Whatsup, I hope you guys have some time on your hands during the holidays, because its time for the 36st Hiphop Beat Battle!
This time we’re going back to one of the foundations hiphop was built upon: Dub. For those here who are unfamiliar with the genre: Dub is a style of music which originated in Jamaica in
the late '60’s, in which reggae tracks were remixed using the mixing console as an instrument (Wikipedia page for more background). It was a big influence on early hiphop and the way hiphop developed. Check out some King Tubby for inspiration!
Rules:
- For this edition the idea is to take an existing hiphop track of your liking, and turn it into a dub remix.
- This can be done by either making your own take on a classic hiphop beat using the original samples, or remixing the track using the original vocals and adding a different instrumental (made by you).
- To enter this battle, you have to post the original hiphop track you’re going to remix in this thread for all of us to enjoy. First come first serve: if a track is already posted, you can’t use it to remix anymore.
- Reggae/dub influences are encouraged, but your track doesnt have to sound like traditional dub, as long as its made using dub techniques.
- @electricthing, with whom I came up with the idea for this battle, introduced me to Jamaican/British Dub-Poet Linton Kwesi Johnson. Your track has to include a vocal bit by him, you can use any of his material!
- The mixdown of your track has to be performed live, using effects to modify the track. This can either be daw automation, sp404 fx, guitar pedals, an actual mixing desk, or any fx you can think of.
- The deadline for this battle is januari 3rd. You can send your remix to me by pm.
- The track can be no more than 3 minutes long.
- You are free to use any samples, synths, instruments or one shots, as long as your track is a remix of an existing track, either by making your own unique version of the original beat, or by creating a new instrumental for the accapella track.
Voting:
- After januari 3, voting will commence in the traditional format: You’ll receive a point for each 3rd place, 2 points for each 2nd place and 3 points for each first place vote you receive.
- Voters are encouraged to vote for the track which is the best Dub reinterpretation of an original hiphop track, not just for the one which sounds best.
Good luck!