Illmatic Beat Contest: Week 4

by Kevin on January 11, 2009 · 89 comments

Getting into Week 4 of the contest, things will not be getting easier. The contestants are throwing heat week after week, so you best bring your “A” game if you wanna get in on this. The great thing about Illmatic is that the production is near flawless. Every track on the album could be considered classics. So that right there is intimidating enough.

This week’s flip is no exception. The Pete Rock production,”The World Is Yours”, is…. there are no words to describe it. Sampling “I Love Music” performed by Ahmad Jamal, Pete Rock crafted a masterpiece. Now it’s your turn. The beat that wins this week should be a highlight of ILLTravis. This should be one of the best beats we hear during the whole contest. Intimidated yet? Download the sample below and give it a shot!

Don’t forget to read the rules if you haven’t already.

DOWNLOAD THE SAMPLE

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{ 89 comments }

1 FlamesYall January 11, 2009 at 3:52 pm: I live for this contest!!

Looking forward to this… There are so many opportunities on this Ahmad track for sampling. This week is gonna be amazing!

Good luck all.
2 Young K January 11, 2009 at 4:14 pm: you announcing week 2 winner tonight?
3 J Fizz January 11, 2009 at 4:33 pm: http://www.zshare.net/audio/5400038648d1f1e6/

peace
4 Kevin January 11, 2009 at 4:38 pm: I can’t say when we’ll have the Week 2 results yet. We had 44 entries and it’s been tough on all the judges. As soon as I get em, I’ll post em.
5 Young K January 11, 2009 at 4:54 pm: can you post a zshare link? rapid share isnt working for me.
6 Tokyo Cigar January 11, 2009 at 5:17 pm: Peace yall.

http://www.zshare.net/audio/54001733d8803394/

I had to keep it old school for this. Breakbeat style.

One
7 FlamesYall January 11, 2009 at 6:29 pm: J Fizz – I love how this builds and changes and flows – Really nice. It keeps you listening and head bobbing. Great work.

Tokyo (DUDE!) – “Ladies & Gentlemen”!! Classic beats, yo. Like how it is chopped. I love chopping. Like the change ups too.

I gotta get on this, but I’m away for the weekend with the wife, so I only got a few days to get mine sorted… The pressure!!
8 Young K January 11, 2009 at 10:13 pm: someone PLZ zshare this shit for me?
9 G.C. January 11, 2009 at 11:56 pm: Ill joints so far! Peace to Tokyo for that Impeach illness, and J Fizz did it with the loops!

Here’s my entry:

http://www.zshare.net/audio/54012321e2a93a9c/

Good luck everyone!
10 Digivillainous January 12, 2009 at 12:27 am: Here’s my entry

http://www.zshare.net/audio/54012964db81a55a/
11 Skidmatik January 12, 2009 at 1:10 am: http://www.zshare.net/audio/5401383499aec1ea/

I actually did two flips…decided to go with this one.
12 Skidmatik January 12, 2009 at 1:19 am: G.C. I see you over there chief! dope..
13 Skidmatik January 12, 2009 at 1:28 am: J Fizz this is ill also…very “Dilla esque”..nice
14 J Fizz January 12, 2009 at 1:46 am: thanks a lot for feedback … In all previous weeks i just listened to the beats…

this week so far there all so dope i had to download each one..

This is an awesome song to sample cuz there are so many possibilites,

hopefully all of these beats sound different.
15 Cory Hall January 12, 2009 at 3:07 am: finally, a sample i like. there’s like 20 beats you could make without doubling back on the same breaks
16 FlamesYall January 12, 2009 at 7:44 am: GC – Another stormer! Love the vocals and the piano…

Digi – That’s HEAVY!! A lot going on, but still hits hard.

Skidmatik – Dark and brooding. Like it. Some real atmosphere.

Mines coming… Soon… As soon as the wife lets me…
17 Cenzo January 12, 2009 at 8:49 am: young k, ima zshare it…give me a minute
18 Cenzo January 12, 2009 at 9:03 am: i got a lot of time for this week. im ill at home and dont need to go to work nor school…

btw, i uploaded the sample to zshare: http://www.zshare.net/audio/5402589213f4191c/
19 L.A.K.I.M. January 12, 2009 at 9:05 am: http://www.zshare.net/audio/54025912985d7a3a/

peace
20 Var January 12, 2009 at 11:09 am: G.C. that was dope!!!
21 Garcia's Grooves January 12, 2009 at 11:42 am: G.C. – love how you took the Jeru, “Me or the Papes” portion of the Ahmad Jamal sample and flipped the ish out of it! Lovely as always bruh!
22 Garcia's Grooves January 12, 2009 at 11:54 am: LAKIM – I very much like the sample portion you choose and how you let it ride over the reverbed drums.

Cenzo- Just a heads up…That links sounds like you uploaded the original song from Ahmad vs. your remix.
23 Cenzo January 12, 2009 at 2:45 pm: uploaded it for young k….mine is comin soon
24 Tokyo Cigar January 12, 2009 at 2:46 pm: Yo GC and flames, Thanks for the props. The Ahmad song is crazy beautiful. Shit is just dripping with samples.

Yo GC the flip you did was stupid hard. Yo on point with the vocal samples too. Very jazzy joint with suagr smack drumkits. Mad bionic beat fam.

Skidmatik Your joint hit me like 1995. I love the creepy vibe. It sounds like a b side to hell on earth era Mobb deep. Dope as hell.

J fizz you i love the layers and orchestration. You put the fly Avirex coat on the sample. ( dressed it up right )

I was telling Thomas the other day that flipping samples has helped me step my production game up big time. Twisting out these loops just opens up my brain in a whole new way that my stupid ass was sleeping on before. thank God for the sample stipulations Kev put up for the contest or else i would still be sleeping on these techniques.

Peace to everyone doing this and good luck.
25 Young K January 12, 2009 at 3:48 pm: love cenzo
26 Isbjerg January 12, 2009 at 4:50 pm: It’s not that mine isn’t done… I can see that im not the only one doing ahead – Ive got the 10 tracks laying in raw form as a rough draft…Flamesyall’s got my track 4 under the scope to add more flavour, as we will try to join forces and work as a team as we contestants did on remix contest 2…
27 Sima January 12, 2009 at 6:56 pm: this is my shit!
http://www.zshare.net/audio/540480022f89f026/
keep it real!
28 FlamesYall January 12, 2009 at 7:08 pm: Here’s mine.

The standard is getting too high and I am getting limited with my beatmaking gear, but it’s still fun all the same… I ain’t got a chance of winning, but look forward to your feedback and inspirations…

FUCK, Zshare will not process my file.. I’ve tried like 6 times!! I’ll do it again tomorry.

Bam.
29 Black Millhouse January 12, 2009 at 9:52 pm: http://www.zshare.net/audio/5405326742ae8115/

hope yall like..
30 S.2 January 12, 2009 at 9:53 pm: I’m early this time round for a change. People are coming with it this week.

Had to go straight boom bap on this one:

http://www.zshare.net/audio/54053136c6083fa8/
31 OGhiphop.com January 12, 2009 at 11:35 pm: J-Fizz, that beat is bananas! I almost feel like the intro wasn’t even necessary. I don’t think any of the vocal cuts are necessary when you have it layered like you do. The music carries the whole song! Not trying to criticize or anything, I think the beat is dope as hell. My submission will be coming soon(ish)…
32 Stevebelieve (OGHH) January 13, 2009 at 12:03 am: http://www.zshare.net/audio/54056302a7e9f537/

Ok, here it is (i posted a second ago as OGhiphop on accident). Here is my submission. It is short (very short) but I said what I needed to say in that minute and a half or so. Hopefully you guys will like it. There is a lot of detail layered in there and it articulates the mood I was going for poignantly.

Hope you guys like it!

SK
33 Stevebelieve (OGHH) January 13, 2009 at 12:13 am: For some reason, the stream isn’t working that well. Here’s another version with the intro and all. This stream seems to work much better.

http://www.zshare.net/audio/540565257606e7cc/

Ok, here it is (i posted a second ago as OGhiphop on accident). Here is my submission. It is short (very short) but I said what I needed to say in that minute and a half or so. Hopefully you guys will like it. There is a lot of detail layered in there and it articulates the mood I was going for poignantly.

SK
34 Dr. MaD January 13, 2009 at 2:14 am: Rules section not workin’…just in case..
35 FlamesYall January 13, 2009 at 3:03 am: Bam -> http://www.zshare.net/audio/54060687a0488627/

Finally.
36 FlamesYall January 13, 2009 at 5:15 am: I downloaded ‘Please Nottinghammer’s Don’t Hurt ‘Em’ the other day… It’s DOPE! Much love to the guys who produced and remixed on it. Really nice – I had a great journey into work with it. Nice beats.
37 Young K January 13, 2009 at 10:07 am: y’all goin hard, i’m a flip it with another sample I think… be on the look out for young.
38 Isbjerg January 13, 2009 at 1:49 pm: I had my mind set on doing something different, but Im staying true to the classic chopping – The world is still yours remix by Isbjerg :

http://www. zshare. net/audio/540003266c66f618/
Pete Rock steady sampled this and did something unique with this and waited through several minutes before finding this gem.. And rumours says that he redid it because of Primo’s joints..

One
39 FlamesYall January 13, 2009 at 2:22 pm: That link doesn’t work IsbJerg…
40 Isbjerg January 13, 2009 at 2:56 pm: http://www.zshare.net/audio/540003266c66f618/

Dammit… such a cool presentation, and the link screws up….
damn spaces…

Thanx friend
41 EB Productions January 13, 2009 at 5:25 pm: zup evrybody, damn evrybody did a real good job on this one, daym.. but yeah, here’s my first entry in this competition xD Isbjerg and G.C i see u here’s the link: http://www.zshare.net/audio/54092780f4aebccd/ peace!
42 AdamBomb January 13, 2009 at 6:40 pm: G.C., I really like yours (and have a lot of respect for you), but I have to ask about your panning. I’ve noticed this is the fourth one in a row where the drums seem to be panned off to one side. Just my opinion, but I think you would be better off at least leaving the kick and snare in the center.
43 G.C. January 13, 2009 at 7:10 pm: great observation fam! there are about six different mastering filters i have at my disposal, and the main one i use gives the crispest highs and best sound. as an unfortunate consequence the filter does pan slightly to one side. i have considered it a signature of sorts but maybe i can switch to one of th other filters f it is really an annoyance. what does everyone else think?
44 Var January 13, 2009 at 7:16 pm: Ahmad Jamal has so many dope songs

http://www.zshare.net/audio/540961705030620c/
45 OGhiphop January 13, 2009 at 7:21 pm: GC, I think you should do what you think is best and F what anyone else thinks. Generally the snare and kick are usually centered but that’s not to say they have never been panned (esp the snare). Hi hats are often panned, (i panned the hats on the track i put up) and I see no reason to divert from this if you like it. I’d rather have a panned kick that i personally think sounds right than a centered one that I think sounds off but other people like… Just my opinion but You’re the artist so do what you want. That track is your world and you’re the President, the king, the God, etc.
46 AdamBomb January 13, 2009 at 7:42 pm: OG, I don’t think I could have been more tactful with my opinion, nor G.C. more cool about it. I think as artists, its good to exchange and try to get better. I personally love criticism as long as its constructive…otherwise its just useless hating. I think G.C. is one hell of a beatsmith (obviously), and was just trying to make a helpful comment on his track.
47 Stevebelieve (OGHH) January 13, 2009 at 9:52 pm: My bad AdamBomb, I wasn’t trying to say that you were out of line to offer up advice. But when he asked what everyone else thinks, I just wanted to say, “Make sure you’re happy with it first and foremost.” If other people disagree with you, do what you like. It wasn’t an attack or criticism of what you said at all. I was just answering his question as honestly as I could. Obviously if a friend or person who’s taste I trust gives me feedback, I’m going to take it; i’d be dumb not to! Hope that clears the air?
48 P Floyd January 13, 2009 at 11:15 pm: Man GC Rock it however you field sometimes I have one loop rocking pan hard left with another loop going double time hard right its just how you want to paint. P Floyd Purple AIrlines Fly Muzik anti commercial peace….nice jazz track too ill hook….my track will fly out tonight….
49 P Floyd January 14, 2009 at 3:02 am: http://www.zshare.net/audio/541096596c45fef6/

SImple Jazz feel
Some Common, Lupe, Talib, Mos Def, Marsh A. Andre 3000…Norah Jones on the hook…. This that crack a dutch fly muzik…
50 FlamesYall January 14, 2009 at 7:42 am: P Floyd – That is a beautiful track!

IsbJerg – It flows nice. I love the laid back drums and bass with the piano.
51 Var January 14, 2009 at 9:38 am: P Floyd – that was a really smoothed out Track, I enjoyed it
52 stevebelieve (OGHH) January 14, 2009 at 10:21 am: That being said, I would love to get feedback from the good people on this thread!

Be sure to use this link as the other one uploaded improperly for some reason…
http://www.zshare.net/audio/540565257606e7cc/
53 P Floyd January 14, 2009 at 12:51 pm: Glad yall enjoyed the short flight a smooth flight…Nice flip Flames Isberg Good Vibe…Var clean and with the Good Times Hook tough
54 Poop January 14, 2009 at 7:37 pm: Here we go again,I threw in some NaS vocals to spice things up a little bit http://www.zshare.net/audio/541446589555bfe5/
55 Cory Hall January 14, 2009 at 9:09 pm: http://www.zshare.net/audio/541491030ee7ba6e/

i wanted to process the sample differently
56 Stevebelieve (OGHH) January 14, 2009 at 10:48 pm: Cory, that song is dope man. It feels like a jazz song straight up; seamless integration of the samples as if the composer had intended it to be that way to begin with. I dig…
57 JLH January 15, 2009 at 4:05 am: This sample was a little more fun to flip than last week. Feedback is very much appreciated.
Here is my entry:

http://www.zshare.net/audio/54162248fb70de1c/
58 FlamesYall January 15, 2009 at 10:21 am: Thanks for the shout P Floyd.
59 Cenzo January 15, 2009 at 2:05 pm: hey fellas. i just finished my beat for this weeks competition. hope you like it:

so, here’s the Cenzo Beatz Entry:

http://www.zshare.net/audio/541833982bbf9396/
60 Cenzo January 15, 2009 at 2:06 pm: i used the scratches from the original nas song…and some small details too
61 FlamesYall January 15, 2009 at 4:50 pm: SteveBelieve, Cenzo, Cory Hall, JLH… You’ve all made beautiful music. I love how diverse this weeks sample has proved… Nice!
62 DizzyD January 15, 2009 at 5:06 pm: http://www.zshare.net/audio/5419224940a357c2/

Here’s My flip…
63 S.T.T.R.E.S.S. January 15, 2009 at 8:12 pm: Yo Dizzy,you are a week late on that flip playa.Nice though.
64 RNP January 15, 2009 at 10:04 pm: Allow me to reintroduce myself…

haha not sure if anyone remembers me from the previous contests but i see a lot of familiar names.. GC Tokyo STTRESS still doing their thing i see!

My submission: http://www.zshare.net/audio/54200791e6ba951f/
65 Garcia's Grooves January 15, 2009 at 10:32 pm: Had to get mine done earlier than normal this week since I’m heading out of town! Here it is!
Any and all feedback welcome!

Nas – Illmatic – “The World Is Yours [Garcia Groove Interpolation]”
http://www.zshare.net/audio/5420216893477c01/
66 BigRick January 15, 2009 at 11:11 pm: WOW. YOU GUYS KILLLLLLED IT.
BIG props to S.2 for that sic beat.
RNP i like those drums dog. EXCEPT the hi hat. well more precisely that one hi hat hit that sticks out by itself. u know what im talking about.

everyone else u got enough props. lol.

http://www.zshare.net/audio/54203581a678f919/ my flip

im voting for s.2 man. this drum beat is crazy. this bass line is the fuckin 90’s. with a sic flip. and then the change up.
yo if u don’t mind me asking, where’d u get that snare.
67 C-Villain January 15, 2009 at 11:54 pm: wow this week people showed a lot of talent! always loved this song..pete rock is my favorite producer next to dilla..but clean beats. i give some love to my boy J Fizz! the beat is clean love the layering gives it nice feel of it’s own, very original. Drums are also very hot like the snare. G.C., the beat is fire! very catchy had me rapping in my room to myself..also like the vocal sample, it is used nicely. Tokyo and S.2. and sima also very nice…Best week yet my opinion. cant wait to see what happens
68 S.2 January 16, 2009 at 3:46 am: Thanks BigRick and C-Villain

I chopped the drums from Disco Italiano – Chella’Lla, and I layered the snare with this other snare I’d chopped from somewhere else, but now I don’t know where (I really should start naming stuff properly – Snare002 isn’t a very descriptive filename lol)
69 Isbjerg January 16, 2009 at 4:10 am: S.2: I know the feeling… I did beats a whole year without naming beats, samples or arrangements, so I had to use four days to get it straight.. So now I got to write it in the arrangement, in the details of the track and everywhere…
70 DizzyD January 16, 2009 at 4:23 am: Ah man lol ha ha ait thats koo lemme c if i can flip this sample before sunday its on… Thnx S.T.T.R.E.S.S Fo da comment…
71 One Mic January 16, 2009 at 10:21 am: Here is my entry for this week. Most of you seem to love the sample given, but once again I gotta go against the grain. My ears could only agree with a tiny bit out of the sample, but I did what I can. I’m very happy with this beat, but if ya’ll wanna tell me I should have used more of the original sample – save your breath! I know!
Anyhow, let me know what you think. One Love!

http://www.zshare.net/audio/54224560f7b3c7a6/
72 ''BLINKY'' January 16, 2009 at 11:01 am: Wassup Nottinghammers !

here we go for week 4:

http://www.zshare.net/audio/5422696802f6852b/

Enjoy

Peace !
73 Natown Legend January 16, 2009 at 7:21 pm: http://www.zshare.net/audio/54246296a96f6757/

check it out give me ur opinions*
good luck to all
74 Var January 16, 2009 at 10:55 pm: BlINKY- that was dope,, I noticed a little “Stakes is High” in there,, I enjoyed the track
75 JayPrice January 17, 2009 at 12:03 am: 1st post. East Oakland Cali.

http://www.zshare.net/audio/54237222aa810d7d/
76 Ace Fadal January 17, 2009 at 1:46 am: Here it is…Ima post and then Ima listen….

http://www.zshare.net/audio/542581931ebe1d88/
77 ''BLINKY'' January 17, 2009 at 12:16 pm: Thanks for the props Var, i digged your beat too.Jazzy, hypnotic and got that tongue in cheek feel to it, where do these voice samples come from ?.
78 SShorey January 17, 2009 at 2:41 pm: Here’s my post playas

http://www.zshare.net/audio/5428367206f6958d/
79 Frost Gamble January 17, 2009 at 4:47 pm: http://www.zshare.net/audio/54287657338358b7/
80 Var January 17, 2009 at 5:01 pm: BLINKY- I Converted some youtube clips into MP3’s
81 g1tkod January 18, 2009 at 1:50 am: http://www.zshare.net/audio/543035223053f823/
82 WABITZ January 18, 2009 at 9:58 am: My beat:

http://www.zshare.net/audio/54317583b6b60e92/

enjoy!
83 dj2hot4u January 18, 2009 at 12:19 pm: http://www.zshare.net/audio/543227169bc55f06/

good luck to everyone
84 Rouh January 18, 2009 at 12:23 pm: Kev, hope I’m not too late on this bro ! Here’s my entry for week 4 :

http://www.zshare.net/audio/543228772eef2f45/

A lot of good beats, guess everybody is more confortable with piano sample loops, that’s why we got so much heat this week !
And of course feedback is more than welcome
Peace 1
85 Kevin January 18, 2009 at 1:01 pm: I won’t be here when the deadline hits…. 2 more hours.
86 Tictoc January 18, 2009 at 2:12 pm: Here’s my week 4 beat:
http://www.zshare.net/audio/54326095e47717ae/
I love this concept, so glad I found this site!
87 Keyz Fargo January 18, 2009 at 2:55 pm: Rushed for the deadline:

http://www.zshare.net/audio/54328106480e0894/
88 Nic Diamonds January 18, 2009 at 2:58 pm: Rushed like hell
http://www.zshare.net/audio/5432825861c5aa66/
89 Kevin January 18, 2009 at 7:19 pm: Haha, I see everyone made it in time. I’m behind with gettin these together. I’ll have em up tonight though, along with the sample for this week.