VIDEO: Producer Battle At SXSW – Red Bull Big Tune (ALL ROUNDS)
April 7, 2010
Catch all of the rounds of the Red Bull Big Tune beat battle at SXSW this year. This is the first time the battle was done by invitation and 14 KT ended up battling it out with Budo in the finals. Watch to find out who won.
Semi Finals
Finals
RED BULL BIG TUNE 2010 TOUR ANNOUNCED
April 2, 2010
SANTA MONICA, Calif., (April 1, 2010 ) – The Red Bull Big Tune program has been a longstanding, respected platform for up-and-coming music producers to gain national exposure, collaborate with well-known artists and make solid connections that could catapult one’s career. This spring, Red Bull Big Tune hits the road again hosting qualifying battles in Austin, TX; Philadelphia, PA; Los Angeles, CA; San Francisco, CA; Denver, CO; Seattle, WA; Minneapolis, MN; St. Louis, MO; Ann Arbor/Detroit, MI; and Virginia Beach, VA.
Each battle will feature 12 producers vying for audience votes. The top two producers from each qualifying competition will advance to the national finals at METRO in Chicago this fall. The coveted grand prize is an opportunity to create the ultimate ‘big tune’ with an A-list artist of one’s choice at the prestigious Red Bull Studios in Los Angeles. Past winners have collaborated with Young Buck and Nas. Interested producers can apply online beginning April 1, 2010 at www.redbullbigtune.com.
NEXT ON DECK
After nabbing “runner-up” in the 2008 Red Bull Big Tune national finals, beat-master Frank Dukes of Toronto came back with a vengeance and seized the 2009 national championship title last December, earning himself a private recording session at Red Bull Studios. Dukes’ emcee of choice and the musical collaboration will be unveiled later this summer.
“Red Bull Big Tune has helped connect me with a lot of people in the music industry that I’ve been able to network with and build relationships,” explains Dukes who recently secured a song deal with G-Unit. “All in all, it’s put me in a better position to get where I’m trying to go.”
MORE THAN A BEAT
Red Bull Big Tune is more than a beat battle. It is a full-fledged producer program with a parallel education outreach and mentorship series designed to inspire and educate the next generation of music producers. In several cities each year, Red Bull Big Tune team members and critically acclaimed producers Jake One and Vitamin D, along with event creator Jonathan Moore, conduct music workshops for youth where they share their experience in the music industry from beat- making to deal-making.
As part of the Red Bull Big Tune program, participating producers are given a platform to share their music with millions of fans. For the past two years, the Red Bull Big Tune finals have aired on national television networks accompanied by the road to the finals documentary web series. Beyond the national exposure, participants benefit from the support of artists such as Nas, Young Buck, Ghostface, Ninth Wonder, DJ Quick, Hi-Tek, J-Rocc, Freeway, Just Blaze, DJ Premiere, Black Milk, Sean Price, Evidence,Chali2na, De La Soul, Jake One, Vitamin D and Alchemist through performance, collaboration or mentorship opportunities.
Go to www.redbullbigtune.com for more information.
Budo Wins Big At Big Tune
March 30, 2010
At South By South West Red Bull launched their first Big Tune event of the year with featured producer Evidence in front of a crowd of over 2000. The attendees witnessed Budo also known as Josh Sharp take home the victory. Budo is quoted as saying “I’m super proud and humbled, if it’s possible to feel those two at once, to have had the opportunity to play my beats in front of so many people.”
For all the producers interested in throwing their beat reel’s into the ring applications open April first on www.redbullbigtune.com. Qualifying rounds will be held in Philadelphia, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Denver, Seattle, Minneapolis, St. Louis, Ann Arbor/Detroit and Virginia Beach. There will be two winners selected from each city who will move on to compete in the final phase of the competition held in Chicago during the latter part of this year. In case you are unaware everyone is vying for the opportunity to create with an artist of their choice at Red Bull Studios in Los Angeles, California.
Click the link to hear some of Budo’s work www.myspace.com/budo
Frank Dukes Crowned Red Bull Big Tune Champion
November 13, 2009
ATLANTA (November 4, 2009) – A crowd of 1,000 packed the main lounge and balcony boxes of Opera in Midtown Atlanta to cast their vote for the producer with the hottest beats in the 2009 Red Bull Big Tune Finals. Sixteen producers representing eight cities across the country battled it out in a head-to-head competition that came down to last year’s Red Bull Big Tune runner-up, Frank Dukes, and the man behind the mask representing The Big Easy, Hannibal the Beat Animal. The energy of the crowd elevated the performances and showmanship of both final contestants. Once the final track was played the audience was won over by Frank Dukes when he shook the house down with his low end bass and was finally crowned champion of Red Bull Big Tune after three years of competing.
In between rounds, fans were treated to a first-time-ever freestyle collaboration by hip-hop’s most iconic producers Alchemist and Just Blaze. They brought the house down and took turns showing off their discography as the crowd sang along in unison. Just Blaze has produced everyone from Jay- Z to Mariah Carey while Alchemist has been behind artists such as Nas, Lincoln Park, and Snoop Dog. This was a rare performance that may never be seen again. After the final round, controversial artist Jadakiss and his entourage closed out the night with classics “Put Ya Hands Up” “Knock Yourself Out” and “We Gonna Make It”
LAYING IT DOWN
Toronto native, Frank Dukes, will receive the opportunity to record in the prestigious Red Bull studio in Los Angeles with an A-list emcee of choice in spring of 2010. In past years, some of the choices have included names such as Common, The Game, Ludacris, Lupe Fiasco and Talib Kweli. The 2008 Red Bull Big Tune winner, C-Sick, had a hands on personal recording experience with legendary lyricist Nas who together created the track “Film.”
“It would be really cool to chop it up with guys on that level,” said Frank Dukes. “In my session, I’ll try to push forward and hopefully it will stand the test of time. That’s my goal.”
INSPIRING FUTURE BEAT MAKERS
Red Bull Big Tune is beyond a beat battle, it is a full-fledged music program designed to inspire and educate the next generation of music producers. Each of the competing participants gained industry insight and production knowledge through a 2-day mentorship experience with Just Blaze, Mr Porter, DJ Toomp, Mr Porter and Red Bull Big Tune Alum Tha Bizness.
“It’s good for them to be able to pick our brains and it’s helps us to hear new talent and keep us on our toes,” commented Just Blaze.
