On this energized summer night 12 men enter and only 1 man would emerge as Red Bull Big Tune Denver’s producer finalist, as the nation’s premier music producer battle made its second stop along its third national tour.  Over 700 crazed onlookers  packed Beta nightclub to listen and shake a stanky leg as Denver native “Boon Doc” beat up the competition to claim his seed for the National Red Bull Big Tune Championship in Atlanta in October.

Veteran producer Vitamin D and Jake One got the spinning started as Exile and Black Milk, entertained the crowd between battles. Jonathan Moore, one of the co-founders w/Vitamin D, emceed and helped contain the heard of cats. As the couple of intense hours of competition progressed, I quickly learned to appreciate how sick a beat competition between some of the best producer talent can truly sound.

The next stop on the Red Bull Big Tune tour is Chicago, where twelve more eager participants will take the stage on July 13th to crown the “Windy City” beatsmith, who just might have the next big tune. Other regional battles will be hosted in Houston, Seattle, Long Beach, Detroit and Minneapolis. The top two producers from each city will square-off in October 2009 at the Red Bull Big Tune National Championship in New York City. The winner of the National Championship wins the opportunity to collaborate with a recording artist of his/her choice in the prestigious Red Bull Recording Studios in Santa Monica, CA. Last year’s Red Bull Big Tune National Champion had the opportunity record with hip-hop star, Nas.

Words and photos by Dustin Downing