Winner of April '10 BeatTips Beat Battle Is...

[Sa'id]

dkelloway (aka DK) - "Hitman For Hire"

O.K., It's been a while since the last BeatTips Beat Battle. In March, I had returned after a long absence (due to book leave), and I was looking to April as the point where I'd return to my regular schedule. Well, needless to say, that didn't happen...For a number of reasons: (1) I had to get the final version of the 5th Edition of The BeatTips Manual ready for a full release; (2) I made the decision to ONLY distribute my book with Amazon.com and several retailers, which means, for now I've opted out of my other national distribution deals; and (3) my son's career!

Please know that I felt everyday that I was away from TBC. The BeatTips Community means a lot to me. The people in our community are talented, incredibly committed, and absolutely genuine. In a world (and industry) full of "posers," clowns, snakes, and talentless hacks, it is refreshing and encouraging to build with the members in our community. Thank you all...

Now for the April BeatTips Beat Battle breakdown...

DK - "Hit Man For Hire"
In the last BeatTips Beat Battle, you won the Most Improved Award. This go around, you've snatched the title! Like I said before, I can only think that this has come from a more intense and extensive MusicStudy, plus your humble willingness to listen to constructive feedback, notes, and suggestions.

Yo, What. Did. I. Tell. You??? I've always believed that you had the "ear," the work ethic, and the commitment to be a dope beatmaker. You're proving me right with this joint. It's absolutely hard core, left-hook hip hop/rap music with a smoothly confident essence (I dig the "Soulsville" drop at the beginning, I've used that before for an interlude). Your drums are now first rate! Perfect swing, time, sound selection. The sample chops are top notch—not only are they dope, they're disguised very well, no trace of their source. This beat represents your growing confidence and your new assurance in your own beatmaking style, sound, and abilities (the fade of the beat at the end is classic, tells me you know this beat is dope). The setup change and a narrowing of your focus has served you well. Great work.

2nd Place:
SC Beatz- "Fast Life"
SC I dig the fact that you are applying all of your musicianship in a much more "meat and potatoes" precision. I can not say enough how you've sharpened up your sound. This beat shows off your much more focused, direct, and aggressively thought-out approach to theme. The drums on this joint hit hard (increasingly something that is becoming a mainstay of your beats). The keyboard phrase pitched up and down is warm and hypnotic. Also, nice counterpoint work. Finally, this beat leaves nice room for a rapper.

3rd Place:
Beat Pharmacy- "Pimps Theme"
Real "meaty" beat. Harsh, dark, and determined. Probably an intimidating beat for light-hearted rappers. Drums kick hard; sample phrases bang appropriately. Only thing I'd consider changing: Scrap the added horn sample that start to come in at around :34.

SPECIAL AWARDS
Segundo Award for Consistency and Contribution

DC - "Hogan's Heroes"
Hungry, attitude heavy beat. Drums are sick; breakdown was dope; love the use of the 1/4 hi-hat patter and alternating tambourine sequence. (I often like to use hats and tambs in a similar way.)

Get Paid With Heart Award for the #1 Crossover Joint that Still Pays Homage to the Beatmaking Craft

Rudolph Lyrics - "Saysomething"
Great example of how repetition, especially "bouncing phrases," can be effectively hipnotic. Hip Hop/rap music is, at it's most fundamental base, a dance music form, and this joint works well as a heatrock beat and something easily danceable to.

3Flip -"Every Type of Thing"
Nice intro and build up; it set very high expectations...and you mostly delivered. This joint was packed with loads of elements. Really dug how the arrangement seemed to just ease through, even with so many counter elements going on simultaneously.


TBC Most Improved Award

Anomaly -"The Caca Toro"
Finally! You've straightened your sound out and zeroed in on your primary influences. The result: Tighter drums, a more well-defined theme and overall, a more hard-hitting arrangement.


Honorable Mentions:

Castro Beats -"Turn Me On"
Yo, you knew I would feel this joint! Subtle simplicity, straightforward drumwork, arrangement one-sided but rock steady, just showcasing the core groove. Perfect apparatus for a dope story rhyme. Castro I think you're on to something with this sound transition you're going through!

Don P - "Stop Teasing"
Decent beat. But it sounds like a "beat battle"/"producers showcase" beat. The cliché sweeps and breakdowns are perhaps great attractions for showcase crowds and judges; in fact, I'd even say this is the sort of beat that would win in those contests, and appeal to some rappers. But the beat sounds almost too calculated; it lacks punch and feeling.

Listen to DK's and SC's beats. Both of those joints have an "essence" to that's suited for a master lyricist. In contrast, your beat could work well with any half-decent rapper. So it comes down to more appeal or more feel. But of course, the decision of whether to go for appeal vs. feel is each individual beatmaker's call...


Notes.

Bwest - "Drop It"
The drumwork begs for some ill non-drum phrases. The chops (and their arrangement) do not do the drum framework of this beat any justice. In fact, it is the drums of this beat that make this joint more enjoyable than it perhaps otherwise would be. Make a new beat using the existing drumwork, but this time, try to work in a non-drum arrangement that matches the feel and overall impact of the drum framework.

Midwest Authority - "Walking Medicine"
Every beat battle I look forward to what you have in store. However, this time around, the beat you went with did have your usual "touch" on it. Sure, I could hear some of your signature elements, but for the most part, this beat had perhaps too much going on...it really did seem like there was no clear theme (direction). In fact, this joint seem better suited for R&B...don't know if that was intentional or not.

Dafingaz - "Hold Ya Breath"
In a word, this beat is "ambient." Damn near all ambiance, but the bass framework saves it from being completely ambient and "futuristic." This beat made me think of score music to the opening sequence or travel sequence in a science fiction movie. It's very hard to imagine someone rapping over it. However, I could see an "R&B" singer singing (perhaps) to it.

Uhoh - "12-21-09"
Similar to the comment I gave to Don P, your beat here might go over well at a live beatmaker's showcase, but it ultimately lacks that essence dope lyricists crave. Moreover, the beat is not really leaving room for a rapper to genuinely get involved. The double-ups of the phrases and the breakdowns of this beat sound more like the beatmaker trying (consciously) making his presence known rather than simply ripping off a dope beat and letting a rapper add his genius to the equation. Never forget the rapper. Most of your older work seemed to be very conscious of that notion...



Final thoughts.

As I've said before, the talent coming out of TBC will soon be world-renowned...Our most consistent members are doing what they do best: staying consistent! More importantly, DK's win represents a major turning point for TBC. DK is a core member who's been in TBC since early '08, a foundational period for me. In that time, DK and I have had various exchanges, sometimes very thoughtful, and sometimes perhaps "heated," but always REAL. And what I've always respected about DK is his fearless pursuit to improve his musical understanding and to become a better beatmaker. Thus, DK's win here serves as a benchmark not just for DK, but for all of us in TBC. It's direct proof of how our strength is found in the determination and talent of each member of TBC.

Congratulations to DK
DK hit me with a PM, include your full name and complete address for your prize money. Also, include a pic so I can feature you, on the home page of BeatTips.com.

July BeatTips Beat Battle will begin on Friday July 16th...

—Sa'id