Congrats to
@DJ Excellence !!!
I really like the overall sound of this. The drums are great, sample choice is great, and the chops are very tasteful. I like how you balance the horns and alternating vocals. The bass line, while simple, supports the whole track and works as a solid foundation. The subtle change at 1:20 is cool in how it kinda shifts the general syncopation of the groove. Tonally and aesthetically, this is a great beat. I do feel it's one better served with vocals, as it doesn't really shift gears or explore a wider dynamic range. Regardless, the beat has a great soul and vibe. Congrats again!
@TWU - knowing now that you're a writer, this, and your other beats, kinda make more sense to me. Your music really captures the essence of golden era hip-hop - which tracks for someone that is also involved in the Graff culture. Mix is great and I like the vinyl crackle on this! Similar to Excellence, I think this would be a great album cut with a concious rapper like Mos or Talib on it. Dope beat with a doe vibe!
@K-waz - I think I mentioned it last battle, but I really like how you give a modern-ish touch to your boom-bap drums. Like TWU, I really like the vinyl crackly on this. Sample choice and chops are well done too. The layers of samples (at least to my ear) fit really well. Ending was a bit abrupt, which makes me think there's a really cool extended version of this beat. If there is, would love to hear it in the Showcase. The drums do this cool thing of having some dope knock, swing, but still fit with the mellow nature of the sample chops.
@Leopard Cohen - Drum and Percussion king of Ill in my opinion. I don't think I've heard anything from you where the drums and percs aren't really well done and have a uniquely cool feel to them. I love the use of 'alternative' sounds and instrumentation. While I didn't vote for this - I do appreciate how well you ride the fringe line of hip-hop. If there's one thing I've come to genuinely appreciate about your music is that it's unique and is indifferent to the rules of convention.
@PhxAzTracmaster - 'Jack of All trades' you are. I've hear so many different styles and sounds from you, that I can't not be impressed by your songwriting and musicianship skills. Are you playing the guitar on this beat? I recall you mentioning you played all elements on a Showcase beat. Personally, I find chromaticism a really hard thing to pull off, and the passing chords with organ just didn't sound great - To me. The drums are perc have a cool pattern and rhythm, but I'd also would've liked to hear a bit of knock to them. At least witht he snare and kick.
@Armani - Dope beat. Heavy 2000s mixtape vibes to it. Mix is great. I like the blend of grit and modern pristine mixing. I know fitting changes and variations into a 2 minute beat can be challenging ( I struggled with it this week too) but this kinda feels one level to me. It starts, and stays, at the same energy level. The vocals help to add some energy, but doesn't quite "go anywhere." One of my favs from this week regardless.
@attila - Did I miss the vinyl crackle memo this week?! This is cool and tracks with your more abstract/art house style. The combination of jazz and glitch is really cool on this! In every way this is a great beat...BUT...I feel like a more focused and pointed version would make it a serious battle contender. The mix and use of space was really well done! Sounds to me your drums are in stereo which is an interesting creative decision. I typically keep my drum elements mono - but it works really well in this context. The horn chops are soo nice!!! I'm quickly becoming a fan of your music!
BiggChev - FUCKING BANGER!
@BLUESPEED - While I don't care for trap or 808s, this has a really cool DNA. The synths. groove, and vocal chops all work really well together. I think where this beat misses is on the mix, and the fact that it sounds a lot like the build to a big drop. Unfortunately, that big epic drop doesn't come in. I'd love to hear an extended version of this with that drop and some variations. Maybe a half time feel, or double down and go even bigger/faster with the energy. Respects for jumoing into the battle right away.
@Delta Skeltah - This is another one that I think works better as an album cut with vocals. I really like all the elements. The drums have a great groove and knock. The piano chops chill and add to the swing. That 90s sound quality is captured really well. I think the transition 1:13 is a cool transition but feels a bit abrupt. Overall, a really well constructed beat that has the hallmarks of a great storytelling song or two difrerent well crafted verses.
@DR3X - The intro is really cool, but for a 2 minute limit, maybe a tad too long. If def gets your attention, and leads really well into the heart of the beat. To my point, the intro is nearly as long as the "main" themes before each change. Which part of the beat is the star? A more focused arrangement, with the same transition of energy - would really keep this moving forward. That being said, I do appreciate you how fit in a diverse amount of changes and variations. Mix is a bit muddy on the low end, and I'd like a
bit more brightness overall. I kinda like how you used vinyl/boombap drums for a pseudo trap-ish pattern.
@LetItRunAli - This immediately reminded me of the 80s Workout playlist on Apple Music I listen to at the gym. Drums and super cool. The reversed elements kinda grew to be tiresome and gimmicky. This kinda sounds like if a Houston DJ chopped and screwed Abba lol. It's fun, interesting and definitely has a bounce. Again, maybe towards the fringe of hip-hop. A bit more of a defined and clear mix would help propel that dance floor groove too.
@M.I.ndless - And you said you weren't confident in your beat?! This is a more pop/rnb -almost a Chris Brown type of track to me...and is really dope! That rising mallet/bell bit kinda reminds me of Golden Eye. I think the miss here is that the piano sits a bit too blantanly "on top" of the rest. Some mix/fx treatment to kinda get everything to gel together and yoiu have a near radio ready pop track. Cool work.
@Pcs shorty - Love the vocal chops! Another beat where the intro may be too long. IT's hard with 2 minutes to establish your vibe and get into the main gear. The short snappy snare hits really nice! I would've liked a bit more punch and grit on the kick as the drum pattern is really cool. It almost sounds like the main transient of the kick is clipped or softened somewhere in the mix. Sound selection and instrumentation is really good too. A more polished mix would be dope on this. Very cool beat. Blending the edges of the vocal a bit would help it sit a bit more comfortably in the mix too.
@Primz - Your pluck synth puts my to shame. This is what I was aiming for, but didn't capture it nearly as well as you did. Mix is nice, vocals work well with the vibe. I'm sorry, but I'm just not a fan of this genre of hip-hop. I can't deny it's very well executed though.
@prodCardellino - Bruh, please please dial back your kicks lol. The sample is soo nice. The percussion adds a great swing and groove, but your kicks just overpower the fuck out of everything lol. I really like this beat, but that Kick takes me entirely out of it. As always, your sample selection and treatment is great. Just need to work on the balance.
@Stan1 - Another one with the levels/balance just a bit too low. I hear some cool, dark, ominous type sound choice/design hear, but the levels don't allow me to make much of it. The drums also sound a bit stiff to me. Half time drums are a challenge. I find they can be a great way to add 'fee' to a beat, but they need to be in comparison to regular time drums. I also hear some dissonance in the melodic pieces. Again, I can't tell for sure because of the mix.
@thekoolkrush - Great beat! A bit hot and over bright on the mix, but I don't think it takes anything away from the finished products. What I really appreciate is that you took the key changes/passing chords of the sample and really embraced it! I think some may think the sample chops aren't perfectly clean, but to me that adds to the groove of the beat. Love the changes and how seamless the transitions are. Very nice.
@them - Love me some ignorant ass bro-step, but this misses the mark. I've mentioned it a few times now, but your drums don't hadd any foundation or groove to your beats. Aside from the mix not allowing the drums to poke through at all...I'm struggling to even feel the groove here. Where's the down beat? Where is the snare? A great drum track serves as a physiological and mathematical metronome...yours simply dont. This is also another joint that feels like half an idea that isn't explored. While I genuinely liked the dubstep sound selection, there's no progression. Keep grinding and keep studying.
