5 free hip hop libraries for Kontakt

Kontakt can bring new worlds of sound into your tracks. Whether you’re looking for punchy modern drums, vintage keys, or characterful instruments from across the globe, there’s probably a Kontakt library (or several) that will scratch the itch. What’s more, many of these instruments are free.

In this article, we’ll run down five of the best free Kontakt libraries for hip hop production. Some of these instruments offer handy free hip hop samples to get you started on a track. Others deliver compelling soundworlds that will give your finished productions extra polish and depth.

You can start using these samples, sounds, and more using the free Kontakt Player, a streamlined version of Kontakt that enables you to run the latest NI Kontakt instruments plus thousands from official developers.

Get Kontakt Player free

For each of the hip hop Kontakt libraries mentioned here, there were many more we didn’t have space for. Consider this your starting point – and if you’re hungry for more, check out our list of the 100 best free Kontakt instruments.

Jump to these sections:

• Are Kontakt instruments free?
• What is Leap in Kontakt?
• 5 free hip hop libraries for Kontakt
  1. Lo-fi Vibes for Leap
  2. GR808 KICK
  3. EMP Mark II
  4. Mister Rogers’ Celeste
  5. Trap Gods

Are Kontakt instruments free?

Not all Kontakt Instruments are free, but Native Instruments and other developers offer many free Kontakt libraries. Whether it’s loving captures of acoustic instruments, innovative sound design libraries, or lush-sounding synths, you can build a formidable Kontakt collection with free instruments alone.

Before you start, though, it’s worth getting familiar with the two versions of Kontakt that are available. The Kontakt Player is entirely free to download, and will run all Kontakt instruments and many more instruments from third-party developers.

Be aware, though, that not all free Kontakt libraries will run on the Kontakt Player. For some of them, you’ll need the full version of Kontakt 8. This paid-for software also offers powerful creation tools, making it a good choice for producers wanting to explore the Kontakt universe more deeply.

What is Leap in Kontakt?

Leap is a new tool for Kontakt that could shake up your hip hop production workflow. This playful live looper lets you perform, layer, and manipulate samples at lightning speed. It’s handy for sparking fresh ideas, jamming out arrangements, and twisting up sounds with real-time effects.

If you’re getting tired of your sample collection, Leap’s loop-based workflow can breathe new life into it. It can also open up new creative avenues via the Leap Expansions series, which offers curated sample kits for different genres and sounds – including lo-fi hip hop, RnB, and soul. Some of these expansions are included in our free Komplete Start bundle, making them a good way to start exploring Leap’s potential.

5 Free hip hop libraries for Kontakt

1. Lo-fi Vibes for Leap

If you’re interested in using Kontakt to make hip hop, you should start by checking out Leap. This innovative new creation environment inside Kontakt is designed for producers who thrive on looping and jamming. It also gives you access to Leap Expansions – curated sound sets for sparking inspiration across a number of genres (in hip hop and beyond).

The Lo-fi Vibes Expansion covers the chiller side of hip-hop with a collection of laid-back drum breaks, smooth basses, and jazzy licks. Load one of its kits into Leap and jam on the white keys of your keyboard to conjure instant mellow atmosphere. Or pick out a few layers, twist them up with Leap’s live effects, and use them as the basis for something completely new. Lo-Fi Vibes is free as part of Komplete Start.

Download Lo-fi Vibes

2. GR808 KICK

Need a fresh take on booming 808s? Look no further than GR808 Kick. For this free Kontakt library, creators Clay and Kelsy ran the signature 808 bass sound through an “analog bass resonance tool” to give it an engrossing crunch and character. Presented in a simple, quirky interface with a neat complement of effects, this instrument is ideal for creating thick low-end with busted charm.

As a bonus, GR808 KICK also sings beautifully when played in the upper register. Dial in one of the three distinctive reverbs and some ping-pong delay and you’ve got a gorgeous ambient melody maker. After decades of heavy use, we thought the 808 kick sound could no longer surprise us. This instrument showed us we were wrong. It’s ideal for producers wanting to create dreamy, emotive hip hop.

Download GR808 KICK

3. EMP Mark II

No hip hop toolkit would be complete without the dulcet tones of an e-piano. This instrument was integral to the soul, funk, and R&B of the ‘60s and ‘70s, before entering hip hop’s DNA via sampling. These days, it’s an iconic go-to for soulful chords, funky licks, and any time a little vintage style is needed.

Numerous free Kontakt libraries capture the e-piano sound, and Sonokinetic’s EMP Mark II is one of the best – not least because it’s available for the free Kontakt Player as well as the full version of Kontakt. Based on a more obscure e-piano model, this instrument has a distinctive flavor and plenty of scope for tweaking. Use the side arrows on the interface to access a full complement of effects, including juicy overdrive, modulation such as chorus and flange, and 6 authentic spatial effects. The result is an adaptable free hip-hop library that’s handy in many contexts, but it particularly excels at soulful flavors. Turn on the vibrato and dial in a little chorus for an instant lo-fi vibe.

Download EMP Mark II

4. Mister Rogers’ Celeste

A versatile hip-hop producer casts their net wide. Embracing a broad range of sounds can help give your beats depth and character. Kontakt is ideal for this. How about spicing up your track with the sounds of a Chinese hammered Dulcimer or a traditional celtic harp? Both of those Kontakt instruments are available for free in our Komplete Now bundle. Elsewhere, you’ll find free Kontakt libraries capturing the mellow kalimba, booming Taiko drums, and almost any other evocative real-world sound you can think of.

It’s difficult to single out any one of these Kontakt instruments for special attention – all of them are handy to have around. But we’ve decided to highlight Mister Rogers’ Celeste, a top quality free Kontakt library from Cinesamples that captures a warm, twinkling sound like no other.

The instrument sampled for this library has a special history: it was used in the soundtrack for the popular US children’s television series Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. But you don’t need to know the show to hear the fuzzy nostalgia shining through every note. This instrument – which can be used with the free Kontakt Player as well as the full version of Kontakt –  is the perfect complement to laid-back lo-fi productions.

Download Mister Rogers’ Celeste

5. Trap Gods

When the inspiration is flowing, you don’t want to get stuck choosing sounds. Next time you’re writing a beat, instead of getting lost in your sample folders, try firing up Trap Gods. This free hip hop Kontakt library features 66 presets covering every sound you might need, from percussion to bass, leads, keys, and more. The samples are primed to slot into modern productions: the drums are sharp and aggressive, and the synth sounds have plenty of bite. The lean interface, meanwhile, offers minimal tweaking options – envelope, effects – to keep you in your flow.

The steely character of its sounds makes Trap Gods ideal for producers working in darker trap and hip-hop genres. But whatever your stylistic persuasion, you might find this trove of free hip hop samples a quick way of sketching out ideas. Be aware, though, that you need the full version of Kontakt to use this instrument.

Download Trap Gods

Start using Kontakt to add depth to your hip hop tracks

In this article, we’ve looked at five of the best free hip hop libraries available for Kontakt. We’ve covered quirky 808s, authentic keys, and handy collections of free hip hop samples. Now it’s time to start using these instruments to add depth to your productions.

Many of the above instruments run on the free Kontakt Player, meaning they’re completely free to use. But some of them require the full version of Kontakt. Getting the full version of Kontakt also gives you access to its vast Factory Library, plus countless world-class sample instruments made by Native Instruments and third party developers. If you’re considering going deeper with Kontakt, it’s worth making the upgrade.

Get Kontakt Player free