Melody or Drums first?
As a producer I find it harder to create a melody than it is to create a drum pattern. I also find it more difficult to create a melody over an existing drum pattern. This could also be due to the lack of proficiency in keyboard skills. In the past it felt overwhelmingly difficult to create when I wasn't very good at keyboarding. It doesn't matter what type of project I work on if my keyboard melody or harmonies aren't present it is hard for me to progress into anything else in the composition.
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There are producers who are masterful at their drum patterns and get their creative juices flowing while constructing them. My personal issues are that if the melody isn't present then my "producer's block" is in full effect and makes it difficult to get into the project. Then there are those producers I watch sit down at a piano or keyboard and come up with masterful progressions because their ear and knowledge of the theory is awesome. All I can think is why aren't you getting the fame you deserve?