Introduce Yourself!

[waxramble]

Introduce Yourself!

As the community grows we're seeing many new folks join the battles. We wanted to create a space for new members to introduce themselves, longtime members are also encouraged to introduce themselves to newcomers!

Some ideas of what to share:

1. Who are you? Where are you from? Where can we find your music?

2. How did you get into making music? What's your story?

3. How did you learn about STBB? If you're an OG how long have you been a part of the community?

4. What gear or DAW do you use? Any cool setups out there??

5. Anything else you'd want the community know

[waxramble]

I will get this thing started

I am waxramble, originally known on the old boards as GC90. I'm from Seattle, WA - been living in Washington most my life outside of a couple years in Portland working at Discogs (Great website, poor management, tons of crazy stories from those days)

I'm one of the only people here who doesn't really make music, but this community has inspired me to try learning a bit, this fall I really hope to dive into it more deeply, my SC is https://soundcloud.com/waxramble - If you want to get an idea of what music I'm listening to, my Bandcamp page is a good place to start haha https://bandcamp.com/waxramble

I come here as someone obsessed with collecting, sharing, and listening to music. Growing up I collected CDs, then got heavy into vinyl, then I got sick and tired of moving those things around so I eventually started getting heavy into collecting digitally (Lossless if possible please!). Outside of Hip Hop, my "niche interests" have lately become anything Brazil from 60s/70s and Chicago Footwork (Teklife till tha next life!)

I joined STBB around the time that Freddie Gibbs and Madlib released Pinata to complain, embarrassingly as a FG hater... (He's now one of my favorite rappers these days, can't wait for Bandana!!!) I had been lurking on the forum without an account since way back like 2007, but I eventually just made what I thought would be a throw-away account under the dumb "GC90" name to be an idiot in that Pinata thread lol - All these years later I'm still around haha. My taste in music is so much different than anyone I know in real-life, so you guys are my outlet for discussing this stuff. I've learned about so much great music from you guys too, this community means a lot to me and I'm happy to do my part keeping things going.

My username now is from my failed blog waxramble.com - Feel free to check that out for some old opinions/thoughts on things along with more poor writing lol

Anyway that's my story - Always happy to chat, listen to recommendations, etc. For any new folks def feel free to shoot me a message if you ever have a question on how the site works or if I can do anything to improve STBB

[Gorilla_Funk]

New over here so what's up.

First name Gorilla last name Funk. Good to meet yall. I'm from the Balkans (Greece to be specific) and i've been makin beats since 07. Got the 2000XL back in 2012 and it has been my weapon of choice ever since (although it needs some repairs now). I joined this forum because i feel like beat battling keeps the tip of my beatmaking spear sharp plus it forces me to use samples i wouldn't choose by myself therefore making me a more versatile and skilled beatmaker. And if anyone wonders why Gorilla Funk is my nickname it's because i think it's dope and because it fits my physical build (6'6'' big shoulders etc.) and my general disposition (cracking jokes and breaking balls is my bread and butter).

Anyways that's it about me. I'm gonna be a regular here so we'll probably get to know each other better.

Peace.

[zbuc]

Yo

I'm from Southeast Michigan, right now I live in Detroit. I have been making beats since the early 2000s. I was a kid, my neighbor got me hooked on Aphex Twin, and I started making music on a cracked version FruityLoops with some pirated plugins.

When I got older I got involved in the local music scene, through the late-night funk/electronic party scene and hardcore punk. The music scene in Detroit was small and mixed bookings weren't uncommon. I bought my first physical synths and drum machines and made techno music that paid respects to the lineage of Detroit techno. I always enjoyed hip hop, and started making hip hop beats around 2012.

I have produced songs for a couple rappers, and one of them had a show last year where there were live band interpretations of my beats. I was pretty proud of that. I'm here because making beats keeps me from going insane, and the community is supportive. I'm not a full-time musician and have drifted in and out of it over the years... I submitted maybe 5-6 STBB entries, years ago. The beat battles help me focus on completing work and push me out of my comfort zone, and I personally really enjoy making my beat before listening to everyone else's, then after I'm done seeing how everyone else took on the samples.

[Godall]

Assalamualaikum,

I'm born and raised in SF- music here https://soundcloud.com/godalllllllll

I started making beats a couple years back when I got into college. I actually wanted to be a rapper first and would freestyle (terribly) over beats by clams casino/blue sky black death, but then I realized I liked the beats more than the actual rapping. I was really drawn to those synth heavy, cinematic kinds of songs that were really dirty, but still somehow clean. I remember reading about how uppermost used FL primarily and decided to try it out, and so far this keeps me sane.

I found out about this place a while back, I had an account like a year ago but my beats were bleh. I came back because I really love how the deadlines force me to finish work.

Nothin fancy. I just use my laptop with FL Studio and a bunch of software like massive and Iris 2. I also occasionally use an old turntable that was sitting in a garage. I like taking samples and completely dicing them up until they don't resemble the original thing, then drenching them in tape and distortion.

I play video games a lot idk

[B-Jam vs Enos]

Hey guys, welcome aboard.

[JoaGymshoe]

1. Who are you? Where are you from? Where can we find your music?

name's 'Joa....' I live in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. https://soundcloud.com/joagymshoe


2. How did you get into making music? What's your story?

started writing raps when I was about 12 years old. inspired by Yo MTV Raps and a dutch hip hop show called Villa 65.
when I was about 18 I hooked up with a jungle/tekno DJ and made tapes rapping to his mixes.. we also organised jungle/ tekno parties where I MC'd.
I looked for hip hop producers in the local scene but had a hard time connecting with them dudes.. back then it wasn't easy peasy DAWs on your p.c.
so I muddled for a few years untill Reason 1 came out in 2001.
it was easy enough to grasp for a technophobe/digibetic like me.
I exported the tracks and recorded vocals and mixed in Cubase.
I'll add the first track I ever made under this Q and A.
plus some of this history in rhyme.
it was tough going. making hip hop as techno/tekno also ran in my veins.
I spent years just trying, spending months on beats.
meantime did some open mics and schoolparties etc. but realised I'm more of a studio artist/ beatmaker/ producer.
that was where the fun is to be had for me.


3. How did you learn about STBB? If you're an OG how long have you been a part of the community?

only got internet at home in 2011 or so..
someone told me about SC
uploaded my first track... and took it off almost instantly.. yikes!.. an audience.
didn't upload another track untill about a whole year later.
at some point bumped into Tepaphone and rapped on his (my first) STBB entry
will add below.
and a couple of months later I dropped my first solo STBB entry.
ever since then I've been hooked. ( 2013 )
at some point I became self appointed/ pushed forward/ accepted moderator.
not a website mod. as STBB was held on the Stones Throw Message Board.
after ST gave us the boot. Waxramble, Heavy Drama and I started this forum, STBB Forever.
I love collabing with all the beatmakers on and off here.
musta done over a hundred.
some even on different continents visiting other beatmakers.
I suppose I still muddle haha.. hit and miss.
my skills have definitely increased over the last six years
but have sorta stagnated for a while.
might do a course of sorts one of these days.


4. What gear or DAW do you use? Any cool setups out there??

still on Reason.. 4 now. and Cubase 5
will upgrade soon.
have a midi keayboard,
an SP-404 SX
and a Neumann microphone.
M-Audio monitors
and open and closed Beyerdynamic headphones


5. Anything else you'd want the community know

"if you do what you say, you ain't a liar" ~ from dutch song text

rest but don't quit.

props to all dope beatmakers of STBB past and present.

check out the Survival of the Freshest Compilations STBB forever does with WeGrowWax
Vol. 2 out next month. featuring winners and sweetest other entries.
see > viewforum.php?f=18

won a couple of battles too . > playlist 'wins' on my SC page

[Cratetivity]

1. Who are you? Where are you from? Where can we find your music?

My name is Cratetivity, 31 and from Hamburg in Germany. You can find my music at the moment just at soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/cratetivity
More is coming soon.

2. How did you get into making music? What's your story?
3. How did you learn about STBB? If you're an OG how long have you been a part of the community?

I got into producing music 2014 (was rapping and djing as a child) when i was at my lowest point, after losing my girl, unborn child, my job and my home. I was homeless at that moment, living on a couch at a friends flat, with a heavy depression. Only thing left i had was my old pc, so i downloaded ableton. And fuck yeah, it was the best therapy i could get. I have no musical background, so i started to learn my DAW and got into sampling. Shortly after that, i found the old STBB board and was part of it a couple of times under my old name "DwayneChambers / Dwayne! Productions". It was so great for a rookie like me, because i had more comments and good critics for my music, then ever before and after that time.



2-3 years ago, Sony striked my SC channel 3 times in a row for some 90s boom bap remixes (acapellas from vinyl!) and my account was gone. I had no music presence back then on other sites, so i lost all my followers and was fucked up really bad. It was the time where i was back in worklife, had a fresh own flat and was more busy then ever. I lost the focus on music a little bit, started a new channel with new name, but never made any advertising. Now i have some nice new gear and want to reroll the dice.








4. What gear or DAW do you use? Any cool setups out there??

• Ableton Live 9

• SM PRO IN5E Soundinterface (With Phono. Hell yeah!)

• Ensoniq ASR 10 (fully expanded, with output expander, harddrive and aloooot old discs from the first hand owner, who produced blues & country)

• MPC 2000 XL SE3 (fully expanded, with output expander, effect board and card reader)

• Traktor Control Z2

• Vestax PDX-2000 (My first love)

• Vestax PDX-d3 MKII

• Ortofon Concorde Digital MKII Twin

• KRK Rokit 5

• Many wax

If anyone is interested in a collabo; producers, rappers or singers, just write me. I am always open to it.

Peace.

[waxramble]

Man, I'm sorry for all you went through Cratetivity... I have not gone through as much as you but have had my own difficulties as well through life, music has always gotten me through to better times like it did for you it seems. Really happy to see you make it back here, looking forward to all sorts of great music with that sweet setup you have going! Enjoyed your entry in this week's battle

Peace!

[waxramble]

Giving this a bump, would love to hear more stories!!!

[B-Jam vs Enos]

1. Where are you from? Where can we find your music?

I'm from Edinburgh, UK, and you can find me at https://soundcloud.com/bjamenos

2. How did you get into making music? What's your story?

I'd been interested in making music since I was about 20 (i'm now 40), but I spent over 10 years doing a lot of DJing and clubbing before I started to settle into actually making beats. I started with soul/funk/disco edits but in time evolved into the hip-hop/trip-hop/downtempo vibe that i'm now known for.

3. How did you learn about STBB? If you're an OG how long have you been a part of the community?

I can't actually remember how I stumbled across the STBB forum, but it was only a year ago. However in that time i've made more beats than in the previous 5 years and have progressed a lot. The challenges and deadlines of STBB pushed me in ways I didn't foresee but i'm all the better for it. I've reached personal goals re my own beats that I set a long time ago so it's been an incredibly productive, satisfying and fun 12 months.

4. What gear or DAW do you use? Any cool setups out there??

I use NI Maschine Mk3, KKontrol Mk2 and Jam in standalone mode, along with various hardware synths (on occasion) to jam and actually produce beats, and I mix/master in Cubase 9.5. I only moved to making beats that way at the start of last year after many years of just using DAWs, and I found it to be much more of hands on and creative workflow so i've stuck with it ever since.

5. Anything else you'd want the community know

Any setup/hardware/software advice/help/issues etc, hit me up and i'd be happy to help.

[Bry.Zen]

Hello, I'm Bry.Zen I've done battles before when it was on the stones throw message board. I live in La county but i'm originally from southern Oregon. I started making beats in 2011. Unfortunately I was briefly interested in making dnb and dubstep when I started out. the "beat community" caught my interest after the first year of making crappy dub music. I switched to making beats and never looked back after I discovered the Low end theory, Dibi$e, flylo, Ras G anything that had to do with beats I quickly soaked up and gave back whatever I could for roughly 7 years now. I started in ashland growing with a good friend Toonorth just trying to make and find sounds we enjoyed. I moved up and down the west coast and eventually landed in LA. I won STBB 477 a few years back. I use ableton, roland sp 555, roland gaia, behringer model d, moog subphatty, guitar, bass, live drums, yahmaha dx7, PO 33, 28, and 20. Find all my music and related ventures on my website. Thank you

https://www.bryzen.net

[JoaGymshoe]

Hello, I'm Bry.Zen I've done battles before when it was on the stones throw message board. I live in La county but i'm originally from southern Oregon. I started making beats in 2011. Unfortunately I was briefly interested in making dnb and dubstep when I started out. the "beat community" caught my interest after the first year of making crappy dub music. I switched to making beats and never looked back after I discovered the Low end theory, Dibi$e, flylo, Ras G anything that had to do with beats I quickly soaked up and gave back whatever I could for roughly 7 years now. I started in ashland growing with a good friend Toonorth just trying to make and find sounds we enjoyed. I moved up and down the west coast and eventually landed in LA. I won STBB 477 a few years back. I use ableton, roland sp 555, roland gaia, behringer model d, moog subphatty, guitar, bass, live drums, yahmaha dx7, PO 33, 28, and 20. Find all my music and related ventures on my website. Thank you

https://www.bryzen.net

welcome back man!
went for a little dig for that #477..dope!
I think that was Prince week right?
damn.. that whole mix is ill !

[checkthevibe]

Hey yo, i never introduced myself
My name is Valentin and i am from a small romanian city, Campina
I make beats since 2009 when my scene name was "valescu", but now i am producing under the "checkthevibe" name
I think i heard about STBB three years ago at a beatmaking battle and i was like damn, i need that challenge in my life lol

Speaking about gear, i have just some eris e5 speakers, one keystation 49 and UR12 audio interface.
I am using just ACID Pro 7 as DAW

I can be found here

Beats:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=YiYf1ksB7YA&lis ... oq&index=1
www.youtube.com/channel/UCJmkgt89dFXYNS ... subscriber

few songs that i produced:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dVZwzvxaec
www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7cQglSViVo
www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWWerMdE9bk
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggX7UBJEh6I

personal:
https://www.instagram.com/checkkthevibe
https://www.facebook.com/checkkthevibe
https://www.facebook.com/ValesQOficial

If anyone need help with something, advices or collaborations, i am open for it

pace all!!!

[Kyberrr]

Hey, guys! Rapper/producer currently residing in Oslo, Norway here. Made my first shitty MIDI-beats in 96/97 after discovering Wu-Tang Clan, and have been at it steadily ever since. Mostly I've been working in the group i started in early 00's Tri-Function Million, but I am focusing on a solo-EP atm. Planning to do more instrumental stuff too under the name Kyber (I've done some instrumental stuff in the past too but under different names). My Kyber Beats soundcloud is probably the best to follow for current stuff https://soundcloud.com/user-124190781 I also have albums out with my group, but it's all norwegian rapping, which I'm guessing is not so interesting for most people on here?

So what does STBB stand for anyway? I've been participating in The Producers Corner sample challenge lately and stumbled upon this forum via a Reddit post. I've been looking for a sample challenge that doesn't require me to use Facebook, and this also seems like a pretty cool forum.

Reaper is my DAW. I used Cubase for years, but never looked back after the switch, super fan of it. I enjoy using hardware and have acquired some over the years. I have a Waldorf Blofeld, Yamaha SY-55, a eurorack system, Technics 1210, MPC2500, MOC2000XL (currently trashed), MPC Live and various guitars, a bass and some bits and pieces that make sound. I have good friends who loan me stuff from time to time too, at the moment I'm borrowing a really freaking cool Sequential Circuits Prophet-600. Also have some nice preamps, comressors and such.

I guess that about sums it up, looking forward to participate in the beat battles. Oh, and I run a small independent records label with some friends. Records of the Fleshgod (ROTFG). We release, rap, doom, noise, metal and electronic stuff.