2020-2024
MOVE THE CROWD
Leading up to our annual battle, we decided to try out a new concept where producers would have to impress the audience in order to secure the win. The Top 32 Producers would no longer have their fates decided by guest judges. Instead, they would be at the mercy of the crowd to determine the best producer, with the use of a decibel meter to monitor the reaction of the crowd. Hence, the name “MOVE THE CROWD” edition.
Hundreds upon hundreds of producers registered from around the globe for a chance to compete. A total of 256 producers were pre-selected to participate in the battle, which were then screened down to the Top 32 Producers who would come to Toronto to compete live on March 21, 2020. The Top 256 Pre-Screening Guest Judges included Mellenius (Tone Mason), Y-Not (SoundSmith), 2Rude (Rudimental), Gigz, Tona, and Sean ‘Bluu’ Watson. The sole prize was $5,000 cash.
THE PANDEMIC
After months of planning, a week before the MOVE THE CROWD battle was to take place, the COVID-19 pandemic shut the world down. Having been postponed three times (November 21, 2020, March 27, 2021 and August 27, 2022) due to issues around lingering travel restrictions, the battle was ultimately cancelled.
BEAT ECONOMY
As a result of the COVID lockdown, we were forced to reinvent ourselves in the virtual world, as a result BEAT ECONOMY was created as a way for producers to earn money during the lockdown. Producers put up their own cash to enter the battle in order to win a much bigger pot of cash if they win. Put up $25 to win $200. Put up $50 to win $500. Put up $100 to win $1,000. The battles are judged by the viewers to determine the winner on a weekly basis.
Guest judges, Mellenius (Tone Mason), Y-Not (SoundSmith), and 2Rude (Rudimental) are on deck only for the $1,000 battles. In addition to winning the cash prizes, endless collaborations continued to take place between producers, as they discovered the value of having multiple creative minds in the process. Battles are all streamed live on Twitch or YouTube and hosted by KLFTN.
MOVING FORWARD
The legacy of Battle of the Beat Makers continues to grow and spread even in the midst of a pandemic, as producers far and wide, who once battled on stage, are still signing deals with majors, sneaker deals, global publishing deals, becoming executives, while still selling Diamond Records, Multi-Platinum and Platinum Records, Gold Records, Grammy nominations and wins.
TRIUMPHANT RETURN
In 2023, Battle of the Beat Makers made a strong comeback with its first live event after a four-year hiatus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The event marked a triumphant return to the scene with a legendary lineup of super producers and a live concert that celebrated the resilience and passion of the music production community. The 2023 battle featured a panel of guest judges that included Lex Luger, a multi-platinum selling producer known as one of the pioneers of the modern Trap sound, AZ, one of hip hop’s most revered lyricists, and Havoc, one-half of the critically acclaimed hip hop duo Mobb Deep.
The event was not just a competition but a showcase of global talent, with producers from various parts of the world converging in Toronto. The evening’s highlight was a performance by AZ, alongside Havoc and Big Noyd from Mobb Deep, delivering non-stop classics that were the perfect capstone for such a high-powered return. This performance not only celebrated their iconic contributions to hip hop but also underscored the communal spirit of the event, reminding everyone of the power of music to unite and inspire.
The legacy of the competition continues to grow, with alumni producers from earlier years still winning Grammy awards, going multi-platinum, charting on Billboard, and producing for some of the biggest names in music, as well as TV and Film.
20 YEARS DEEP
As we move into 2024, the 20th anniversary of the birth of Battle of the Beat Makers, the vibe is surreal. Hundreds of producers from around the world continue to submit beats in hopes of being selected as one of the Top 128 producers for this year’s highly anticipated competition. This milestone year promises to not only celebrate the past achievements but also set the stage for the future of music production, showcasing the next generation of sound architects ready to leave their mark on the world stage.