go listen to the classic albums... most of the loops have "drums" but soul, jazz, rock and r&b usually have the level of the drums WAAAY lower than how a hip hop record would be mixed...

so hip hop producers would LAYER their own drums on top of loops and chops so that it thumps.

these "beats" have just the drums from the loop or chop that they are using

and thats why it seems like its "less percussion"... because the drums are just not there compared to hip hop drums

kinda like how black guys say white girls have no ass. technically they do have an ass, just not compared to the sistas