@TWU - Congrats on the well deserved win! This is a really dope beat. Drums have a great groove to them. They have that 12-bit sampler sound which adds to the vibe. Sample choice is great and the chops are really well done. What was really well done are the textures. There’s a chime/rattle thing in the back, some vocal chop around 1:05, and a glissando harp type of sound. You used all these in addition to the main sample to really elevate the beat. The details like that are what makes a ‘good’ beat ‘great.’ The energy of this is great. There’s a good foundation to get you locked in, but just enough variation to keep it interesting. Super dope!
@K-waz - Drums bang hard on this! Another dope sample choice. The different phrases flow very nicely into each other. The turn-around at the end of the second phrase into the “oh my god” is a clever way to lead back into the first phrase. The only thing I would’ve done different is dial back the kick a bit, and bring up the bass line. The ending vocal sample is hilarious lol. I’d love to hear a 3-4 minute version of this with some added variations or even some scratching. Speaks to that 2000s hip-hop that I was listening to a lot of in my teenage years.
@Bandia Gotach - There are some really cool little details in this beat! The metallic, industrial sound the first snare, and the very subtle swung kick and hi-hat stutter. They are such light little pieces but I imagine the beat would sound empty without them. That choir has a lot of space and room - absolutely haunting! The violin part at 1:30 is also very nice. Again, you nailed the dark, ominous, and haunting vibe. The only critique I can really offer is; Which section is the ‘pay-off’? The dope guitar solo or the violin line? Both are great, but side-by-each, they have very different vibes and feel like two different versions of the same beat. Appreciate getting a variety of cool ideas in there though!
@attila - Love this bass-line and the upright bass choice! The percussion is really cool. I do like the eastern plucked strings and how you got the articulations on it. This beat has a great atmosphere. The vocal sample is cool, albeit a bit gimmicky lol. I really liked the blend of the jazz bass, bluesy piano and the eastern plucks. The glitchy experimental finish is really cool. That being said, it took a while to kick into the next gear and has more jazz band, experimental improv feel to it. Outside of a battle context, this is a really cool piece of music.
@Leopard Cohen - Interesting you got matched up against Attila in the finals. I think you two are among the more artistic and experimental artists on IllMuzik…this is kinda the dream match of weirdos making weird music lol. That being said, this is probably the most “conventional” beat I’ve heard from you. The drums as always are great and the fills are powerful. The main piano line is simple, but have a loose groove to them. They sound almost entirely unquantized, which is dope! It took a few listens, but there’s a pluck of some sort accenting select notes from the piano line that works to add a ton of depth and atmosphere. Highlight of this for me was the wash on the muted horns. Very, very cool! I’d like to see you and Attila do a beat fight with a 4 minute beat going full experimental.
@M.I.ndless - I really like the drums on this. They have a cool, dare I say, Timbo-esque bounce to them. I do quite like the main sample and the way you build up the end of the phrases. I think there were just a few mix moves that took away from the overall beat. When you do the build at the end of the phrases, it sounds like there’s some clipping going on. The dark vibe of the beat is really cool, and I think it’d do really well with some vocals. Interesting piece of music!
@Armani - I honestly thought you were going to knock me out of the second round. This is a dope beat. The piano and synth fills were nice touches! In fact that melodic turn around 0:45 was very well executed! The strings in the back half were a nice touch too. I would’ve brought them in a bit earlier. This would’ve been a great beat for the Dre theme last month.
@JimmieHowellJr - The intro caught my attention, and I didn’t hear it going in the direction it did. I’ll be honest, trap/dirty south is not my jam. I think you got the sound of that 2000s southern vibe down. But the synth brass and 808s really just don’t do it for me. Aside from my personal tastes, there were some things I really liked! That arpeggiated synth line behind the horns was cool. But, it climbs in register to a high squeal that I didn’t care for. I think a cleaner mix would help with this beat as well. Again, great working nailing that sound and flair, just not my cup of tea.
@Earsblower - 10/10 for getting this done, and mixed while moving house. My week wasn’t nearly as stressful as yours, and I struggled to get a beat together. This an epic piece! I really like the synth work, again, sounds like you’re paying attention to details. The drums sound good, but the pattern isn’t my flavour. There are a lot of cool melodic and harmonic things going on on here. The main phrase and the breakdown at 1:14 are my favourite parts of this song. I do appreciate the big build and pay off to close the beat, but the trap style stuff isn’t my jam. Also, big props on the mix considering it was done with earbuds!
@MicroDotCotton - I quite like overall sound, tone, and texture of this beat. It has that 90s grit and lofi vibe. Sample choice is dope. This definitely belongs on one of those “boom-bap/lofi to study to” playlists. It tells a cool story and ebbs, flows, and weaves around…which is really dope, but in the 2 minute format of a battle, you’re doing to much. I really enjoyed this track, there are a few mix things, I may have done differently, but I think they are just personal tastes. Looking forward to hearing more from you!
@Stan1 - Levels are bit better on this than previous beats! The sample selection is really cool. They just don’t fit together. The eastern plucky string is dope, as is the choral sample…but melodically and groove, they don’t blend that well. Tone and atmosphere wise, I think they would fit and make a dope combo. My main critique is that this feels kinda disjointed. That foul ass, rumbling kick isn’t quite my taste either.
@2GooD Productions - Genuinely surprised this didn’t get thru to the 3rd round. Mix is big and bright, the drums (particularly that snare) knock! The Bruce Lee sample is a cool touch - thematically - I like that you tied in the Street Fighter “perfect.” Not much I can really say as this is a perfectly executed piece of music.
@PhxAzTracmaster - I really like the drums, specifically, how you incorporate the toms into the groove. Personally I think it should’ve been either the horns OR the spacey vibe bit. They have a similar “vibe” addition to the beat, but together it’s a bit overkill. The piano and strings are the highlight of this for me. I think more of that versus the 60s sci-fi sounds would be better. At the risk of sounding like a hypocrite, the 60s sci-fi sound is well done! I feel like this could be split into two different beats with unique sounds and both would be dope!
@DJ Excellence - Loved this beat! Fundamentally, it’s a perfect beat to me. Every element works together and the jazzy soul of it just sounds and feels sooo nice. You have my two favourite instruments; horns and guitars. I think where K-Waz got you was on 1) energy and 2) This kinda felt like you pulled some nice loops whereas he put some work into the chops. I’m listening back on my balcony smoking a cigar and the vibe perfectly matches a lazy summer Sunday!
@BLUESPEED - Intro really pulled me in! The sound selection and drums may not be my thing, but this is definitely a big and bold choice. In fact, it’s a great choice, energy and tone wise, for a battle. Two things though; the intro was too long. With only 2 minutes, you need to get to the point quickly. Secondly, the drop/pay-off didn’t match the length and tension of the build. I think that’s in part to the mix. If you start big and hot, you don’t give yourself a lot space to go anywhere. Some strategic EQ/Side-chaining would also allow those drums to poke out more and bang while adding to the groove.
