Illmatic Beat Contest: Week 10

by Kevin on March 1, 2009 · 54 comments

Here we are… the final week of the Illmatic Beat Contest. I can’t believe we’ve gone through 10 weeks already. It truely have been one hell of a ride! Winners have already been announced for Weeks 1-8. If you missed em, check the archives. As this is the last week of the contest, I highly suggest everyone step their game up as this is the last chance to be included on Trav Williams‘ ILLTravis. Go back and listen to the winning beats if you haven’t figured out what Trav is looking for… and just give it your best shot. Let’s get on to this week’s sample…

Although, not my favorite song on Illmatic, I have been looking forward to hearing you all flip this sample. “It Ain’t Hard To Tell”, the last track on the album, was the second single Nas put out. Produced by Large Professor, the track samples a good handful of songs, but the main sample is the classic Michael Jackson song “Human Nature”. Can’t wait to hear what you all do with it… good luck! Don’t forget the contest rules, if you’re new.

DOWNLOAD SAMPLE

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{ 54 comments }

1 Tokyo Cigar March 1, 2009 at 4:22 pm: http://www.zshare.net/audio/563700659ed0d2a5/

Damn! The weeks went by fast as hell. Peace to the whole Beat squad ( the usual suspects and the new jacks ) Big up to Trav and Kevin for masterminding this contest ( dope ass idea for real )
Yo, Quincy put in so much work on the original ( Plus everytime i hear it it just takes me back to being a shorty running around ) i did’nt wanna do too much to it. I had to let it breathe but still do my thing. I hope yall dig the flip.
Peace yall.
2 Isbjerg March 1, 2009 at 4:34 pm: http://www.zshare.net/audio/563705233c8a18cc/

I had a hard time in this contest, twisting what I believe in on approaching great classics and doing well in the contest, but I cant leave you without Michael going off the chain…
Thanx to Nottinghammers and Kevin. Thanx to Trav – I got ya back…
3 FlamesYall March 1, 2009 at 5:17 pm: IsjBerg… Thats some smooth shit!!

Tokyo… I like it, but it maybe my computer, but it sounds really ‘jumpy’.
4 Darren March 1, 2009 at 7:39 pm: http://www.zshare.net/audio/56377332f8ce8216/

You guys have no idea how hard it was to make this… I had to make sure every sound and sample fit perfectly

plus I got a bonus for you guys… Trav, this is what the beat sounds like with lyrics on it…
http://www.zshare.net/audio/56377347c7b7de1b/
5 GOLDIE March 1, 2009 at 9:17 pm: http://www.zshare.net/audio/563801243f00f789/

Peace!!!
6 Justin's Brother March 2, 2009 at 12:21 am: Dilla sampled the first 5 seconds of this on a track but I can’t quite put my finger on it! It’s been killing me for the last 20 minutes and I need to know! Someone help me please. :]
7 EB Productions March 2, 2009 at 9:25 am: heres mine this has been a great contest! thank u kev and evrybody who made this contest what it is! tell me what u guys think about it!
http://www.zshare.net/audio/56405495a6436ec6/
8 G.C. March 2, 2009 at 10:08 am: I had to enter the last week…peace to all the Nottinghammers, old and new! Here’s my entry:

http://www.zshare.net/audio/56407398b4f2ac4d/

Thanks for a great time!
9 Stef Goes March 2, 2009 at 12:54 pm: Howdy do muthafuckas…lol. This is my first entry ever. Huge fan of the site. Here’s my joint:

http://www.zshare.net/audio/564155097d8e2674/
10 Skidmatik March 2, 2009 at 2:00 pm: http://www.zshare.net/audio/56418344cb3ef25e/

my entry

…been an ill contest fa show.
11 Cory Hall March 3, 2009 at 12:42 am: http://www.zshare.net/audio/5644323170850711/
12 grimystar March 3, 2009 at 3:00 am: human nature has to be my ol time fav song by michael

feeling that string skidmatik man.
wil swing ma flip in a jiffy
13 grimystar March 3, 2009 at 9:59 am: http://www.zshare.net/audio/56462774d6e23d51/

i kinda cought feelins on this one
14 L.A.K.I.M. March 3, 2009 at 11:39 am: here’s my entry

http://www.zshare.net/download/56466653e2422119/
15 Skidmatik March 3, 2009 at 12:36 pm: fA SHOW grimystar…your joint is tight as well…peace.
16 Psymun March 3, 2009 at 1:04 pm: http://www.zshare.net/audio/5647038554b2caed/
17 J Fizz March 4, 2009 at 2:42 am: http://www.zshare.net/audio/56500252ffdfb3a3/

this is what i could do… This contest was very fun, and motivating, making me work harder and take more time on my beats which is definitely a good in the long run so i want to thank you all..

Also i’ve been hearing alot of this reverse cymbal thing to lead into choruses from all of you guys,, that is a very good idea so i thought i had to get in on the action for this last week ..

Peace,
Josh (j fizz)
18 mil March 4, 2009 at 9:24 am: Hi!

http://www.zshare.net/audio/56514924eeb81611/

Peace
19 Stiles March 4, 2009 at 1:15 pm: http://www.zshare.net/audio/565249370b8e192e/

NATURE OF THE BEAST.

now i’m gonna have “Human Nature” stuck in my head for the next two weeks. Thanks Quincy.
20 44th Parallel March 4, 2009 at 1:20 pm: http://www.zshare.net/audio/565249095fcde062/
21 FlamesYall March 4, 2009 at 2:43 pm: Yo, Stef Goes and Grimystar… Your beats are NIIIIICE!
22 FlamesYall March 4, 2009 at 3:51 pm: Here’s mines!!

http://www.zshare.net/audio/5653085198d88656/

It’s been a pleasure, this comp. Thanks Kev!
23 Sir Tipp March 4, 2009 at 11:18 pm: This week was definitely a hard one to flip. I went a little uptempo for this one. Tell me what you guys think.

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=L50MQP5P

peace,
SIR TIPP
Risky Bizness Crew
Risky Bizness Productions

It’s been a dope contest… can’t wait for the next one!
24 Rooklin March 5, 2009 at 12:32 am: My first submission to this contest, but I’ve been listening. A lot of sick production coming through. Can’t wait to hear what Trav spits over all this.

http://www.zshare.net/audio/56547148929ea190/
25 JLH March 5, 2009 at 12:45 am: Im still mad at myself that i didnt have an entry last week. So this week got it in kind of early. Ive really enjoyed this contest and cant wait to hear the final product. Here is my Week 10 entry:

http://www.zshare.net/audio/56548380769b1b0c/
26 FlamesYall March 5, 2009 at 9:41 am: Yo Rooklin, that’s an interesting beat… I like it a lot.
27 44th Parallel March 5, 2009 at 11:52 am: respects to everyone, i only joined last week but there are some sik beats… my personal fave this week is J Fizz and G.C. some hot shit cant wait for next contest peace

http://www.myspace.com/44thparallel
http://www.myspace.com/44thproductions
28 ''BLINKY'' March 5, 2009 at 2:08 pm: Hi folks, here is my entry for Week 10:

http://www.zshare.net/audio/5657665359d77614/

Peace !
29 FlamesYall March 5, 2009 at 5:42 pm: Fittingly, a making of Illmatic article… http://www.rappersiknow.com/2009/02/24/the-making-of-illmatic-xxl-april-2009/
30 Kevin March 5, 2009 at 7:06 pm: Oh shit, I gotta pick up that issue
31 J. Rizzle March 5, 2009 at 10:28 pm: I have the issue of XXL…the article is tight I jus’ finished reading it…XXL needs to put out more articles on the making of other classics
32 Thomas March 6, 2009 at 12:10 am: Good article. They did ones for raekwon, big, jay, pun, dmx, PAC, and someElse I think.
33 Jimmy Bluntz March 6, 2009 at 11:52 pm: Week 10 beat, peace.

http://www.zshare.net/audio/56650442254b06e7/
34 Dj Qvali March 7, 2009 at 12:17 pm: Ok, This is something different from what I usually do, but yea, check it out!
Hope ya’ll like it!

http://www.zshare.net/audio/56679514d01a7650/

Peace!
35 DutchMasters March 7, 2009 at 1:28 pm: Congratulations to everyone who put in a lot of work on this contest.

http://www.zshare.net/audio/56682606ea7be711/

And I’m out, half a blunt hanging out my mouth,
Speeding like a demon on 101 south.
36 RNP March 7, 2009 at 6:47 pm: DutchMasters you from cali?
37 Mixwell March 7, 2009 at 7:10 pm: http://www.zshare.net/audio/56696548315691b3/

hard track to flip, but there it is
38 RNP March 7, 2009 at 7:43 pm: http://www.zshare.net/audio/56697760bec61b0f/

as always, thanks for the opportunity Kev
39 S.2 March 7, 2009 at 7:56 pm: It’s been fun trying to re-flip these samples. Time goes too fast. Here’s my final entry:

http://www.zshare.net/audio/5669811053980baf/

I sampled the MJ song and I also sampled the Kool & the Gang song that was sampled in the original as well. I tried to make a beat that would sound suitable as the last song on an album.
40 Connoisseur March 7, 2009 at 8:10 pm: I’ve been checkin the contest out for a few weeks. Finally decided to throw a beat in….

http://www.zshare.net/audio/56698570ade04eeb/
41 DutchMasters March 7, 2009 at 8:33 pm: Yeah RNP, from San Francisco originally- I’m in Baltimore now. What about you?
42 One Mic March 8, 2009 at 12:18 am: Wassup ya’ll. It’s been a minute, but I decided to give week 10 a go, since I’ve got a little time on my hands. So far G.C. and S.2 are killin it over here! Anyhow, here it is: http://www.zshare.net/audio/5670650915f7dc34/

One-
43 akkzle4shzzle March 8, 2009 at 3:06 am: man this contest was fun, i enjoyed the challenge of tryin to flip these samples. here is my entry for the final http://www.zshare.net/audio/56712341cccf47a6/
44 RNP March 8, 2009 at 3:33 am: @DutchMasters I’m in San Jose.. so i caught the 101 reference hahah Baltimore > The Bay?

also, feeling your flip Dutch, vibe is tight
45 AleGory March 8, 2009 at 5:16 am: Here’s mine y’all. It’s been a fun time! Good luck to everyone!
http://www.zshare.net/audio/56716469286c6b67/
46 EVOLVE AUDIO March 8, 2009 at 6:44 am: Peace to everyone participating/involved in this contest, props to all the beat makers (I’ve heard a lot of good styles)…this was not an easy sample to use, Large Professor utilized it very well among other samples for the Illmatic version. This was one of the first Nas songs (singles) that I had heard in 1994, I was young and like most this was a very impressionable album. I appreciate making the cut for “One Love”, hopefully this one will make it for the closing song?!! I look foward to hearing what Travis is going to do with each song and the outcome of the album. I just slipped this one in at the last minute, it’s about 3:30 a.m. on the West Coast right now, I finished this about 15 min. ago… the beat I just made is more on the mellow tip, which I think will fit well for the last song/outro. Much Respect to Trav, Kevin, My man Akil! and the rest of the judges…

http://www.zshare.net/audio/56718961c4639dfb/
47 Rouh March 8, 2009 at 7:01 am: Yo I’m sorry as hell for not being able to do this 10th week track, been busy as hell and plus it’s like christmas day for muslims tomorrow so we kind of celebrating and so.
Anyway, I really don’t think I’ll be on Trav album, only submitted 3 tracks on the 10 required. But I’d like to say a few things :

1/ Kev thank you a billion time for your site, and your dedication for this culture

2/ This remix contest was the opportunity for me to hear a lot of interresting music, specially : G.C, Cenzo, Isbjerg, allegory, DJ Qvali…

3/ Link up with 2 really interresting dudes, that were really nice and consistant with the feedbacks : Isbjerg and Cenzo, thank you guys again, and make it happen.

4/ Come visit me at my blog : http://www.soulsoundproduction.blogspot.com

PEACE ! PEACE ! PEACE !
48 Rouh March 8, 2009 at 7:07 am: Yo what happened to my comment ?
49 Garcia's Grooves March 8, 2009 at 11:51 am: Yo Kev! I gotta tell ya…these contests really keep a brotha ALIVE and into his groove so THANK YOU and I am already looking forward to the next one!

Big ups to all the incredibly talented producers who took part from all over the world and thanks for pushing us to strive to take our game to a whole notha level!

Track #10
Nas – Illmatic – “It Ain’t Hard To Tell [Garcia's Illmatic Groove]”
http://www.zshare.net/audio/567312509d9f8605/
50 wabitz March 8, 2009 at 12:19 pm: my remix!

http://www.zshare.net/audio/567322861496b770/

enjoy!!
51 Illdependent March 8, 2009 at 1:28 pm: Final week of the IllTravis Contest, damn…

It’s been a real pleasure competing with all you guys, I just started with this producing thing and I feel like I really got better as the contest went on.

Oh and thanks to Kevin, Travis, Akil and everybody else who made this contest happen.

Peace and much love ya’ll!

http://www.zshare.net/audio/56734908afe1bd32/
52 manz March 8, 2009 at 2:15 pm: Hope I’m not too late kev…Peace to all the contestants. Didnt have a lot of time to get on this contest, but here is my attempt. Big ups everyone!

http://www.zshare.net/audio/56736970f5e6d6c5/
53 agor March 8, 2009 at 2:17 pm: big up everyone in this contest
http://www.zshare.net/audio/5673709130892c17/
54 Kevin March 8, 2009 at 2:35 pm: TIMES UP!