Illmatic Beat Contest: Week 2 Winner

With 44 beat entries in Week 2, the judging was tough. No offense, but you can only listen to a beat with the same sample so many times. You definitely need to stand on your own to have been heard. It took us a little longer to get through all these, but we finally have a winner. If you see how everyone voted, you’ll understand why this was difficult. Akil had to step out this week, but here’s everyone else’s picks…

Kevin

5. TIE:

• G.C. – Man, you know I just like your style. This has you written all over it. You kept it simple though. Not bad.
• Rouh – Nice flip. The bass breakdown at towards the end was a nice touch.

4. Pee Duble – Damn, Pee Dub can make beats too? I was pleasantly surprised with this. I liked the drum break and the Trav vocal samples. Beat was tight.

3. Skidmatik – Damn, the drums hit hard on this…. love it! I love the little keyboard touches (not sure what you call them). This is smooth.

2. Garcia’s Grooves – Very jazzy and percusive. This is a great track and I hope the other judges agree. A real stand out! The smooth criminal on beat breaks! lol Only thing that threw me was the Sinatra sample at the beginning.

1. Natown Legend – At first I thought the track was a tad slow, but the more I listened, the more I was feeling the down south groove. The PE sample was a nice touch. I think with Trav over this, it’ll be fiyah!

Trav

5. Four-Way Tie:

• W Kempton – this one was kinda erie, it was disturbing DOPENESS.
• Pee Duble -surprised me on this one, he had one of the sharpest snatches of the sample AUTHENTIC
• Wabitz - Madness on the flip foreally
• Isberg - I like that he did with it HEAT

4. Que R!CO – Kinda had a west coast NY State of Mind flip to it – CREATIVE DOPE

3. G.C. – Seriously, the young man is too gifted DOPENESS

2. Danimal – The flavor on this one was incredible-to me this beat just feels good man, DOPENESS

1. Natown Legend – that crunk DJ Toomp flavor really added a whole different dimension to what I was thinking for the track-DOPENESS

DJ Blacquestarr

5. Garcia’s Grooves

4. Que R!CO

3. The Franchise

2. G.C.

1. Manz

Thomas

5. S.T.T.R.E.S.S. – Like the variation in the track. Used sample effectively.

4. Digivillainous – Used different part of the sample and hard knocking drums (Change Le Beat?). Nice track.

3. Natown Legend – Definitely a different…more modern take for the track. Elements of the sample are noticeable, but drums seem different with a bouncy feel to it. It works for me and is original. I’m being picky….but I wish you would have sampled Chuck’s voice instead of rhyming it yourself (I’m presuming that’s you). Overall good work. Nice joint.

2. Noxxbee – Haunting feel to the track with some Havoc “Hell on Earth” type sounds splashed throughout the track. Lots of variation and change ups in the track. Listened numerous times to catch everything. Good joint.

1. Garcia’s Grooves – Garcia’s Grooves back on his jazzy ish! The drums hit hard, love the introduction, love the change up with the Nas vocal sample about 90 seconds in. Track stood out once I heard it and has stuck with me throughout the judging process. Smooth and grimy at the same time. Defiantly put your own unique stamp on it.

CONGRATUALTIONS NATOWN LEGEND!

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