Delta Skeltah
Illien
Bruh, sit ur ass down
Fight #356: attila vs. K-waz
[Fight Ends: 6 days, 4 hours, 40 minutes left]
Warzone Warzone Beat Battle - July 15-19, 2025
- Thread starter Fade
- Start date
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Beat This!The next Beat This! Competition is from July 23-24th!
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WarzoneThe results of the Warzone Beat Battle are in! See what went down.
I would like to give complete feedback to everyone. For now, I must say that surprisingly, I am aligned with the opinions expressed by the majority (which is a rare fact; evidently, this is an environment suited for me). I believe I mentioned that I was in extreme difficulty when I had to choose between @TWU and @BiggChev (if I remember correctly) because my real thought was that it was a tie and with @Bandia Gotach they are all platinum .. Anyway, congratulations to all the winners who deserved the podium, to everyone who helped them earn it voting, and to all those who participated, some of them really solid imho.
Surprised you didn't place, beat got flavour! But @K-waz s entry was dope too. (Guess it's the nature of the format, win first, lose second and you're out.)
Big up to everyone who entered, a full house on itself is a W!!
Me too liked very much @DJ Excellence so refined ... As said I will come with extended feedback, in the meantime just wanna mention that insane psychedelic beat from @Stan1
Congrats @TWU Knew that beat would make it to the final, well deserved win. Surprised you didnt save that for the premo beat this, its the most premo beat Ive heard in a while. Also "knew" my beat would make the final too, for what that was worth.
If somebody could let me know where I went wrong, that would be dope as I'm still confused why I didn't at least make it to the semi's.
If somebody could let me know where I went wrong, that would be dope as I'm still confused why I didn't at least make it to the semi's.
fight, fight, fight, fight, fight, fight, fight, fight, fight, fight
I suggest a dance off to resolve this
fight, fight, fight, fight, fight, fight, fight, fight, fight, fight
For full disclosure, I voted for your beat in round 1, and voted for BiggChev in round 2. The reason I chose Biggchev is because I thought his beat was more original, I felt it was mixed better, I thought your snare was very dry. Probably would have defo got my vote if it was 2005, I had difficulty voting on practically every round 2 bracket and had to listen multiple times to decide on them, and my vote could have gone either way on most of them. I had to make my choices after a few listens, and once the choice was made it was made. I think its the most trouble I've ever had choosing between beats was in that round.
My thoughts on my round 2 bracket were that we used similar choir sounds, I thought @Bandia Gotach's kick had a nice thump to it, but there was no bassline, there wasn't much progression to the beat as a whole. I thought my beat did more than enough to win that one, had progression, vocal chops, bassline and multi layered choir and variation. Or so I thought.
Really liked @TWU's beat and because it was such a premo type beat I was convinced @DJ Excellence had made it.
I'd be a bitch ass if I wasn't honest with you bro about my thought process when voting, just the dry snare alone ended up being a factor in my decision, nothing personal as I had no idea who made the beat.
Call me names if it helps you feel better lol, I can take it.
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Do you mind feedbacks?
@M.I.ndless - "Placeholder" The work with the strings is beautiful; the quality is impeccable when listened to through headphones, and the drum pattern is interesting. So, "pro mr" is a gem; I can't find any flaws. Yet, it lasts 2 minutes, and by the time I reached the end, I had already been wanting to hear some new element for a while.
@BiggChev - "UptownStrutters" Excellent, at the top of my personal podium (not alone, I’ll mention that). When the vibe is from blaxploitation, I’m happily immersed. The bass isn’t prominent; it works without drawing attention but is a true gem. Frequency cuts give it movement. There aren’t major variations, but after two minutes, I’d like a bit more.
@JimmieHowellJr - "JHJJuno" The brass melody is beautiful, the interplay with the strings works well, it’s a nice piece. Here, as a production, even though I don’t notice flaws, it sounds a bit lo-fi to me, and this track would work better with a more crystalline and sumptuous production. Great choice to end at 1:13. Aside from that, are there no flaws? No, in my opinion, it’s just that other pieces are so well-crafted that even those without particular faults fall behind (and this has happened to many tracks, as I see it).
@Armani - "Suzuki" - Excellent, a pro track. A truly high-chart production, the strings are really refined. The arpeggios for variation are unexpected and pleasant. In this case, Armani understands when it’s not the time to stretch things out. The sound is well-crafted. Listening with my consumer headphones, I might have kept the snare a bit lower, but that’s not something that affects the track’s evaluation; once again, we’re facing an excellent piece that has been challenged by even more excellent tracks.
@MicroDotCotton - "Detouring" - A lo-fi track, but that’s not a flaw. The bass sounds high, there’s extreme compression, I think on the kick, and hiss. All these imperfections contribute to a feel that I really like. If it sounded flawless, this track might be ugly. Instead, it’s very nice and holds its two minutes effortlessly. Well done, MicroDotCotton.
@Earsblower - "HeartAttack" Here it’s the opposite. A track like this, epic and dramatic, would benefit from a crystalline, opulent production, yet it sounds poor. The effort in production is commendable, with attention to detail. However, it lacks something that makes the work memorable.
@TWU - "Tantum" - A great piece. All in all, it’s a simple work. This is the work of a person who has no uncertainties, no need to overdo it and show off; the producer disappears, and the music triumphs. Everything flows effortlessly, and the work, effort, and tension are not visible; only the pure breath of the pleasure of the flowing notes remains. It sounds impeccable, and the loop is a little gem that, once again, after two minutes, you’d want more.
@attila - "CoffeePot" - Let’s try with some self-criticism. First of all, I put an exciter on the piano that makes it sound horrible. Oh well. Unlike my other participation in Beat This!, this time I’m happy with the track I presented, even though it doesn’t have the value to contend for titles. I lost a bronze, and I think that’s its rightful position, actually, with a bit of luck. It certainly doesn’t just have the piano problem. The variation is weak; at that point, the piece should increase in energy (the notes suggest so), but instead, it becomes very limp. For the rest, it doesn’t sound evil to me, even though we’re in the consciously lo-fi zone. Creatively, let’s say that perhaps for a competition like this, it would have been more strategic to present a track that was hip hop, and I could say that it also belongs to another genre, and no one would have anything to say about it.
@PhxAzTracmaster - "Can" Nice, the sci-fi synth, the big drums, the staccato strings, a bit of retro-futurism, all very current, and it holds up the whole time. I was surprised because I didn’t guess it was @PhxAzTracmaster (I thought it was the author of @Armani ’s track). In a comment, I wrote that every track on the podium deserved it; I meant that you couldn’t remove any of those present to add another without being unfair. Listening again to the tracks, I have to reconsider this thought; there are other tracks, like this one, that if they were on the podium, I’d say the same thing, that they aren’t worse, but since there’s no room for everyone, even among equally valued pieces, someone inevitably has to be left out.
@2GooD Productions - "ToeToToe" If there’s a bombastic imprint, it’s a sort of epic drama from a soundtrack, probably with the touch of @2GooD Productions. It asks for something a bit unconvincing. Aside from the enthusiasm for the Bruce Lee sample that made me happy, I have to say it doesn’t sound as good as some levels I’ve heard from @2GooD Productions. Is that why it didn’t win? Certainly not; it’s not that bad. So what? Each of us has a weakness for music that moves us more than another, and maybe @2GooD Productions is very happy with this work and can’t explain why it didn’t make an impact. I don’t know; in my opinion, @2GooD Productions produces things that are generally at this level, which, although high, is within their average, but with the work that some of the competitors have produced, something more was required.
@Leopard Cohen - "TheForgottenBeat" - @Leopard Cohen has a taste for ideas that are anything but obvious, and I really appreciate this. I like the melody, with an oriental touch, and especially that long atmospheric pad note or whatever it is, along with what seems to be a harmonica. Beautiful atmosphere. Everything is great; I wouldn’t have stretched it to two minutes. The problem of knowing when to cut is that if the loop is phenomenal but doesn’t lend itself to several repetitions without new elements, the last memory it will leave us with will be one of fatigue, and that’s fatal, especially when you want to listen to 16 pieces. If you reach a point where you ask yourself, “Okay, do I have to listen to it more, or will it all be like this?” You’ve made it last too long. If, when you reach the end, you still leave a bit of desire to listen more, you’ve hit the perfect length.
@Bandia Gotach - "JennysaLoyal" I’ve already said that in my personal ranking, the platinum goes to @TWU, @BiggChev and @Bandia Gotach. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. Crisp, minimal, emotional. No bass, no, it’s not needed; it could even cause damage. Fills, variations? For God’s sake, please don’t do that. And indeed, it doesn’t. The guitar is beautiful enough to make you cry. Beautiful sounds, the drums in my headphones are amazing, but everything sounds incredible, every event distinct, spatially distributed in a transparent and cohesive way. The strings, the piano chord lasting two measures. Chapeau. Applause.
@BLUESPEED - "LASTMANSTANDING" - Since we’re in rave territory, a bit of lo-fi would fit in, but everything sounds rather muddled. I’m always lenient about sound quality because I can listen to a nice track recorded poorly, but a bad track recorded well is just a waste of resources. But there’s a limit, and this limit is much stricter in a competition where people are also trying to improve technically. I saw that someone asked who the author of this track was, so much they liked it, so my advice is to pay attention to the sound.
@Stan1 - "RoyalIndiaRide" I love this piece. I immediately recognized it was Stan. Lo-fi sound. It fits with a piece like this. However, it’s a consciously crafted lo-fi, not something that happens unintentionally, and on this, Stan could perhaps improve. The creative part. The loops, eternal, without variations, sparse layering and repetition, no nonsense, no frills, fills, arpeggiated flourishes, and nonsense. This is psychedelic ardor, and it has to flow like this because it’s not beautiful if it’s not disorienting, and if the loop is dissonant, even better. Now, in other contexts, these things could be limitations. It’s all the same; they’re just loops that turn on and off, etc. But not in this context; to achieve this type of effect, these are not defects to avoid but goals to reach. I would be happy if @Stan1 decided to continue making this stuff, which I find wonderful (in fact, I’m down for a collaboration), but on the technical side, there’s room for improvement. The risk is that when you learn to do new things, you might want to do them at all costs, even when it would be better not to. I really hope @Stan1 never falls into this trap.
@K-waz - "Playa" With the first vocal sample, you’re already laid out and well-disposed for whatever comes next. And what comes next is an MPC beat that would be good for explaining to an alien what instrumental hip hop is. That bit of lo-fi is just right, the perfect intuition on when to hit stop. It sounds authentic, and even if I can’t pinpoint a specific element of exceptional quality, the result is that there’s a soul that touches you, and the rest is just chatter.
@M.I.ndless - "Placeholder" The work with the strings is beautiful; the quality is impeccable when listened to through headphones, and the drum pattern is interesting. So, "pro mr" is a gem; I can't find any flaws. Yet, it lasts 2 minutes, and by the time I reached the end, I had already been wanting to hear some new element for a while.
@BiggChev - "UptownStrutters" Excellent, at the top of my personal podium (not alone, I’ll mention that). When the vibe is from blaxploitation, I’m happily immersed. The bass isn’t prominent; it works without drawing attention but is a true gem. Frequency cuts give it movement. There aren’t major variations, but after two minutes, I’d like a bit more.
@JimmieHowellJr - "JHJJuno" The brass melody is beautiful, the interplay with the strings works well, it’s a nice piece. Here, as a production, even though I don’t notice flaws, it sounds a bit lo-fi to me, and this track would work better with a more crystalline and sumptuous production. Great choice to end at 1:13. Aside from that, are there no flaws? No, in my opinion, it’s just that other pieces are so well-crafted that even those without particular faults fall behind (and this has happened to many tracks, as I see it).
@Armani - "Suzuki" - Excellent, a pro track. A truly high-chart production, the strings are really refined. The arpeggios for variation are unexpected and pleasant. In this case, Armani understands when it’s not the time to stretch things out. The sound is well-crafted. Listening with my consumer headphones, I might have kept the snare a bit lower, but that’s not something that affects the track’s evaluation; once again, we’re facing an excellent piece that has been challenged by even more excellent tracks.
@MicroDotCotton - "Detouring" - A lo-fi track, but that’s not a flaw. The bass sounds high, there’s extreme compression, I think on the kick, and hiss. All these imperfections contribute to a feel that I really like. If it sounded flawless, this track might be ugly. Instead, it’s very nice and holds its two minutes effortlessly. Well done, MicroDotCotton.
@Earsblower - "HeartAttack" Here it’s the opposite. A track like this, epic and dramatic, would benefit from a crystalline, opulent production, yet it sounds poor. The effort in production is commendable, with attention to detail. However, it lacks something that makes the work memorable.
@TWU - "Tantum" - A great piece. All in all, it’s a simple work. This is the work of a person who has no uncertainties, no need to overdo it and show off; the producer disappears, and the music triumphs. Everything flows effortlessly, and the work, effort, and tension are not visible; only the pure breath of the pleasure of the flowing notes remains. It sounds impeccable, and the loop is a little gem that, once again, after two minutes, you’d want more.
@attila - "CoffeePot" - Let’s try with some self-criticism. First of all, I put an exciter on the piano that makes it sound horrible. Oh well. Unlike my other participation in Beat This!, this time I’m happy with the track I presented, even though it doesn’t have the value to contend for titles. I lost a bronze, and I think that’s its rightful position, actually, with a bit of luck. It certainly doesn’t just have the piano problem. The variation is weak; at that point, the piece should increase in energy (the notes suggest so), but instead, it becomes very limp. For the rest, it doesn’t sound evil to me, even though we’re in the consciously lo-fi zone. Creatively, let’s say that perhaps for a competition like this, it would have been more strategic to present a track that was hip hop, and I could say that it also belongs to another genre, and no one would have anything to say about it.
@PhxAzTracmaster - "Can" Nice, the sci-fi synth, the big drums, the staccato strings, a bit of retro-futurism, all very current, and it holds up the whole time. I was surprised because I didn’t guess it was @PhxAzTracmaster (I thought it was the author of @Armani ’s track). In a comment, I wrote that every track on the podium deserved it; I meant that you couldn’t remove any of those present to add another without being unfair. Listening again to the tracks, I have to reconsider this thought; there are other tracks, like this one, that if they were on the podium, I’d say the same thing, that they aren’t worse, but since there’s no room for everyone, even among equally valued pieces, someone inevitably has to be left out.
@2GooD Productions - "ToeToToe" If there’s a bombastic imprint, it’s a sort of epic drama from a soundtrack, probably with the touch of @2GooD Productions. It asks for something a bit unconvincing. Aside from the enthusiasm for the Bruce Lee sample that made me happy, I have to say it doesn’t sound as good as some levels I’ve heard from @2GooD Productions. Is that why it didn’t win? Certainly not; it’s not that bad. So what? Each of us has a weakness for music that moves us more than another, and maybe @2GooD Productions is very happy with this work and can’t explain why it didn’t make an impact. I don’t know; in my opinion, @2GooD Productions produces things that are generally at this level, which, although high, is within their average, but with the work that some of the competitors have produced, something more was required.
@Leopard Cohen - "TheForgottenBeat" - @Leopard Cohen has a taste for ideas that are anything but obvious, and I really appreciate this. I like the melody, with an oriental touch, and especially that long atmospheric pad note or whatever it is, along with what seems to be a harmonica. Beautiful atmosphere. Everything is great; I wouldn’t have stretched it to two minutes. The problem of knowing when to cut is that if the loop is phenomenal but doesn’t lend itself to several repetitions without new elements, the last memory it will leave us with will be one of fatigue, and that’s fatal, especially when you want to listen to 16 pieces. If you reach a point where you ask yourself, “Okay, do I have to listen to it more, or will it all be like this?” You’ve made it last too long. If, when you reach the end, you still leave a bit of desire to listen more, you’ve hit the perfect length.
@Bandia Gotach - "JennysaLoyal" I’ve already said that in my personal ranking, the platinum goes to @TWU, @BiggChev and @Bandia Gotach. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. Crisp, minimal, emotional. No bass, no, it’s not needed; it could even cause damage. Fills, variations? For God’s sake, please don’t do that. And indeed, it doesn’t. The guitar is beautiful enough to make you cry. Beautiful sounds, the drums in my headphones are amazing, but everything sounds incredible, every event distinct, spatially distributed in a transparent and cohesive way. The strings, the piano chord lasting two measures. Chapeau. Applause.
@BLUESPEED - "LASTMANSTANDING" - Since we’re in rave territory, a bit of lo-fi would fit in, but everything sounds rather muddled. I’m always lenient about sound quality because I can listen to a nice track recorded poorly, but a bad track recorded well is just a waste of resources. But there’s a limit, and this limit is much stricter in a competition where people are also trying to improve technically. I saw that someone asked who the author of this track was, so much they liked it, so my advice is to pay attention to the sound.
@Stan1 - "RoyalIndiaRide" I love this piece. I immediately recognized it was Stan. Lo-fi sound. It fits with a piece like this. However, it’s a consciously crafted lo-fi, not something that happens unintentionally, and on this, Stan could perhaps improve. The creative part. The loops, eternal, without variations, sparse layering and repetition, no nonsense, no frills, fills, arpeggiated flourishes, and nonsense. This is psychedelic ardor, and it has to flow like this because it’s not beautiful if it’s not disorienting, and if the loop is dissonant, even better. Now, in other contexts, these things could be limitations. It’s all the same; they’re just loops that turn on and off, etc. But not in this context; to achieve this type of effect, these are not defects to avoid but goals to reach. I would be happy if @Stan1 decided to continue making this stuff, which I find wonderful (in fact, I’m down for a collaboration), but on the technical side, there’s room for improvement. The risk is that when you learn to do new things, you might want to do them at all costs, even when it would be better not to. I really hope @Stan1 never falls into this trap.
@K-waz - "Playa" With the first vocal sample, you’re already laid out and well-disposed for whatever comes next. And what comes next is an MPC beat that would be good for explaining to an alien what instrumental hip hop is. That bit of lo-fi is just right, the perfect intuition on when to hit stop. It sounds authentic, and even if I can’t pinpoint a specific element of exceptional quality, the result is that there’s a soul that touches you, and the rest is just chatter.
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M.I.ndless
Big on MySpace
Battle Points: 11
Thanks. @attila ! Agree 100% on the need for variation and expansion to make for a full llistening experience. Aptly, the song is titled placeholder because I wasn't able to finish the beat I wanted to deliver. That's gonna have to wait for the next battle (calling my shot, I'll be in top 3 next battle). Thanks again! Shouts to @BiggChev for taking me out on the first, had u at the top!
@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.
@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.
@attila
Thanks for the feeback! I also really appreciate that you picked up on the Blaxploitation vibe. I made this beat a couple years ago on the MPC 1000. I had written a simple loop in Logic with brass, strings, and pianos, then sampled and chopped everything in the MPC1000. I agree some more variation would help to elevate this beat. Gutiars and bass were played in and chopped in the MPC as well.
@M.I.ndless - Appreciate you brother! I liked your beat, but I think the mix let you down a bit.
Overall, I thought there were some really artistic beats this month. A lot of it also came down to the match-ups. In Boxing they say 'styles make fights' and it's kinda true in this tournament format. One beat may benefit from the stylistic match-up while another, equally as good beat, may suffer. I think I was the benefactor of the former lol.
Thanks for the feeback! I also really appreciate that you picked up on the Blaxploitation vibe. I made this beat a couple years ago on the MPC 1000. I had written a simple loop in Logic with brass, strings, and pianos, then sampled and chopped everything in the MPC1000. I agree some more variation would help to elevate this beat. Gutiars and bass were played in and chopped in the MPC as well.
@M.I.ndless - Appreciate you brother! I liked your beat, but I think the mix let you down a bit.
Overall, I thought there were some really artistic beats this month. A lot of it also came down to the match-ups. In Boxing they say 'styles make fights' and it's kinda true in this tournament format. One beat may benefit from the stylistic match-up while another, equally as good beat, may suffer. I think I was the benefactor of the former lol.
