Swizz Beatz and Just Blaze did it for the culture, they wound up making an instant classic night in hip-hop. Friday night was absolutely legendary as the two superstar producers took to social media and played volumes of timeless music from their respected, respective catalogs during an almost three hour “Beat Battle.”
This isn’t the first time Swizz has battled another supreme boardsman. Around ten years ago at Hot 97’s “Summer Jam” concert, Swizz and Kanye West went at it, getting the audience at Giants Stadium hyped, as they traded songs like pugilists’ haymakers. While that battle went just a few rounds, Swizz and Just went all night. Literally. For about three hours the tandem went at it and broadcasted everything on their Instagram live pages. In front a small circle of friends at Swizz’s Manhattan studio, the world got to see two of the very best, easily two of the top of then ten greatest producers, ever parade out their hits with the audience to decide the winner.
Just had his turn tables set up and Swizzy had his. They started off DJing at Just’s set, playing cutting, mixing records like Rick James’ “Super Freak” into Jay Z’s “Kingdom Come.” Then it was time to go “Hit for Hit.” .Just Blaze started with a smash from his famed Roc-A-Fella records days, “Roc The Mic.” Swizz answered with a blood curdling Jadakiss fan favorite, “All For The Love.” Blaze went into “Just Fire” and Swizz retorted with “Banned From TV.” If you waited to see who would blink first, you might still be waiting. Neither producer was giving up an inch.
Insider Access | Swizz Beatz vs. Just Blaze’s Beat Battle
“We can do R&B joints, hip-hop joints, Rock N Roll joints, whatever, too easy” Swizz said after a volley of Usher’s “Throwback” and Mya’s original “Best of Me,” which Swizz beat helmed. Swizz was clearly the Floyd Mayweather of the battle, getting very animated and respectfully trash talking. Blaze would tell everyone “I don’t talk much” later on in the night. Swizz would later be joined by his wife Alicia Keys, Ruff Ryders co-CEO Dee, Cassidy and Busta Rhymes came through to salute both producers.
Blaze played T.I.’s “Live Your Life” and Swizz retorted, “I don’t know who Just thought he was coming to see tonight,” before playing Beyonce’s “Get Me Bodied.” Hours later, during the last round, Just pulled out, arguably his biggest and most coveted record Jay Z’s “P.S.A.” and Swizz pulled a master trick from up his sleeve. He played one of his own new songs that has yet to come out. The track featured Jay Z, Nas, Jadakiss and DMX all on the record, all spitting concrete hard raps.
Afterwards Swizz was getting the information that stars such as Diddy, Meek Mill, and Kelly Rowland were among the tens of thousands of spectators on his IG live page. DJ Khaled called him personally to congratulate him and making a monumental with Just. Meanwhile Blaze was getting texts on his from DJ Clark Kent and Jazzy Jeff and huge group chat of producers and DJs were also checking in with him. Swizz and Just also began talking about which other DJs they were going to get to battle such s DJ Premier vs Pete Rock.
“Me and Just were blessed with a talent where we were able to survive the 90s into the 2000s, Swizz said after the battle, addressing the room and his viewers on Instagram live. “A lot of people who came up with us, there were a lot of people when we started that producer movement that gave us that light. I respect this man, super. I can’t even be around people I don’t respect… We wanted to do this Instagram live to give it to the people. They don’t have to subscribe, they don’t have to log into nothing to see hip-hop at its finest. Just is an aficionado of what he does, he’s a doctor, he’s a scientist, he’s a creator. He has many a tracks I wish I had in my catalog. Honestly. This wasn’t no easy fight tonight. I had to switch my bag a couple of times. He played joints I didn’t even know he had… This was all about unity. There was no violence in here, no negative energy in here. We talk a little bit, but that’s the culture.”
“We didn’t do this to make money, this is not about our names,” Just Blaze said. This is about giving something to the people who have given us the careers we have. If it wasn’t for the people watching right now who have downloaded, streamed, purchased our records through the years, we wouldn’t be here.”