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Featured Artists
Beatmasta71, born in Memphis, Tennessee in 1971, is one of the pioneering beat makers of the city’s underground rap scene. His journey into music began in 1986 after hearing the iconic track "Crush Groove", which ignited his passion for crafting beats. With no access to professional gear, he innovated using a boombox, stereo, and subwoofer, laying the foundation for a lifelong dedication to rhythm and sound.By 1987, Beatmasta71 formed a collective with a couple of friends and a cousin, creating raw, DIY rap tracks in a makeshift home studio. Their process—filled with laughter, trial, and error—became a hallmark of their camaraderie. In 1989, a neighbor’s generosity provided him with Casio keyboard sampler, a tool that elevated his production and deepened his love for beatmaking.The early ’90s saw him co-found a local rap group, fueled by a friend’s investment in a drum machine. Despite recording vocals in an unventilated bathroom and dubbing tapes manually, the group sold cassettes at corner stores and car stereo shops like Mr. Z’s, sharing space with future legends such as Three 6 Mafia, Eightball & MJG, and Gangsta Pat and several others. Though limited resources led to subpar sound quality, their creativity left an imprint on the North Memphis’ thriving hip-hop culture.After the group disbanded in 1996, Beatmasta71 persevered as a solo artist, stockpiling and copyrighting beats while collaborating intermittently with former members. His early online presence on MP3.com (2001) showcased his evolution with the Akai MPC 2000XL, earning quiet respect in digital circles.In 2018, he embraced the moniker Beatmasta71, symbolizing decades of honing his craft. The name reflects not arrogance, but mastery earned through relentless innovation and originality. “I’ve stayed true to my sound,” he says. “No one can say I copied anyone.”Today, Beatmasta71 stands as a testament to grassroots artistry—a Memphis native who turned constraints into creativity, inspiring peers and newcomers alike. His story is one of resilience, echoing the soul of a city that birthed legends.“I’m not the best, but I’ve put in the time. My beats are my legacy.”—Beatmasta71™