Beat This! Beat This! Competition - August 6-7, 2025

[M.I.ndless]

Not gonna have an entry in time. Good luck! Look forward to listening.

 

[BiggChev]

Not gonna have an entry in time. Good luck! Look forward to listening.

Way to let everyone down! We were all here anticipating a classic from you!!!

LOL hope all is well. Get a Preemo beat ready for next week!!

 

[Iron Keys]

Locked and loaded

 

[P.A.T.]

I don't even know why we're having this vote? It's a wrap already!

 

[BiggChev]

fuck you PAT

 

[Iron Keys]

YOU'RE ALL SHIT




disclaimer:

Spoiler: Disclaimer:

YOU'RE SHIT

 

[P.A.T.]

To B Real Though, My Beat Is Garbage On This One... Spent All Week On It & Basically Switched It All Up Last Minute...
I Fuckin' Panicked Man!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hahahahaha

 

[Fade]

The results will be posted tonight around 7pm ET.

Listen to the beats and place your vote for the BEST SYNTHESIZER BEAT!

Beat This! Competition - Contestants

Listen to all of the contestants from the latest Beat This! Competition.

www.illmuzik.com

 

[attila]

The results will be posted tonight around 7pm ET.

Listen to the beats and place your vote for the BEST SYNTHESIZER BEAT!

Beat This! Competition - Contestants

Listen to all of the contestants from the latest Beat This! Competition.

www.illmuzik.com

I thought my beat could shine this time, but it seems like it's a bit average (decent, though), and I'm afraid the standout pieces are others. And so I think that this time too, I will place well next time. I think I guessed the authors of only two or three beats; who knows, last time I didn't guess much. I like quite a few; I'd say at least 60% are really great. My favorites include one that's quite minimal, a couple that are experimental (and I voted for one of these), and the one with the vocal sample from the woman. Good luck everybody.

 

[attila]

I thought my beat could shine this time, but it seems like it's a bit average (decent, though), and I'm afraid the standout pieces are others. And so I think that this time too, I will place well next time. I think I guessed the authors of only two or three beats; who knows, last time I didn't guess much. I like quite a few; I'd say at least 60% are really great. My favorites include one that's quite minimal, a couple that are experimental (and I voted for one of these), and the one with the vocal sample from the woman. Good luck everybody.

(oh, maybe I shouldn't have said anything, because of the anonymity, because that way it shows which beats I didn't do?)

 

[BiggChev]

Some interesting beats this week. These themes are challenging; at least for me, I find it challenging trying to decide how deeply to dive into the theme. I did it with the Riot and Rock themes - where I doubled down too hard on the wrong aspect of the beat.

At the very least, the themed challenges serve to really keep your skills sharp, forces you to study, and use some tools/samples you may have neglected.

Best of luck to all those who entered this week!

 

[Iron Keys]

(oh, maybe I shouldn't have said anything, because of the anonymity, because that way it shows which beats I didn't do?)

It's nice to comment during the battle to add to the engagement and excitement.

But always best to try and not make it clear which beat/s are being spoken about. Keep it quite vague. For example "experimental" and "minimal" probably fine as subjectiveish but "the beat aith the singing woman" a bit too specific.

Don't sweat it tho

 

[attila]

It's nice to comment during the battle to add to the engagement and excitement.

But always best to try and not make it clear which beat/s are being spoken about. Keep it quite vague. For example "experimental" and "minimal" probably fine as subjectiveish but "the beat aith the singing woman" a bit too specific.

Don't sweat it tho

got it, thanks

 

[M.I.ndless]

You are all in trouble next battle. I'm playing with some real heat over here.

 

[Jimothy Swing]

Tough pick for me between two beats today.

@Iron Keys when results come in, I'm curious if you think mine even hits this genre or if I should just resign to being an EDM guy like my name apparently suggests.

 

[Iron Keys]

Tough pick for me between two beats today.

@Iron Keys when results come in, I'm curious if you think mine even hits this genre or if I should just resign to being an EDM guy like my name suggests.

If that's the case, you should just resign to putting in more work, more thinking.

Theme battles (particularly genre themes) can be too easy to end up going too far in the wrong direction--- happened to me a couple times.

The key, which I also told @BiggChev before in a different context (tagging him in because relevant to his post) is keeping "Hip Hop" as your North Star when approaching those themes.

This means you're asking yourself does this sound Hip-Hop. It means knowing your key markers for what keeps it sounding Hip-Hop and ensuring those stay in place; whether that's tempo, drum choice etc.

Then adding enough of the theme to indicate that topic/genre.

In regards to this theme, it shouldn't have been so challenging, cause it just said use synths. Plenty of Hip Hop is synth based, there was no need to drift off genre with this one. The only people I'd imagine would potentially struggle are the Sample(record) Based producers who don't do much composition. But even then! Actually, no one should have struggled - ha!

These themes are challenging; at least for me, I find it challenging trying to decide how deeply to dive into the theme. I did it with the Riot and Rock themes - where I doubled down too hard on the wrong aspect of the beat.

 

[Jimothy Swing]

If that's the case, you should just resign to putting in more work, more thinking.

Theme battles (particularly genre themes) can be too easy to end up going too far in the wrong direction--- happened to me a couple times.

The key, which I also told @BiggChev before in a different context (tagging him in because relevant to his post) is keeping "Hip Hop" as your North Star when approaching those themes.

This means you're asking yourself does this sound Hip-Hop. It means knowing your key markers for what keeps it sounding Hip-Hop and ensuring those stay in place; whether that's tempo, drum choice etc.

Then adding enough of the theme to indicate that topic/genre.

In regards to this theme, it shouldn't have been so challenging, cause it just said use synths. Plenty of Hip Hop is synth based, there was no need to drift off genre with this one. The only people I'd imagine would potentially struggle are the Sample(record) Based producers who don't do much composition. But even then! Actually, no one should have struggled - ha!

In this case, I came across the challenge when there were only a couple days left, but I already had a synth-based track in the works, so I finished it up and made a 2-minute version for Beat This.

I've found my approach is heavily mood-driven. Like sometimes I just want to make a house type of beat—not because I am targeting house music but because I'm just feeling that repetitive thump in the moment—so that's what I make. Sometimes I'm really feeling a particular instrument or drum kit, so I make a bunch of tracks that use it in similar ways.

The specific genre doesn't tend to factor into my creative process. I honestly don't know how I'd categorize half the stuff I've made; I don't concern myself with it as much as I concern myself with developing skill at instrument selection, composition/sampling, balancing frequencies, and experimenting with the various tools and settings in my DAW. Whatever comes out at the end is what comes out, know what I mean?

But I feel I'm getting enough of a feel for the rest that I should start considering genre more in my process, and I appreciate what you said here about that. Thanks, man.

 

[Iron Keys]

In this case, I came across the challenge when there were only a couple days left, but I already had a synth-based track in the works, so I finished it up and made a 2-minute version for Beat This.

I've found my approach is heavily mood-driven. Like sometimes I just want to make a house type of beat—not because I am targeting house music but because I'm just feeling that repetitive thump in the moment—so that's what I make. Sometimes I'm really feeling a particular instrument or drum kit, so I make a bunch of tracks that use it in similar ways.

The specific genre doesn't tend to factor into my creative process. I honestly don't know how I'd categorize half the stuff I've made; I don't concern myself with it as much as I concern myself with developing skill at instrument selection, composition/sampling, balancing frequencies, and experimenting with the various tools and settings in my DAW. Whatever comes out at the end is what comes out, know what I mean?

But I feel I'm getting enough of a feel for the rest that I should start considering genre more in my process, and I appreciate what you said here about that. Thanks, man.

Yeah that's great, there's definitely a big positive about doing that. Not always great to get too caught up in convention, can lead you to finding a proper niche or something cool.

But yeah, there is definitely benefit to understanding key markers for genres, particularly if you're intentionally making something within that area. (for example posting a beat here for a Hip Hop battle)

All this talk is kind of centering around a post I was going to make a few days ago, so I should probably go make that at some point.

It's about understanding the rules, so you can understand how (and when) to break them.

In this instance (battling on ILL), it's definitely about understanding the rules of Hip-Hop, because if you miss that you're missing the vote. If you miss it by too far Fade may even veto any votes for it.

 

[Jimothy Swing]

If you miss it by too far Fade may even veto any votes for it.

Sounds like shenanigans to me. Who does this Fade character think he is, anyway?

 

[BiggChev]

@Iron Keys & @Jimothy Swing

Just my two cents…

This is a “hip-hop” forum and for these battles, it does have an importance of sorts, on the music shared here and submitted to battles. I think it’s fair to say that most of what is put up does have hip-hop “roots.”

What makes these competitions interesting, to me at least, is to hear the spectrum of sounds and interpretations. There are members from all over with varied musical backgrounds and eclectic tastes.

As somewhere who’s guilty of stretching the definition of what’s “hip-hop” in these battles, I don’t think it’s really an issue if your music exists in the fringes or strays.

Partly, it’s a popular vote. I don’t think I’d flat out vote against a beat simply because it wasn’t “hip-hop” enough, but it would factor into my decision making. Conversely, I would vote against a beat that entirely missed the mark/theme.

What’s really great about The Ill, is that general consensus evolves and for the most part, we’re all supporting the best overall piece of music. Which in itself can be tricky…

What each of us finds crucial or most important is different and we vote accordingly. I’d like to think the genuinely best beat shakes out. May not be the case in something like Warzone, but that’s just the nature of tournaments.

…we all have different preferences. Iron is an advocate for mixes. Chief is an underground kinda guy, Opioid Davey is swimming in his Ethereal feels these days, Attila makes beats in a fine arts museum, and can’t make music without a guitar.

Enjoy the process, challenge yourself, learn something, improve your craft, have fun, and make some music!