Warzone Beat Battle - June 16-20, 2026
- Thread starter Fade
- Start date
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Beat This!The Beat This! results are in, see what went down.
- Status
Fade
The Beat Strangler
Administrator
RESULTS!
See what went down:
www.illmuzik.com
Props to all those that entered and to those that took the time to vote.
See what went down:
Warzone Archives - Battle #129
Props to all those that entered and to those that took the time to vote.
Fade
The Beat Strangler
Administrator
Congrats @BiggChev! That was dope.
There was a solid turnout in this one. @Dodgy John shit was dope. @V.J. Retro Same thing. @DEVBE That was solid. All you guys. Dope turnout.
There was a solid turnout in this one. @Dodgy John shit was dope. @V.J. Retro Same thing. @DEVBE That was solid. All you guys. Dope turnout.
DJ Excellence
ILLIEN
Dodgy John
Howdy!!
BiggChev
StormBourneMusic
Thanks @Iron Keys
Mix of samples and original work.
Main loop, brass stab, and little turn-around piano lick are sampled. Layered in some additional instrumentation to beef up the samples. Also added a few extra elements for depth and space. Worked in some live recorded bass guitar and synth bass for width.
I have an extended mix version I’ll post in Showcase with a breakdown of the process.
Mix of samples and original work.
Main loop, brass stab, and little turn-around piano lick are sampled. Layered in some additional instrumentation to beef up the samples. Also added a few extra elements for depth and space. Worked in some live recorded bass guitar and synth bass for width.
I have an extended mix version I’ll post in Showcase with a breakdown of the process.
Iron Keys
ILLIEN MBAPPÉ
Dope work.
Armani
BOOGEYMAN
BiggChev
StormBourneMusic
Thanks camel fucker!
BiggChev
StormBourneMusic
@Dodgy John
There is a lot to like with this beat. Of course, part of it's charm is the Jazzy/Bap/90s vibe. Great sample/sound selection and great chops! This definitely has nostalgia built into it's DNA - BUT - it lacked weight, gravity and pump. It sounds like your have a HPF on your master bus...and it's robbing us listeners of the meat and potatoes. The HPF sound is cool, when used as a breakdown or transitional effect, but in this case...it's taking away from the 'bump.' Otherwise, dope beat!
@P.A.T.
This is a perfect song. Your musicianship, especially with guitar, humbles me every time I hear it. This is incredibly well put together. A minor critique, in the context of a 2 min battle format, bring that main melody in sooner. I've heard, and love, enough of your music to know that you're a genuine songwriter, and I genuinely do love your arrangements, but in the context of a battle, your next unlock is finding a way to maximize your 2 minutes. Fucking sick!
@Iron Keys
I would have never guessed this was you! The 80s RnB synth melody was such a dope touch! the plucky guitar/bass line has some nice groove and grit. This track drips of vibe and swag. The incorporation of that lo-fi/Dilla style swing is really cool - but kinda out of place with the whole beat in context. Of course, mix is dope. Honourable Diamond matchup!
@COOL J.
Haven't seen your name before - if you're new to IllMuzik, welcome! I like all the individual elements of this track. This is a rare case where the sum of all parts is less. The arpeggios, bass line, industrial style drums...all really cool. There's just something missing. Not sure if it's the mix, or sound selection...but event he transition FX/fills seem slapped on and an after thought. This type of jam needs a stand out melody. While the Arp and drums have a hypnotic nature, I'd like something I could hum along to. Overall, great key elements and foundation and arrangement is well put together - it flows nicely.
@Armani
First things first - glad to see you're safe! I talk a lot of shit, but I love your music and contribution to The Ill...so I'm happy to see you back in the mix. I love this beat. that 'double' snare is really cool! It functions as a rhythmic and atmospheric element. The composition as a whole is sweet, fluid, and provocative - but maybe too chill. The strings and that "eastern" melodic section kicks and does a great job of elevating the listening experience, but I feel it was too late in the arrangement. Those are the most interesting parts...I'd a incorporated them in earlier. As usual, great compositional work!
@1301.36
My first time hearing your music, and I enjoyed it. You did a good job of capturing several different hallmarks of hip-hop and melding them together. There's an Alchemist/Havoc quality to this beat that I liked - Dark, Minimalistic, and eerie. To me, it's lacking a genuine hook - something the listener can latch on to and/or hum the themselves after the song ends. Definitely has a vibe and an atmosphere you can feel through headphones - just needs a defining quality/characteristic.
@DJ Excellence
This is very experimental in compared to your 'typical' style and sound. The tribal feel has a magnetic quality to it - does a good job of getting the listener to settle into the groove. I really like the light/delicate woodwind line. The guitar line serves as nice counter to the winds. Sounds as if you were going for a call-and-answer type of vibe with the two parts. The concept is cool, but they felt as if they were stepping on each other's toes. A bit more separation or breathing room between then two could serve to have the two lines own their part of the "conversation" more. I really liked the percussion and use of the house style bass. The chimes got a bit irritating - they fit the beat and vibe nicely, but strategic sparseness may have them better serve the track as a whole. I always value musicians stepping outside of their comfort zone, so you get points from me for that.
@V.J. Retro
This was one of my favourites of this WarZone. The 12-bit crunch, space, and atmosphere - it all comes together to create a very 90s nostalgia vibe. What I really liked about this beat, is how you blended two different eras. The best way I can explain it is "a 2000s beat maker, masterfully creating a beat with the soul of 90s hip-hop they grew up on." I recently read somewhere "Boom-bap is about hypnosis" and this beat definitely ensnared me and got me stuck in! The wind down to finish was a nice touch too! Always love your music.
@Kane the MOD
I wouldn't have guessed this was you! Great sample and sound selection. Mix is really nice too! I love how you used all the space between hard Left and hard right. It certainly made for an immersive listening experience. I've never been a fan of chromaticism, but I do appreciate it use case. In this particular instance, I think you should've started with the main theme that comes in around the 0:20 mark and use your "intro" as a bridge or breakdown between that and the orchestral phrase that comes in at 0:59. I do like how you used it as an exit from the orchestral section though. One thing I think I should comment - your drums. I apologize for not highlighting it before, but you have nice drums on a lot of your beats. They aren't over complicated, but never boring. Moreover, they always have a great tone/timbre/weight. Yeah you have the jazzy rides/cymbals on this beat - but your kick and snare (as usual) hit just hard enough, with just enough swing, in all the right places!
@DEVBE
Orchestral beats will ALWAYS get my attention! This is entirely a personal bias, but this could have been orders of magnitude more compelling and impactful had you not gone the 'trap' route. 808 bass lines never made much sense to me and in this case, I think they took away a lot of potential. I can hear several different low end lines in my head that could have moved in parallel, or contrary, to the main strings, but that space got filled with 808s. Now, does this have a bounce and groove? Yes...BUT. Please don't take this personally, but this is my gripe with 'trap." There are som many melodies and harmonic avenues that get left unexplored just to fit in the hallmark sounds. You did a great job of establishing an epic cinematic feel, that the "trap" skeleton of this beat feels like a robbery.
@Bangaz By Boon
This is dope!!! I was afraid of possible match-up against this beat. Sound/Sample selection is spot on! I personally would've have used a different kick, but I think that's just a matter of taste. I feel like the arrangement flowed nicely, seamlessly, and logically in terms of energy transfer. That being said, I'd love to hear a 3-5 minute version of this beat where each motif gets enough time to explain itself before moving on - but you did a great job of getting it all into the 2 minutes. Again, I just think a more stretched out arrangement would let all your great ideas "feel" more complete. Again, just a hyper nit-pick, this is all around dope!
@iDeaLoGiK
I would never have guessed this was you! I really like that 70s exploitation/cop drama vibe to this. Mix is good. You maximized your spaced L and R, but also Front and Back. The back 3rd (0:54 mark) is super funky and has an upbeat and playful vibe to it. Not sure if it was a deliberate choice, but the back third sounds more important especially coming out of that middle third section. In fact, I thought that middle section was kinda "meh." If a deliberate arrangement choice, very smart! If I were to lend another point of critique; the drums sound a bit too square - particularly the kick. it sounds too square to the grid, and could use some velocity variations especially between the strong and weak beats.
@allagory
I can't recall what, or when, I last hear one of your beats - but this is a marked improvement. By no means is it a complete or rounded out offering, but it's better. The first thing that comes to mind is the mix. And while it's not a pristine mix (not that it needs to be) but it's cohesive! The few beats I can remember of yours weren't great mix wise. There were elements that were drowning in reverb, and other's that were dryer than a sailors biscuit - ultimately leading to a disjointed listening experience. This however, sounds more like one thing. You're still lacking some core elements. Mainly, the drums. just get your kicks on 1 and 3, and snares on 2 and 4...if nothing else, just do that. Give us a groove. This beat sounds like a 2-bar fill or turn-around that just keeps repeating.
There is a lot to like with this beat. Of course, part of it's charm is the Jazzy/Bap/90s vibe. Great sample/sound selection and great chops! This definitely has nostalgia built into it's DNA - BUT - it lacked weight, gravity and pump. It sounds like your have a HPF on your master bus...and it's robbing us listeners of the meat and potatoes. The HPF sound is cool, when used as a breakdown or transitional effect, but in this case...it's taking away from the 'bump.' Otherwise, dope beat!
@P.A.T.
This is a perfect song. Your musicianship, especially with guitar, humbles me every time I hear it. This is incredibly well put together. A minor critique, in the context of a 2 min battle format, bring that main melody in sooner. I've heard, and love, enough of your music to know that you're a genuine songwriter, and I genuinely do love your arrangements, but in the context of a battle, your next unlock is finding a way to maximize your 2 minutes. Fucking sick!
@Iron Keys
I would have never guessed this was you! The 80s RnB synth melody was such a dope touch! the plucky guitar/bass line has some nice groove and grit. This track drips of vibe and swag. The incorporation of that lo-fi/Dilla style swing is really cool - but kinda out of place with the whole beat in context. Of course, mix is dope. Honourable Diamond matchup!
@COOL J.
Haven't seen your name before - if you're new to IllMuzik, welcome! I like all the individual elements of this track. This is a rare case where the sum of all parts is less. The arpeggios, bass line, industrial style drums...all really cool. There's just something missing. Not sure if it's the mix, or sound selection...but event he transition FX/fills seem slapped on and an after thought. This type of jam needs a stand out melody. While the Arp and drums have a hypnotic nature, I'd like something I could hum along to. Overall, great key elements and foundation and arrangement is well put together - it flows nicely.
@Armani
First things first - glad to see you're safe! I talk a lot of shit, but I love your music and contribution to The Ill...so I'm happy to see you back in the mix. I love this beat. that 'double' snare is really cool! It functions as a rhythmic and atmospheric element. The composition as a whole is sweet, fluid, and provocative - but maybe too chill. The strings and that "eastern" melodic section kicks and does a great job of elevating the listening experience, but I feel it was too late in the arrangement. Those are the most interesting parts...I'd a incorporated them in earlier. As usual, great compositional work!
@1301.36
My first time hearing your music, and I enjoyed it. You did a good job of capturing several different hallmarks of hip-hop and melding them together. There's an Alchemist/Havoc quality to this beat that I liked - Dark, Minimalistic, and eerie. To me, it's lacking a genuine hook - something the listener can latch on to and/or hum the themselves after the song ends. Definitely has a vibe and an atmosphere you can feel through headphones - just needs a defining quality/characteristic.
@DJ Excellence
This is very experimental in compared to your 'typical' style and sound. The tribal feel has a magnetic quality to it - does a good job of getting the listener to settle into the groove. I really like the light/delicate woodwind line. The guitar line serves as nice counter to the winds. Sounds as if you were going for a call-and-answer type of vibe with the two parts. The concept is cool, but they felt as if they were stepping on each other's toes. A bit more separation or breathing room between then two could serve to have the two lines own their part of the "conversation" more. I really liked the percussion and use of the house style bass. The chimes got a bit irritating - they fit the beat and vibe nicely, but strategic sparseness may have them better serve the track as a whole. I always value musicians stepping outside of their comfort zone, so you get points from me for that.
@V.J. Retro
This was one of my favourites of this WarZone. The 12-bit crunch, space, and atmosphere - it all comes together to create a very 90s nostalgia vibe. What I really liked about this beat, is how you blended two different eras. The best way I can explain it is "a 2000s beat maker, masterfully creating a beat with the soul of 90s hip-hop they grew up on." I recently read somewhere "Boom-bap is about hypnosis" and this beat definitely ensnared me and got me stuck in! The wind down to finish was a nice touch too! Always love your music.
@Kane the MOD
I wouldn't have guessed this was you! Great sample and sound selection. Mix is really nice too! I love how you used all the space between hard Left and hard right. It certainly made for an immersive listening experience. I've never been a fan of chromaticism, but I do appreciate it use case. In this particular instance, I think you should've started with the main theme that comes in around the 0:20 mark and use your "intro" as a bridge or breakdown between that and the orchestral phrase that comes in at 0:59. I do like how you used it as an exit from the orchestral section though. One thing I think I should comment - your drums. I apologize for not highlighting it before, but you have nice drums on a lot of your beats. They aren't over complicated, but never boring. Moreover, they always have a great tone/timbre/weight. Yeah you have the jazzy rides/cymbals on this beat - but your kick and snare (as usual) hit just hard enough, with just enough swing, in all the right places!
@DEVBE
Orchestral beats will ALWAYS get my attention! This is entirely a personal bias, but this could have been orders of magnitude more compelling and impactful had you not gone the 'trap' route. 808 bass lines never made much sense to me and in this case, I think they took away a lot of potential. I can hear several different low end lines in my head that could have moved in parallel, or contrary, to the main strings, but that space got filled with 808s. Now, does this have a bounce and groove? Yes...BUT. Please don't take this personally, but this is my gripe with 'trap." There are som many melodies and harmonic avenues that get left unexplored just to fit in the hallmark sounds. You did a great job of establishing an epic cinematic feel, that the "trap" skeleton of this beat feels like a robbery.
@Bangaz By Boon
This is dope!!! I was afraid of possible match-up against this beat. Sound/Sample selection is spot on! I personally would've have used a different kick, but I think that's just a matter of taste. I feel like the arrangement flowed nicely, seamlessly, and logically in terms of energy transfer. That being said, I'd love to hear a 3-5 minute version of this beat where each motif gets enough time to explain itself before moving on - but you did a great job of getting it all into the 2 minutes. Again, I just think a more stretched out arrangement would let all your great ideas "feel" more complete. Again, just a hyper nit-pick, this is all around dope!
@iDeaLoGiK
I would never have guessed this was you! I really like that 70s exploitation/cop drama vibe to this. Mix is good. You maximized your spaced L and R, but also Front and Back. The back 3rd (0:54 mark) is super funky and has an upbeat and playful vibe to it. Not sure if it was a deliberate choice, but the back third sounds more important especially coming out of that middle third section. In fact, I thought that middle section was kinda "meh." If a deliberate arrangement choice, very smart! If I were to lend another point of critique; the drums sound a bit too square - particularly the kick. it sounds too square to the grid, and could use some velocity variations especially between the strong and weak beats.
@allagory
I can't recall what, or when, I last hear one of your beats - but this is a marked improvement. By no means is it a complete or rounded out offering, but it's better. The first thing that comes to mind is the mix. And while it's not a pristine mix (not that it needs to be) but it's cohesive! The few beats I can remember of yours weren't great mix wise. There were elements that were drowning in reverb, and other's that were dryer than a sailors biscuit - ultimately leading to a disjointed listening experience. This however, sounds more like one thing. You're still lacking some core elements. Mainly, the drums. just get your kicks on 1 and 3, and snares on 2 and 4...if nothing else, just do that. Give us a groove. This beat sounds like a 2-bar fill or turn-around that just keeps repeating.
Iron Keys
ILLIEN MBAPPÉ
I was happier still to see you in 3rd also --- let the team swarm the top spots!
Iron Keys
ILLIEN MBAPPÉ
BiggChev
StormBourneMusic
I sometimes forget I'm not even remotely close to being an "Ill OG" because you all treat me really well!
Just wanted to point that out and thank you all again for letting me into this homo-erotic, musically incestuous family lol.
Iron Keys
ILLIEN MBAPPÉ
The route to ILLOGdom is sending Fade a quality nude every year for 10 years, he'll reward your commitment by bestowing you with an illog title
and a reacharound.
Iron Keys
ILLIEN MBAPPÉ
@BiggChev
Congratulations on the doublevais!
Because you're ma boy, and you beat me in the final,I'm going to absolutely destroy you and demoralise you in every subsequent battle try offer you some full review, 'cause you've been out here filling my shoes of giving people full reviews in the battle (really good for people and good stuff for the thread), a trend I once started but lost the time to do and change of approach, and I know you'll value it.
Really cool beat, man. Really cool sample choice. Drums are good, kick is nice texture, snare is a little smeared for my liking could maybe have more lows (or might just be cause of the smeaing). The beat varies enough to stay exciting, and holds down the more uniform verse part nicely. This is one of the kind of samples i like but rarely find.
No real notes on the mix other than the snare. Could i make it sound better - probably, but it's not one that needs to be, it's dope as is. I'd probably just really try to emphasise and enhance the depth to make the track sound really 'BIG'.
This track would sound siiiiiick with a NY rapper on it. I'd probably playlist this.
At first I considered this was maybe a DJ Excellence beat, maybe twu maybe earsblower. Was surprised to see your name attached! (Due to the sampled nature)
Really good stuff, brother. Be proud of this work.
But now, you're marked, and I'm going to absolutely destroy you and demoralise you in every subsequent battle.
Love
Congratulations on the doublevais!
Because you're ma boy, and you beat me in the final,
Really cool beat, man. Really cool sample choice. Drums are good, kick is nice texture, snare is a little smeared for my liking could maybe have more lows (or might just be cause of the smeaing). The beat varies enough to stay exciting, and holds down the more uniform verse part nicely. This is one of the kind of samples i like but rarely find.
No real notes on the mix other than the snare. Could i make it sound better - probably, but it's not one that needs to be, it's dope as is. I'd probably just really try to emphasise and enhance the depth to make the track sound really 'BIG'.
This track would sound siiiiiick with a NY rapper on it. I'd probably playlist this.
At first I considered this was maybe a DJ Excellence beat, maybe twu maybe earsblower. Was surprised to see your name attached! (Due to the sampled nature)
Really good stuff, brother. Be proud of this work.
But now, you're marked, and I'm going to absolutely destroy you and demoralise you in every subsequent battle.
Love
Iron Keys
ILLIEN MBAPPÉ
@Armani - i really liked this beat. I think it was one of my favorites. Or favorite. The piano a sample or composed? A nice movement and rhythm to the record. I dunno what I personally didn't like about the rhythm, was giving a vibe of something, but i think it's probably some middle eastern or punjab type of rhythm but i received it in a waltzy way or one of them gay posh dance shit things.
Dope beat, bruvva
Dope beat, bruvva
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