This Is Hip Hop & Trav Williams are proud to announce our new weekly contest. This contest is a bit different than our previous remix contests. In fact, it’s not a remix contest at all, but a beat contest.
The concept is simple… Nas‘ Illmatic is one of the greatest hip hop albums of all time. Wouldn’t it be fun to try to recreate a classic? We will provide you the original samples used to create Illmatic. You take the sample, and flip it in your own way to create a new beat. The winning beats will be compiled for Trav Williams‘ new album, ILLTRAVIS, where Trav will write and record new lyrics to your beats.
Here’s how it’ll go down… for 10 weeks, we will hold a weekly contest… 10 weeks/10 beats/1 beat for each track on Illmatic. Each Sunday I will provide the sample to be flipped for the week. You will have one week to complete your beat. Entries will be taken until 3:00pm Eastern Daylight Time the following Sunday. For those of you overseas, make sure to get your clocks right. Once all beat entries have been accepted, the judges will take the next week to listen and comment on those beats. At the end of each week, I’ll post up the judges’ comments, their picks, and the winner for the week.
To submit your entry: Upload your remix in mp3 format to one of your favorite file sharing locations (ie, Rapidshare, MediaFire, MegaUpload, ZShare, etc) and leave a comment in this post with your name and your link. Some readers have requested the contestants use ZShare. So if you can, upload to ZShare. DO NOT email me any links… they will be ignored. Also, DO NOT put your links in the CBOX. There is no registration process and anyone can enter at anytime.
The Judge’s Panel
- Trav Williams – Hip Hop emcee reppin Ft Lauderdale FL.
- Akil – Hip Hop emcee out of LA, formerly of the group Jurassic 5.
- DJ Blacquestarr – Hip Hop DJ out of Athens, GA.
- Thomas – Hip Hop blogger, sample enthusiast.
- Kevin – Hip Hop blogger, owner of this site dammit!
DOWNLOAD “SUBWAY THEME”
{ 119 comments }
This is going to be dope!
Great ! Let’s get ready for this **** ! Good luck everybody and again thx kev…
Haha, glad I’m not the only one hyped!
Oh shit, what a fucking genius idea for a competition!!!
I’m gonna get the wife and kids to move out so I can focus fully!
DAMNIT KEV!!!! youre a friggin genius… a MADMAN… a friggin mad-genius-man-friggin-genius-mad-genius man… shit.
LOL @ FlamesYall!
I can’t take credit for the idea… it was all Trav.
I’m pretty hype for this one! Bout to get to work now.
Make sure ya’ll download Trav’s new mixtape!!!
http://www.zshare.net/download/530365210abccb99/
I’m mixed about this… messing with a classic is a hard task and not without comments.. Imma give it a shot, looking forward to NY state of mind and One love…
How hard are the rules – As long as the original sample is in the track, there are no limits ? And Imma make room in the intro beat for some bars for trav…
I’m excited about this.
Definitely down for this one, very dope concept…A few months ago a bunch of producers and emcees from the DMV did a similar project called “The Illmatic Remix Jawnt” featuring production from Oddisee, Kev Brown, Best Kept Secret…where the original samples from Illmatic were reflipped and spit over by different emcees. Turned out very dope. I’m sure its still floating around the net somewhere. I’m very excited about this contest, Good look on this one yall!
will he pay for the beats or is it just like a mixtape?
@Isbjerg – no limits… flip the sample as you see fit. We’ll decide which beats fit Trav’s style and the overall project.
@manz – I didn’t know about that project. I’ll def have to check that out.
@Young K – if you wanna get paid, you in the wrong place. I thought it was implied, but I should have mentioned that participation in this contest means that you give your consent to have your beat used in the final project if it is chosen.
man, this is a good idea. im really feelin it. im workin on the sample right now…
Yo this concept is stupid hard. I did’nt expect this at all. very ingenious but very intimidating at the same time. Nice one fam.
Who would I be if I didn’t make you guys work hard? Every contest I’m looking at stepping it up. This is what will separate the producers from the basement beatmakers.
yooo this is ill.. Im bout be on christmas vacation for helal days
so after i go get some chicken w/ black bean sauce down the street
ima have to finish my beat today and put it on that mega upload shit
peaceeeee
ok this is my first time wit hthese file sharing site
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=TNYEDT4A
Here is my genesis remix
can someone please tell me if it works and if they get it??
ok peace happy holidays
thats a siick idea. can’t wait!
J Fizz you beat does work, it’s dope too! Just gotta use quicktime to play it. I see cats definitely ain’t slackin on this one. I gotta step from behind the mic and get down on this joint myself. and ya’ll be sure to download The Learning Curve to get a feel of Trav’s Flow!! http://www.zshare.net/download/530365210abccb99/
Love this new concept for remixin’! Do I dare ask if a Tribe Called Quest “Midnight Marauder” contest could be in the works as well??? One can dream!
Good luck everyone! Glad to have us all back in the mix!
Kev how innovative is this this is precisely one of the reasons your blog is the best. I wish I did beats I would jump on this. I am anxiously awaiting the results from those who participate maybe you can get Nas himself to vote on the results. Keep real hip-hop alive.
lol @ Kevin’s input “I’m the site owner damnit”
http://sharebee.com/0645d24d
Peace. Yo J fizz you were on point to catch that vocal clip before me. When i heard yours i was like daaaaammmmnnn. I almost took it off my beat but i was like F it i’ll just let it rock.
Let me know what yall think about my sample flip.
Thanks ya’ll…. I hope this will be our best contest yet!
Dope Track Tokyo Cigar!
do he have to sample sample, or can we interpolate a melody? (not opposed to sampling, i just want to know my options)
Not sure. I think it could be either way, but wait until the morning to get an official word on that from Kev.
Yo, Tokyo Cigar – Ya beat kills it!! Bangin’.
Now I have to raise what I laughingly refer to as ‘my game’…
Boom.
…And J Fizz, that shits hot, too.
This contest is gonna be fire. We’re gonna create a better album than Illmatic was!!!!!!!!!
Nice remixes j.fizz and tokyo
this is gonna be such a dope contest
heres my remix ,added another sample to it
http://www.zshare.net/audio/53103231d8fc1125/
Cory Hall, I don’t wanna hold back creativity, so I say go for it.
hi evrybody, im back again now, if yall even remember me xD from the previous remix contests, but yeah im back now, i’ve been in the lab just developing my production skills and stuff, now i think im ready for another contest, and this is a very dope idea i think it will be reaally fun, can’t wait for all the results
i aint really feeling the sample but imma se what i can do with it 
peace!
Did anyone catch the ‘Manipulated Marauders’ album from The ARE? They basically did the same thing with original samples from Midnight Marauders and flipped it. Expertly dope. Their ‘Lyrics To Go’ was amazing.
oooweee! sounds like fun! but damn, a lot to live up to! illmatic is like a who’s who of boom-bap production. fuck it. gotta swim wit the sharks right? see y’all lata, i’m bout ta go in!
FINALLY!! I been waiting for this ever since I heard 9th Remix the Black Album and God’s Son!!! But I wanted to hear different producers as well… After Illmatic, how about y’all do a contest for Mobb Deep’s Classic, “The Infamous”…… Can’t wait to hear the results!!!
Hay,
What’s up everybody, I’m an upstart producer, just gettin started to get my feet wet. Been watching you dudes from afar 4 a while but I’ve decided it’s time to get in the ring wit ya’ll. Good luck to everybody
*ILLMATIC best album of all time.
Peace.
Flames Y’all! Yeah, the Manipulated Marauders album is dope!! I love how THE ARE flipped the samples!
What up everyone! Here is my entry:
http://www.zshare.net/audio/531167762f02b899/
Original: Subway train sound, drum kit
New: Main Sample, Bass
I will listen to the others when I get home from work. Good luck everyone!
Thanks for the feedback yall. I really appreciate it. Peace to the beat squad back up in the mix.
sounds like a cool idea. i’ll probably participate in this contest this time.
Im hyped as well. Wooohooooo!!
Illmatic Remix Jawnt that mans is referring to…
http://rapidshare.com/files/175903780/Illmatic_Remix_Jawnt_-_Getrightmusic.com.zip
Good lookin’ out Ms.BeatJunkie~, thats definitely it. I hope yall will enjoy the mixtape as much as I did and good luck to everyone participating in the contest!
Yes Yes… Here is my entry… Although Rapidshare says it can only be downloaded 10 times!!!
http://rapidshare.com/files/175920506/GenesisYall.mp3.html
Holla and let me know if it works.
I’m loving the other entries so far.
wouldnt let me download it flames
http://www.zshare.net/audio/53131007fbe94150/
Young K Production – Da Genesis
had to master it with headphones got no speakers here so hopefully it’s still nice. Deuces let me kno
http://www.zshare.net/audio/531314817fd17c5b/
alternet link if that one dont work
I wouldn’t miss this for the world.. Here’s my Genesis Intro, using the original sample along with Nautilus which were in the Main Source sample And Jigga for the chorus… there’s room for some 16 bars and all – Enjoy the details and good luck to y’all…
http://www.zshare.net/audio/53133522a8c61361/
One Mic where u at!!!
Here goes my Genesis remix!
http://www.zshare.net/audio/53140408fabe8641/
That’s strange Young K, it’s letting me… Can someone else holla and let me know if it’s working for them??
http://rapidshare.com/files/176021033/GenesisYall.mp3
Thanks, yo!
Don’t you worry, bags! I’m cooking something up in the lab as we speak! Just gotta get through all of this Christmas business, but my track will be up soon! One-
Sign me up
got it to work today flames, maybe it was just my net holla
Good news. Thanks man.
Ayo, I’ma ask this since I’m not aquainted with previous contests:
Can we (the producers) submit more than one track or do we get one crack at it?
One entry per person please. And don’t try submitting multiple entries with multiple aliases. I will find out.
http://www.zshare.net/audio/531711075257d4f7/
i’ll try to keep up with them other producers! holla
http://www.box.net/shared/yz33kqxzr7
No lie, I’ve been rockin’ my black fuzzy Kangol bucket all day. My 3 yr. old said it’s my “thinking cap”.
I present to you: “Gettin’ Ill (Grand Wizard Theodore)”
Good luck to the “Usual Suspects” (ya’ll kno who ya’ll are),and I promice I won’t start no shit this time around. All the newcommers, this place is a mosh-pit. Bring the pain.
100
Phur
What up Nottinghammers. It’s on and popping again fellas!I see that the heat is already on blast.I will check out the joints a little later.This has been a week from hell,but i’m alive.I went ahead and did a full length beat.Hope yall like it and Good Luck to everyone.
ONE!
http://www.zshare.net/audio/53180375f10903ec/
J Fizz : It okay, but im missing something..
Agor : Nice job on the beat…
Tokyo : Totally Smashing NY Beat..
GC: A bit deiff than your usual work… I felt like late 90s, not mid 90s and that strange, coming from you – In a good way..
Young K : It made me think of a mixtape, not really a beat..
Phurcat : I missed you… Nice sound in the beat – Good one..
Cenzo : A super entry – I like it a lot…
STTRESS : Welcome back – that’s some shit right there..
But Imma getting in the mood for this.. Illmatic is getting transformed into Ismatic, when I’m done… One love Kev for bringing it – An d for Trav – Imma leave 16 bars at the time, but you leave em hanging for more…
Good idea Kev, I’ll be making some beats for this, but not this week cause its christmas
What’s good all, Trav is that dude so I had to try out for this one! I stuck with the original “intro” feel, and flipped it in my own way. Hope it works!
Vice “The Genesis Remix”:
http://www.zshare.net/audio/53188195494067a1/
Stay Up^
Vice
shit Vice you killin em’. Liked yours the most so far…
Yo, Isbjerg… You not hear mine yet..?
this contest is goin to be huge! so many producers who work on it in the first week! and there are a lot of good beats so far…so, good luck to everyone (forgot that in my first comment. lol)
OK, first, I wanted to be the 67th comment, so fantastic… I achieved that.
Second… ViceCity… Your beat absolutely kills it. Banger.
Cenzo… Ya beats fire!
I hate to go on, but I don’t want to be a tit. Rapidhare is fucking me around, so I changed to the world of Zshare… Here is a new link… SAME BEAT, just a new file host.
http://www.zshare.net/audio/53202248fc3a4cf7/
Flame : it’s good… For me, it’s a tough one, because one has to stand of the others to be noticed here – we are all using the same sample,so we have to bring some secret spice from the lab to stand out… And yours does get a hint of it with your voice sample and your way to variate the beat…
And thanx for getting on the zshare – Another choice is as Phurcat does – the box.net….
one
Whats up everyone. Apologies in advance because this is not gona put you in the Christmas spirit. This is some gutter shit.
http://www.zshare.net/audio/53208466c67e369c/
Well, here’s my hat into the ring:
http://www.zshare.net/audio/532121532db9429c/
Absolutely love what I’ve been hearing so far. I’ve actually been bumping all 15 or so submissions so far on my iPod while Xmas shopping. Really looking forward to see what y’all cook up for next week
What’s sweet about box.net is you can put all your entries in one folder and never have to change the link. All of the are in the same folder and you can give the link to a “working” folder.
Soooo…
I’m getting aboard on the remix thing, been here a while, never had the time, finally sat down to do something.
Heard some hard stuff. I tried to flip it in a different way, but I kinda got stuck with the same vibe, anyways, here it goes.
http://www.zshare.net/audio/53217460ba76390e/
Cenzo and STRESS, both are bangin.
Yall have a good Christmas too.
thanks for the love, fellas! i dig most of the entries. it’ll be a hard decision for the jury!
merry christmas everyone…
O.K. Esejota, I see U
I just realised that by the end of this competition, I’m gonna have 20 versions of Illmatic…
Peace. Yo a lot of heat.
Yo Agor i’m loving your joint. It sounds like an ill 4th disciple beat. The pianos are mad zoned out.
Isbjerg- You a mad scientist fam. Nautilus HELL YEAH. “Streets disciple my raps are trifle” Extra p would be proud.
Young K- Beautiful beat.
Big s.t.t.r.e.s.s. You already know what it is. Ill chops and layering. Magnificent.
Phurcat-AWWW HELLL YEAH. This joint is just gangsta. Plus the KRS vocal kills it. Tims and hoody music fo real.
Flames-Crazy old school feel. This that breaking in an addidas suit special. Funky as hell. Plus the intro is stupid hard. I see EPMD spitting on this joint ill.
Those are my favorites so far. A lot of cats came sick with this though.
One love to the beat squad plus the new heads.
damn i cant get this sample to be like i want xD i think ill pass this week :/ and wreck up the next joint instead on sunday
p peace
Dammit EB – Kom ind i kampen… Brug trommerne og hold dig i ånden af introen…
Tokyo : Thanx
esejota : really nice – Welcome to Beat Squad’s battle ground…
merry xmas all…
Thanks Tokyo… Damn, EPMD!! I can live with that!
By the way, I’m open to good or bad critics, I dont mind at all, cause besides being here for fun, im also here to learn and hear whatever you can point out that needs work.
esejota : In my opinion, your beat did end on the positive experience.. Maybe a bit variation, but than again – Since it’s beatmaking, it’s up to the producer what works – For me, I wanted more of the Main Source/ Bob James sample from the intro and I also wanted to make the arrangement for vocals and an example of a short chorus… Most of the contestants have weighted the WS sample more and thats cook, but when the majority does that, you’ll have to stand out… I have decided to listen to Illmatic only, no remakes or remix or anything and then focus… listen to details in the original samples and in the Nas production and then rethink it.. But that’s me… Hope I could help you in some way…
I hear ya. Deeply appreciated, thanks.
Here goes my first ever K.N. contest entry.
Got a little wild on this one.
Enjoy.
http://www.zshare.net/audio/53275464585e1774/
isbjerg: haha okay jeg skal pröve at fixe et eller andet
peace!
What’s up everybody ! Here’s my entry for week 1:
http://www.zshare.net/audio/53299490c4207089/
Hope you’ll enjoy.
Peace !
Blinky – I must admit, one of the best ones yet, very nice for an intro… A bit high hihat, but world class reflip..
EB : Ville ikke være det samme uden dig – Gotta keep it fam..
Let’s do it people – We are some of the best producers and we have proven it before, and will prove it again.. I got the head and hands full of tricks and are ready for any contest…
Yo!! here’s my entry for the first round
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=48YUP9AK
Thanks Kev
PEace
Thanks for the love Isbjerg, appreciated.Your entry is one of my fav too.i’ll try to fix what you say about the hihats and post an update before sunday.
One
Here is the proper version, please Kevin use this one and forget my first upload.
http://www.zshare.net/audio/53348101f5e87756/
Peace !
So… I’ve just listened to all 17 (I think) entries and man alive, how is this going to be judged!! Everyone has such a nice interpretation of the track. You’re just going to have to close your eyes and point because there are a lot of bangers. You guys have some really nice sounding drums too.
My personal faves are Isbjerg, Blinky, Tokyo and Cenzo… But that doesn’t take anything away from you other folk.
This is going to be the best 10 weeks of my life.
This is Garcia groovin’ in with my interpolation of the Nas track, “The Genesis”! I appreciate any and all feedback!
Nas – Illmatic – “The Genesis [Garcia Groove Interpolation]
http://www.zshare.net/audio/53372100a3592523/
It’s great to be back in the mix with the many talented usual suspects and I see some new cats joinin’ in the mix too!
This is gonna be a great 10 weeks! I’m already salivatin’ for the next beat!
Hey Garcia… Nice Spanish style track. It made me wanna do a little dance.
Nice use of vocals, too.
Hey!!
Waitin’ for some feedback..Thx
Thanks for the feedback FlamesYall! I’m listenin’ to the tracks on your MySpace page. Love the jazzzzzzy Time Matters track!
What’s up, ya’ll! It’s good to see all the usual suspects back as well as all you newcomers! I wasn’t so sure about this week’s sample, so at first I wanted to add another sample and just use the drums off the original sample, but that would kinda defeat the purpose of “flipping” a sample, so I gave it another shot and here it is. Let me know what ya’ll think – I’ll be back with some opinions on your tracks in a minute! One-
http://www.zshare.net/audio/5337948021563828/
http://www.zshare.net/audio/53382844139ac35c/
http://www.zshare.net/audio/53383941558f116c/
eh
Heya One Mic, great to see you again fam! I had to chime in here and respectfully disagree with your comment about flipping the sample. The way I see it, we were given a sample to use and the choice to sample anything from it and create a new beat. Those of us (myself included) who chose to sample the drums are doing what breakbeat diggers have been doing for decades. Maybe I looked at it completely wrong.
I have enjoyed the entries so far, and good luck to everyone!
QraZSirs : To be honest, it’s your choice of Megaupload – It’s easier with such as Zshare because you can hear the track without much effort, but your track got some nice ring to it.. I like the extra bass and the vocal effect in the track – I’m not to happy about the extra rhodes in it, but I feel your direction..
One Mic : Nice Vibe.. I like the old school vibe in it..
Cory Hall : Super, there some sleazy 80s movie theme like Warriors or Noghthawks, so you caught the vibe nicely..
Snd : very different – good twist on the main source thing…
Garcia : Nice intro vibe and a new feel to the samples..
Waddup G.C. I know what you mean! I was so temted to just take the drums and run with it, but I didn’t want to get the whole “your sample is unrecognizable, blah, blah, blah”! You did a good job with your beat and I can recognize the sample, but the sample gods were not with ME this week! Anyways, i’m gonna try to catch you on gmail later, and I’ll play you the alternate version! One-
Aite, this contest is too damn tempting to not throw my hat into
.
http://www.zshare.net/audio/533896808e944771/
Damn, this sample pretty tough though.
Back again…! After listening to all entries I have to say that it seems that this time around there is even less room for error, because we are all using the same sample. The standout tracks for me are:
Tokyo,G.C.,Cenzo,Vice,Dell Prochard,Esejota,Garcia’s Grooves and SND.
BTW I just noticed that I tagged my track as Travmatic instead of Illtravis. Please don’t give me any shit about it. I’m laughing hard enough as it is!:)
Here is that basement beatmaker again!
http://www.zshare.net/audio/533934426bbd2f19/
Here is my week 1 entry, I just sampled the kicks, snares, hi-hats and the intro.
feels a little bit like cheatin’, but I wasn’t feelin that sample too much.
This is just a basement beatmaker intro.
peace to all,
Thanks Garcia… Good stuff man, thanks for listening.
On the subject of what we’re sampling… I’m under the impression that we are re flipping the original samples in our style. Just taking the drums defeats the object surely? You can just use any drums, but we are recreating Illmatic, so we need to keep the vibe from Illmatic?
I don’t know. But what I do know is that there are many, many dope beats already in this contest!!
FlamesYall, i definately agree with you. i think just using the drums is too simple. as a listener you gotta recognize the samples that were used on illmatic, in my opinion. but there are so many dope beats, also if they just took the drums. i think in the end it’s up to the producer how he flips the sample…
What’s up guys’
Some feedback would be much obliged, thanks.
Props 2 everybody, it’s been one helluva week, and a first one for me…
See ya in N.Y. State Of Mind!
Peace
Here is the Zshare link for my entry:
http://www.zshare.net/audio/53397541422185d6/
Thx Isbjerg. I appreciate your feedback.
PEace
My illtravis beat.
http://www.zshare.net/audio/53402189740e9f10/
Enyoi
I agree that using only drums isn’t “flipping” a sample, altough i did it myself. But then it wasn’t stipulated neither that it was forbidden.
So at the end both “flippers” and “drummers” did their thing and stuck to the rules.
So we’ll have to adjust the rules then?
Short intro cutting up the original sample and I’m lovin’ this contest:
http://www.zshare.net/audio/534026142ff2436e/
Producer brothers, i’m loving this right here ! I won’t be able to drop a beat for this week but my man qrazsirs did his thing with his joint ! I got to give a special shout out to G.C who made a beat, that is bangin’ and perfect as an intro for this concept album ! all you other brothers stepped the game really good, despite the fact that a lot of you cats didn’t like the sample that much !
Peace and hope i’ll join y’all next week…
Kev thx again for this
agreed G.C, a lot of classics have sampled drums
I gave a listen to the new ones posted and thought Garcias Grooves, One Mic & snd, were very very good, although its kinda hard to remember which ones I already heard and all that.
I forgot to even put my name on the Zshare link, hehe.
About the flippin and drum sampling and whatever, I just think its up to whoever is doin it, I mean, the drum for the intro are very recognizable so. I prefer to try and keep it in a whole, but I just used my drums and just keep the melody or whatever. I guess its all “legal” hehe.
My submission for Week 1 -
http://www.zshare.net/audio/534074640bb01ff5/
Yo Kev,u forgot to chime in with your traditional TIMES UP!LOL
Yeah, I was out… just got home. Time’s up! lol
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