melody soft. This is warm and wistful, not cold or dark.

Texture and the pop punk touch

Vinyl crackle, tape warmth and a slightly lo fi top end are part of the identity. They make the beat feel like a memory rather than a clean studio take. A little tape saturation across the melody bus glues the layers and adds that worn colour.

A clean or lightly distorted guitar layer brings the pop punk edge that runs through his music. Keep it in the background supporting the keys, a second sound dropped an octave and widened in stereo works well.

Do not over polish. The charm is in the slightly rough, handmade feel, a perfectly clean mixdown would lose the diary mood.

Common mistakes

Losing the contrast. The drums should stay mellow in feel but still hit, if everything is soft the beat goes limp, and if everything is hard it stops being makko. Punchy drums under a relaxed melody are the whole point.

A cold, dark melody. The feeling is warm and melancholic, so a menacing loop pulls it in the wrong direction.

Too much polish and loud Autotune style effects. He sings dry and tucked back, so keep the beat raw, leave the velocities uneven and leave space for the voice.

Using the NDA Company loops

Every loop here is played by hand, no AI, and free as an mp3. Drop one in for step 1, build your mellow but punchy drums around it, and you have the makko foundation in minutes.