A tough round to judge, shoutouts to everyone who entered and Runme Raw for lacing us with the samples. I um and ah'ed a bit and in the end gave it to Chopperman for the dope beat and rhyme combo.

Hey all - props to eryone who took/takes/taking/time to comment this week... sorry I don't have it in me this week to do the same myself. I will respond to a couple comments further up the thread tho':::

@ellaguru: tracks always rock a buncha different styles, no matter how much/little sample-material there is to choose from, don't you find?

@r4ph431: my production technique isn't so much to wonder about... I'm happy to answer specific questions if you have any (you're an 808-user too, yes?).

@Yon: points & lines man, maybe heavier on the points, fer'sure... "Fail again, fail better" sed a wise fellow one time - thanks for the comment.

@droopy: that vid..!!

_____

Arite:

Props to chopperman for a mellow ride with intelligent rhymes.

My runner-up Fresh, great combo/concept with the rhymes and my favourite flip

Vote goes to Rak Mon, I been suffrin'since I's stash ran out 'mos two weeks ago.. this track came da'rescue.

no

@l i f

i mean it's ok, but for this is mostly an Open Challenge

* Dr00py : deep pumping lo-fi
* Gis_Sweden : Why lo-fi? This is SP-fi... Sampled via rca-cables. Tried not to distort the samples. Thanks for comments
* ATLS : Oh wow 2 in 1. The 1st one is just... splendid
* Chopperman : Brave beat and lyrics. Shares a nice humbleness.
* L i f : Creative and experimental. But it works. The mix is well balanced n pleasant.
* FreshSerfPro : Feels so right.
* ℳusicα : sends us on a journey - mini beat tape - I like that!
* rak : as said smokey dusty
* 9BeatCOmbo : lo-fi-meditative-slow-trance-beat
* asha c : there a great tension in the beat - anticipation...
* yon. : pleasant beat. Relaxing.
* Doogs : spirited fresh beat that evolves to freeform jazz beat
* Lo Fist : Inovative. Highly enjoyable
* Self Taught Astronaut : grooovy one.

Have to give it to Chopperman...

@ellaguru: well ya know, this is almost like the beginning of a whole 'nother discussion, but the point i'm driving at is that regardless of whether it's one sample + break, or an open challenge, when it comes down to voting for the most part it seems it's all pretty much down to personal taste.

And I honestly don't personally hear so much more disparity in the tracks this week from any other week so much that you couldn't vote, unless your criteria is more objective than most.

For the record, while this week was fun and there was some choice cuts to choose from, I do prefer having just the one sample to choose from, not just from the challenge-p.o.v. , but also from a time-perspective - so many options and opportunities I spent a couple days effing with a track I eventually trash-canned cause i was suffering from kid-in-a-candystore-syndrome.

That, and I agree it makes it somewhat easier in the judging i.e. subjective (that flip was was jus' dope!) & objective: (there waz the technical-skills) when the palette more limited. In any case, i'll assume anyone who works a track for these battles is cause we're living Alan Watts - it's the process, not the end result (wtf are you saying? U know... there. can. be. only. ONE!!)

Anyways, big-ups to Runme for bringing something a little difrent to work with. Really wanted to bring in some of those African percs and vox

i don't know but for me if everyone got the same fonts to choose is a limited criteria and more objective...this not forcely means that is better, but maybe that is more 'bjective (now i'm talking like on the books of jim Thompson, like, " 'twas" instead of "it was" etc )

I don't have time to talk about everyone's beat but I've listened to all the entries at least twice:

Chopperman I was gonna vote for you but looks like you got this Amazing rhymes and wordplay, great rap vision, I'm glad this wasn't a rap battle

I'm really digging your style so here's my positive critique: I think I'd like to hear some more grittiness in the beats you rap on, and more variety in the cadence and tone of your rap flows. As far as lyrical content goes I couldn't ask for more, exactly the kind of interesting, open-minded non-negative rap I want to hear.

Rak gets my vote for his beat. Dude the way you washed that sample out and made it all glittery with the atmospheric bass and stuttery drums - and then when that Marley sample comes in... wow. I see : sunlight through closed shutters of a tiki cabin by the ocean with sea-shell wind-chimes hanging over the front porch.

Droopy: nice glitchy 8 bit sounds!!! nice melody. sweet grimy bass too!!

gis: as usual, great atmosphere created!!! liked how you used the sample from the vocal track and was different to the others!! always expanding the mind with the musak!!!

atls: love how it kicked in and how you used that main sample, nice work man!! great sparkly sounds. SWEEET BASS LIN, awesome how you made 2 beats, really enjoyed both, but think the 2nd was my fave, loved the clack snare.

Chopperman: As usual, sweet rhymes!!! great lyrics as usual! liked how you used the samples, but would defy of loved those drums a bit more up front! good work

lif: Nice intro, other worldy vibe, crazy glitches out drums. Nice work but felt it needed something else there just to add a bit of roundness to it. actually that happened towards the end with the synths and i think some vocals that were hidden in there?

freshserfpro: nice man, loved the drums and sparkly sample!! watts sample wored great too, ahh man loved how the rhymes came in too!!! def a fave so far. would liked another verse at the end. good work.

ℳusicα: crazy feel to this one, rhythms had a cool tripping over themself vibe. great collage of sound with a sweet lofi feel. like his said, nice voyage!

rak: man sweet hazey chilled vibe, nice mann, i think my heart slowed down for this one!!!

9 beat combo: great atmosphere and mood created from the start, loved the how you floated the samples in and out behind that main loop! dark pulsing drums, my fave so far!!

yon: nice loft vibe from the start!! sweet bass, enjoyed the rhythm on the hats and the drums had a nice crunchy sound!!

doogs: Nice use of the samples and drums sounded sweet!! was that a straight break loop or did you tap it out, who cares anyway sounded great!! got a lot darker and jazz fusiony towards the end, crazy outdo!!! great work, another fave!

lofist: nice use of the watts samples, dark forbidding mood with as well as engaging!

self taught astronaut: drums sounded a little low to begin with but then it kicked in great!! nice use of the samples and watts sample. good work

gonna go with Doogs, 9 beat combo a very close one!! all beats were great though, i think most people used the sample predominantly enough throughout their beats!!

Yesh, i fux with groovesampler

i honestly dug all of them. Especially ATLS, FreshSerf, and Self-Taught. Went with ATLS. Both of those flips were super dope.
Sorry for the lack of feedback. I've been sick all week, yet still working both of my jobs so its been pretty miserable and exhausting. Getting these votes and encouraging comments provided some much needed positivity. Thanks!!

BIG CONGRATS TO MR CHOPPERMAN!!

Thanks!