What a way to start the weekend. Late Friday night, two titans of hip-hop put their best work on display in a beat battle for the ages.
Paterson’s Just Blaze, a producer known for his high-profile work with Jay Z, Beyonce, Joe Budden and other artists, and Swizz Beatz, the producer from the Bronx who made his name working with DMX, Ruff Ryders, Jay Z and Busta Rhymes, deployed their trademark sounds in the rumble.
For nearly three hours, Just Blaze and Swizz, who now lives in Englewood with his wife, Alicia Keys, volleyed their best samples and improvised on the spot, in a battle that was streamed on Instagram Live Friday night. Video was also live-streamed to YouTube by Hot 97 as the station’s morning show personality, Ebro Darden, stood nearby, capturing the action with this phone. Busta Rhymes, also present for the occasion, made some hilarious faces (see tweet below) as he listened to the carnage unfolding in front of him.
The beat battle, a rare event between two such prominent producers, lit up social media. While some swore that Swizz Beatz took home the gold that night, at some points, it was anyone’s game. But many seemed to agree on one thing: the battle was great for “the culture.”
As Swizz Beatz was very nearly pronounced the winner in the room that night, both producers demurred.
“This is for the people, it’s not for either one of us,” Just said.
Swizz Beats & Just Blaze just showed me why I love @instagram [?] [?] pic.twitter.com/YSV0xjy0fL
— jErEM!@H (@pistons15) February 25, 2017
“I think the culture need this,” Swizz added. “It shouldn’t be no politics involved … this was more about unity.”
He said he wished more artists would link up such an event, and both pledged that they would try to get more producers in the mix next time. Just Blaze said he got calls from media outlets wanting the rights to the battle, but he said the event wasn’t intended to drum up business, but instead to cater to “the people.”
“We didn’t do this to make money, this is not about our names,” he said.
The pair then proceeded to throw out some big names in future potential battles, including Pharrell vs. Timbaland and Pete Rock vs. DJ Premier.
Here’s a sampling of the Twitter chatter surrounding the battle.
[<a href=”//storify.com/NJentertainment/just-blaze-vs-swizz-beatz-beat-battle” target=”_blank”>View the story “Just Blaze vs. Swizz Beatz beat battle ” on Storify</a>]<h1>Just Blaze vs. Swizz Beatz beat battle </h1><h2></h2><p>Storified by <a HACKED_LINKs://storify.com/NJentertainment”>NJ.com</a>· Sat, Feb 25 2017 20:45:25 </p><div>where were you for the swizz beats v just blaze battle of 2017?Manny</div><div>Just Blaze when Swizz dropped that last track https://t.co/dBL2gsMZrsElite Breed</div><div>Beautiful night to be a fan of Hip-Hop. Thank you Swizz & Just Blaze.Little Bastard Boy</div><div>Random Dude: "Swizz Beatz catalog better then Just Blaze." Me: https://t.co/Iw0FD8RzG0Soledad Brother</div><div>Swizz music has and always will sound elementary compared to Just Blaze. Sorry.Two Stacks</div><div>I think Swizz won. He was more consistent. Just Blaze had alot of dead spots in the middle of the battle.The Fly Guy [?]</div><div>But I realized tonight that just makes beats for the pre party get right and swizz makes beats for the one more shot and it’s over.Golden Lady Wallace</div><div>Nahhh I didn’t know Just Blaze did that Freedom track for Beyonce. That beat makes me do the [?] [?] [?] https://t.co/Zv5X1jORTBShawn Michaels</div><div>That battle was fire but just blaze was holding back. But the way he came with the samples before oh boy & I really mean it was [?] [?] [?] SplitRent Papi</div><div>Watching This Swizz Beatz vs Just Blaze oouuuhh they are killing each other hahaiamFrEeZeMuZik</div><div>Just blaze just better than swizz lolPositivity&Happiness</div><div>So we got Swizz vs Just Blaze last night….now we need Pharrell vs Timbaland. #fortheculture https://t.co/ZmfYeklPS0Jeff</div><div>Watching Just Blaze vs Swizz > Going to the clubPATRICK PRYOR</div><div>Long story short: Swizz is the [?] & he destroyed Just Blaze in a IG live beat battle of the hits. But we all won cause HIP HOP lived 2nite! [?] Bizzy.</div><div>Just Blaze vs Swizz Beatz reminds of why fell in love with hip-hop culture as a kid. So much more to this culture than just jumpin on a mic.Hector</div><div>The Just Blaze x Swizz Beats battle was a perfect way to end the week [?] Sir. Hershey</div><div>That Swizz vs. Just Blaze battle was inspiring af. I love hip-hop.Ayiro (prn. Arrow)</div><div>I’m actually tight because I just said yesterday "Just Blaze is the greatest producer ever don’t debate me" and then tonight happened…Syer #TOSPodcast</div><div>haha Just Blaze is killing Swizzhose</div><div>Swizz vs Just Blaze was epic! Personally don’t care how different their styles are. That’s what made it more epic to me.Phenom Prince</div> Amy Kuperinsky may be reached at akuperinsky@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @AmyKup or on Facebook.
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