It's one thing programming beats and whatnot via a step-sequencer/piano roll or perhaps on the keys of your MIDI keyboard, but NOTHING beats the feeling of pounding out drums on rubber pads. M-Audio's Trigger Finger is a MIDI drum controller styled after the Akai MPC series of samplers and it's truly the MUTTS NUTT'S and Tuxi agrees 110%. I'm not going to get into all of the specifics but trust me on this...if you make beats on your PC, Trigger Finger is the shit to get. My only gripe is the lack of a note-repeat feature (a la the MPC) but that can be easily overcome from within your sequencer.
For y'all audio-nerds out there, I'm running Native Instruments Battery as a standalone for assembling my kits and jamming and then reopening and sequencing within Ableton Live.
DJ Das Cook (aka the Ashlyn) was tapping out some cool beats the other night and man...she definately brings some skillz to the table and no, I'm not just saying that because I'm her dad...she really brings that fire. As she drummed, I grabbed the mic and rocked some 5th grade approved rhymes and was truly a dynamite jam and I really regret not recording it.
I'm so in the mood to watch Hustle and Flow right now dammit!