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New Music Spotlight: Miasma – Viliani x Ciecmate

miasma

This month’s spotlight is on the new Viliani x Ciecmate collab entitled “Miasma”. Produced during the year long lockdown in Melbourne , this release served as a creative outlet, as well as therapy; to cope with the draconian laws being inflicted upon the Victorian population. This musical masterpiece touches on some serious subjects fuelled by the uncertainty and the chaotic nature of our current society. Miasma questions the status quo and the absurdity that came along with the lockdown. It also comments on attitudes and the divisiveness in society caused by the pandemic. Take my advice! Get yourself a copy of “Miasma”, it is guaranteed to be a 2022 certified classic.

“We some firestarters, we the livest partners hitting all kinds of targets, better try your hardest, it’s a buyers market. Look inside your heart, it’s a flying dart, this the hypest art, try to start us we some firestarters, firestarters!”

This 11 track release boasts production by the new Oz Hip Hop power couple – Viliani x Ciecmate and features guest MCs Gutz and Selzy. Standout tracks on Miasma for me include “Lasting Impressions” (that old school boom bap style beat always gets me and Vili kills her verse on the track). “How Dare You” (a dark grimy beat with schooling from both Vili and Ciec); and the excellent “Menticide” (a grungy beat coupled with the conscious rhymes of Vili, Ciecmate and their featured guests). Call it what you want but there are questions that need to be answered by the powers above when the time comes.

For your information the medical definition of menticide: a systematic and intentional undermining of a person’s conscious mind : brainwashing.

Available on CD (from the official BTE website) as well as digitally from the BTE bandcamp page and Spotify.

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Producer Spotlight: Kut One

Kut one

Producer / Turntablist – Kut One owner of Chopping Block Records, has been DJ’ing in Melbourne’s Hip Hop scene 1997 before transitioning to Production in the Mid-Late 2000’s.

His production list features Australian and American Heavyweights from the likes of Dedli Cii, One Sixth, Ciecmate and Bigfoot to Sadat X, O.C (D.I.T.C), Kxng Crooked, King Magnetic and many more.

Kut One’s discography is vast. Some notable standouts include: Slingshots (with King Magnetic & GQ Nothin Pretty), Icons Vol 1 ( with Neek The Exotic), Icons 2 (with Nine) and his own Producer LP’s Live Wires 1 & 2 featuring over 20 different MC’s (Daniel Son, Recognize Ali, Supreme Cerebral, Kwest and many more)….

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Producer Spotlight: Shape Shifter

shape shifter
shape shifter

Producer Spotlight: Shape Shifter – Residing in the South East of Melbourne, sample-based producer Shape Shifter has been carving out his own lane as a beat producer. Inspired by the sounds of J Dilla, Dj Premier, Madlib, 9th Wonder and Pete Rock, Shape has been creating his own sound that ranges from soulful compositions to dark gritty beats. He has worked with some of Melbourne’s finest emcees and everywhere in between.  

His introduction to the scene was producing the Bronkx and Ruwems track “Mysterians – Lost Lands” in early 2021. Later that year he produced New Jersey based rapper Nic Mercers EP “7 seconds.” Recently Shape has linked up with Ruwem to release the single “Curl Up” and produced Nurchas EP – “Clean Slate.”

Look out in 2022 for the release of Shape Shifter’s debut production album later in the year entitled “Polarity”.

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Producer Spotlight: Mr Skandal

mr Skandal

This month’s Producer Spotlight: Mr. Skandal is a beat maker from Birmingham in the UK, Mr. Skandal has been crafting his skills for well over a decade and has produced a plethora of beats. His range and influence spans from Hip Hop, Grime, Bassline, Dubstep to UK Garage and Drum N Bass. Growing up during the golden age of UK electronic music has enabled him to not pigeonhole himself into one style, Mr. Skandal traverses the BPMs and moods and focuses on telling a story through his beats.

In the last 5 years Skandal has been producing beats for some of UK’s most talented Hip Hop and Grime artists like Bilzar and Scotty Hinds, more recently he has been producing beats for artists from all around the world including the USA, Russia, Australia & New Zealand. Two standout artists Mr. Skandal has worked closely with since 2018 are Joe The Freakshow & Stanza Blade. They have collaborated on many projects together which can be found on Youtube, Spotify, etc. and have helped each other grow as musicians over the years. Mr. Skandal has also done collabs with Mr Traumatik. Japanese Grime artist Pakin & many more , he is also a prominent figure in the UK Grime scene and have worked with well known artists in the Grime scene like Dubzta & Westy.

His latest release “Project X” is out now on Tormented Audio – click on the button below to buy a copy of the album.

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Producer Spotlight: Shookz One

Shookz 1 beats for sale
producer spotlight shookz one

Shookz One

On this month’s Producer Spotlight: Shookz One – a rapper and beatsmith from Melbourne and producer for How Many Deep. With an eclectic appreciation that spans the vast spectrum of music, Shookz is intent on carving out something that is completely his own, while at the same time paying homage to the golden age of Hip Hop. No stranger to music, Shookz has been making music from way back.

His co-release in 2016 aptly entitled “The Resume” featured a who’s who of the Australian Hip Hop scene that helped expose not only Shookz but How Many Deep Records to a wider audience.

More recently he has been working with Goon Musick artists Benny Holiday and Billy Rosco (formerly known as Beni-Hana and Qualm of Savage Brothers) on their 2021 release “Blood Oath LP”. Shookz also produced, mastered and appeared on Benny’s previous LP entitled “Blackwater Maji”. In 2022 Shookz was once again asked to produce, master and appear on the “Slash Bendagoon LP” for Benny Holiday which received international approval and praise.

Check out the videos below for some of Shookz’s finest beats.

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Artist Spotlight: Dash88 TFC

dash tag graffiti artist spotlight

  “Pre making graff I was always interested in making art, looking at comics, drawing characters and messing around with letters. I can’t remember a time when I didn’t think of graffiti as art – it was all an extension of what I did creatively anyway.”

Dash88

On Artist Spotlight this month BeatBay shines a light on Dash88. A pioneer of the Australian graffiti scene, Dash is best known for his incredible mural pieces, as well as his album cover artwork for multiple Oz Hip Hop artists the likes of Celsius, Downsyde, Hunter n Dazastah, Drapht and Grand Lodge 3. Dash has been a stalwart in the Australian Graffiti scene for over 3 decades. His years of work has spanned from public murals, logo design, tee shirt designs and album cover art. He is an artist, writer, journalist, illustrator and painter.

His work has graced numerous exhibitions and festivals all over Australia as well as Spain, Germany, UK, USA, South Korea, Malaysia and Japan.

Click on the image below to check out the official Dash site where you will be able to purchase limited edition artwork by Dash.