In order to understand the right hand/left hand lead concept, you must first understand the difference between a "straight eighth" feel and a "swing eighth" feel. Let's take an easy two bar repeated pattern and see how it would be played both ways.

Example 1A: Straight eighth feel. This first example is played straight, not swung.
Listen

Now listen to the same rhythmic pattern played with a "swing" feel.
Listen

The conversion symbol below shows how straight eighths are swung. The first not and last note of the eighth note triplet are "recognized", so to speak, while the middle note is not.

Right Hand Lead

Rules to applying the right hand lead concept

1. All written notes (not rests) are played as accents on the right hand.
2. No more than two strokes in a row (double stroke)per hand before switching to the alternate hand.
3. Although the right hand must play all the written notes, it can be also used to fill in the "spaces".

SO...

Becomes..

Click to hear the pattern above (slow version)
Click to hear the pattern above (fast version) (2X)

Ted Reed's book "Progressive Steps to Syncopation for the Modern Drummer" is a great book to use this concept with, specifically pages 36-44.

Lets look at some more examples:

Listen

converted to right hand lead is:

Listen

Listen (Faster version 2X)

Now, take that same two measure pattern and play the accents on the cymbal with the right hand along with the kick drum. The filler notes are played on the snare drum.

Listen