A Question about Modern Mainstream Rap Production

Pretty open-ended question, don'tchathink?

See, I'm really not sure where most of these acts get the stuff they sing/rap over...

Well, alot of the tracks these days are built on a mix of samples and live instrumentation, some producers lean more towards sample oriented stuff (like, Timbaland, for instance), while others lean more towards live instrumentation (like The Neptunes).

Alot of mainstream rappers have backing bands in concert...Nelly for instance has a backing band (who are actually absurdly tight). Outkast has a neat thing where they have tape-tracks running in concert, but they also have guitarists and a turntablist and backing singers.

And, contrary to popular belief, there are other rap groups besides The Roots who actually include instrumentalists among their members. Spearhead gets WAY overlooked in this regard, which I think is a damn-shame, 'cause they put on one helluva show.

How do rising stars in the rap world replicate their sound live?

turntables and sometimes backing tapes.