Wednesday, September 06, 2006

Hub hip-hop producers to Battle for exposure

These days, rap producers such as Philly’s Scott Storch and New Jersey’s Just Blaze get as many props (and make as much cash) as the artists who rhyme over their beats.

Boston beat-maker Hector Solana (who records under the name Big Hek) thinks it’s time for New England to yield hip-hop’s next superproducer. Along with partners at Dorchester’s On Topp music shop and Dark Figures Productions, he’ll host Sunday’s second Boston Beat Battle at the Paradise to help funnel worthy Beantown instrumentalists into the rap industry pipeline.



“In the last couple of years, hip-hop has been producer-driven,” Solana said by phone from On Topp. “Right now you have major labels giving producers deals instead of rappers. The beat battle is our way of giving local producers an avenue to be heard by massive crowds and people who can help their careers.”

In the head-to-head battle, beat-makers face off in three elimination rounds. In the Headbanger Round producers each get 2 minutes to showcase a medley of their best tracks. In the Remix Round competitors unveil original remixes of well-known a cappella riffs (i.e., Jay-Z’s verse from Mariah Carey’s “Heartbreaker”). In the final On the Spot Round, the remaining two contestants get 20 minutes each to compose original beats.

“Some people might be scared to battle, but they’re really all winners,” Solana said.

Sunday’s contestants (Decap, Peter Beats, J Hunt, DC the Midi Alien, Scotty B, M.O., Yomo and Young Cee) were chosen from 65 hopefuls who submitted demo tapes. They’ll be battling before a panel of notable judges, including Boston hip-hop hero Edo G. and New York mixtape rapper Gracy, as well as hosting DJ On&On and guest performer Dre Robinson.

The Boston champion will get even closer to the action - a chance to rub shoulders with major-label representatives at next month’s Dynamic Producer Conference in New York. In October, he’ll return to New York to battle in the International Producers Association (IPA) competition.

“Bringing the winner to other battles is the first way that we think outside of Boston,” Solana said. “I got started battling in New York, and it’s a lot easier to get recognition there - that’s where the money is.”

Following a 2002 win at Brooklyn’s BanginBeats.com battle, Solana and his partners, Max Moise and John Burns, linked with HBO, which hired them to produce for their Blaze Magazine MC battle. Connections made through BanginBeats also led to work for ESPN2’s sneaker-culture show “It’s the Shoes.”

“All of Boston hip-hop is looking for a bigger stage right now, and we want the producers to get more exposure, too,” Solana said. “Rappers and artists come and go, but great producers like Dr. Dre and Scott Storch have lasted.”

Boston Beat Battle, with DJ On&On and Dre Robinson, Sunday night at the Paradise. Tickets: $20; 617-562-8800 or bostonbeatbattle.com

fara1hiphop@gmail.com

1 Comments:

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5:52 AM  

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