@E.D - This was my favourite beat of the tournament! I think you got all the "Preemo" hallmarks, and more imprtantly had them all placed well. Scratches, vocal chops, janky drums, and then start/stop sample chops. I also really appreciate the little bits of ear candy tucked into the mix. Speaking of, this is one of my favourite mixes from you. Radio ready, culture classic, all around banger! I have no notes because you knocked it out the park...them check! vibe check! Dopeness check!
@Iron Keys - Theme wise, I think this was the most on point. I liked Kwaz's more, but that's just personal taste. the use of negative space was really well done. You did a good job of towing the line of boom-bap/Preemo/and Battle energy really well. And that's something I really struggled with. I guess you could say I "cheesed" or maybe "Chev'd" too hard, whereas this beat balances the theme and energy perfectly. Again, no notes...dope beat, great mix, nailed the theme!
@2GooD Productions - If it were possible, I wish there could've been a triple threat final between you, Iron, and Kwaz. If aliens landed on earth tomorrow and asked "play us the platonic ideal of a hip-hop beat" it would be this. Nailed the theme, just like
@E.D and
@Iron Keys and really I just think they edged you out on the 'energy' aspect. This was an interesting listen because it has your "2G" snare sound, but it doesn't have your trademark mix sound. The fact that you can venture away from your customs, and still make a great sounding beat, is commendable!
@DJ Excellence - While
@E.D had my favourite beat, this felt like the most
complete beat. Of course, the swing, drums, chops, cuts, sample choice everything was there. Mix is superb too! I heard whole story and saw an entire movie in my head listening to this. I feel like if DJ Premier did the score the American Gangster this would be the Frank Lucas, come up theme. I love this!
^^These 4 beats are sooo fucking good! Aside from mix and sound quality...capturing the essence of Preemo (swing, sample selection, chops, drums) was masterfully done on all four, and depending on personal taste/preference, all 4are worthy of Diamond!
@M.I.ndless - I suppose I was due my come-upance for knocking you out last WZ lol. I really like the overall 'tone" of this beat. Not in terms of audio spectrum but rather 'seriousness" and "intention" if that makes any sense lol. I didn't care for the vocal sample, but...you incorporated it nicely. Maybe I'm just salty lol. but I feel like this was more "boombap" than it wqs "Preemo." regardless, the mix is nice, it's got a great bounce, and I really liked that vinyl crackle for extra character and texture.
@Ayatollah Herbs - While I don't think you nailed theme as well as the folks above, I feel like you took the Preemo hallmarks abd put your own weird camel fucking desert twist on them. The chops are...choppy. You tapped into a soulful-esque sample that Preemo would use. You have the viny drums, and you got the energy. I think it was already mentioned, the drums could've used some more swing to capture the Preemo aesthetic more...and I think the mix was too clean in this case. Overall, a dope beat, but I feel the others goit the theme better. I don't know how to explain it...but like how Oasis is what the Beatles would've been if they started in the 90s, this is what DJ Premier would've been if he started int he 2010s.
@Maticharge - The first thing that jumped out to me was the drums. I love the drum samples you used. I think a tighter and punchier kick would be more Premier. His beats are typically 'sparse' so trying to hit the theme, you gotta get the tones and textures right...something I wasn't able to do! I like this sample choice. The chops are cool, but felt more Mobb Deep (Havoc, Alc) than it did Premier. I think if the theme was "90s NYC' this would be a serious contender...if...it had a proper bass line. I hear the sample doing some lifting on the low end, but a tight, compressed bass would elevate this to next levels!
@Stan1 - The mix on this is the best I've heard from you as of yet! I think that kick gets a bit too overwhelming towards the back half, but generally speaking it's significantly better than what I've heard from you. The sample (vocal and piano) have this brooding, self loathimg, near grunge rock quality to them that I really like. Kinda reminds me of that Wayne/Henry Ate song - Only Once The Drugs Are Gone. Theme wise, I think you missed the mark. Drums and bass aren't punchy enough and the sample chops aren't "choppy" enough. Overall though, I thought this had a vibe. The vocals sounded a bit dissonant to the piano..but still the best work I've heard from you to date! Keep grinding...I love seeing the upward progression.
@Bandia Gotach - I've heard enough of your music at this point to know that "DJ Premier" would be well outside of your wheel-house. The fact that you picked, and honoured, a 90s sounding sample is respectable! Again, I think if the theme was "Dark 90s NYC" this could be Diamond or Platinum. I don't think I've ever heard straight up breaks/boom-bap drums from...so being able to tap into that sound soo deftly is also commendable. While I've notice you exploring beyond your signature sound lately (drums, samples, instrument/sound selection) you still managed to keep that dark, near gothic atmosphere that I love in your music. If Edgar Allan Poe made beats, his sound would be second to yours. Loved it....as always!
@Delta Skeltah - I feel like an Oscar nominated movies about the 90s would have this beat as the theme song. I got heavy nostalgia flashbacks to 1993 when my cousin let me listen to rap on his yellow Sony Walkman when my mum was around. The drums, bass, chops, layers of chops...I'm a kid again having my mind blasted discovering hip-hop...thank you fopr giving me that trip! This Everything about this is amazing. Honestly, I just think a few of the other beats 'felt' more Premier than this....but this....THIS is fucking hip-hop!!!
@them - what happened dawg?!!?!?!?! Last battle you had a full drum kit (kick, snare, and hats) AND a melody. This is a step bacl from the last couple beats I've heard from you. Dive in bro, take our suggestions and explore them, play with them, beat them to death, and tell us we're insane if you don't like the results...but push! Get to the fringe of what you're accustom or capable of! The last beat you posted in the Showcase was a huge step forward, as was your last battle beat. Not sure if you're being lazy or selling yourself short....but lean on us here fore ideas and suggestions. You have the dedication, I want you to make sure it's being channeled efficently!
@Coltorki - When are you
@attila going to make
@Fade "an offer he ca't refuse?" lol. I think you missed the theme by a wide margin...but I can hear a genuine effort here, so I appreciate that. This is just my personal speculation, but it sounds like you're relatively new to sampling. Not that you don't know "how" but rather you haven't quite figured out the "flavour." Like, you got Nona's recipe...but maybe you don't have her execution. She says you need a "pinch" of this herb, but her definition of a "pinch" is what you haven't quite sorted. I hope that makes sense. Sound selection wasn't really on point either, but I can hear an attempt to get the janky, swung drums. Mix aside and sound aside, there's definitely an intent and motive here...so thank you for putting in the effort!
@dmh2deep - I said it in a couple Beat Fights, but i have to give you mad props for joining The Ill and jumping into the community and battles right away. For the record I joined in 2018, had one Beat Fight in 2021, then didn't enter a proper battle until last fall...so you got bigger stones than me my man! This bass line is juicy, groovy, and really speaks to my personal love of blues/jazz (in that order). I really like the drum break you chose for this too. Compared to the few beats I've heard from you in the Fights, this has a much better arrangement and composition. All the elements have their space and moment to shine. I think this is more generic 90s than it is Premier, but sound/sample selection was pretty close. Nice work!
@attila - This a phenomenal beat! Good mix, tons of energy, bounce, groove, great rhythm section...there is nothing 'bad' about this beat...at least to my ears. That in mind, it wasn't "DJ Premier" and that's
maybe why I beat you in Round 1. Or it's my vengeance for losing our Beat Fight lol. Interestingly you there are elements of Premier in there, scratches, bass tone, dry and punchy drums...but it's too modern, clean, and doesn't quite have his "touch." Dope beat though!
@thekoolkrush - Dope sample, another one that felt more 90s (maybe eben early 2000s) Soul in general than it did Premier. Now, that doesn't mean this isn't fucking dope! I love the drums and energy of this. Similar to DJ Excellence, this has a cinematic quality to it. It's epic, lush, and vibrant. I think I commented that one of your beats had a hot, crunchy, mix quality to it...and this is similar to that. While it's not a mix move I'd ever make...you do a great job of stoking the heat, containing it, and presenting it in a way that's really cool!
