Red Bull Big Tune Will Crown National Champion in New York City on December 3, 2008

Red Bull Big Tune Will Crown National Champion in New York City on December 3, 2008

-Featured Performances by Ghostface Killah, Digable Planets and The Alchemist-

NEW YORK, Nov. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Red Bull Big Tune has spent the year scouting the nation in search of the next true talent with the "big tune." The unstoppable music producer battle and education program is quickly approaching its final face off of 2008. A pool of nearly 100 emerging U.S. music producers battled in regional competitions from Los Angeles to Detroit in the hopes of advancing to the national finals in New York City. The final showdown featuring the top 16 producers will take place at the Highline Ballroom on December 3, 2008. The ultimate Red Bull Big Tune national champion will earn an opportunity to record a track with their choice of Common, Nas, Lupe Fiasco or The Game at Red Bull Studios Santa Monica. Additionally, the winner will receive custom studio equipment and national bragging rights.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20081120/LATH081)

THE GAME

The head-to-head competition gives each producer 90-seconds to prove themselves and stay in the game. What makes Red Bull Big Tune truly unique is that there are no celebrity judges. The crowd determines who will advance and who will go home. The last person standing will be the one with the "big tune."

"Half of the battle is knowing what to play and when to play it, says Jake One. "Producers can't hold the heat until the end or the crowd will knock them out early."

The final competition of 2008 will feature an eclectic mix of talent including the first female contender -- EQ from Houston, as well as the youngest competitor -- 17-year-old C-Sick from Chicago. An all-encompassing line up of guest performers including Ghostface Killah, Digable Planets and The Alchemist will perform to help celebrate and support a new breed of fresh talent. Admission to Red Bull Big Tune is $7 -- proceeds will benefit Impact Repertory Theater, a non-profit youth-based theatre company located in Harlem, NY (http://www.impactreptheatre.org/).

THE PLAYERS

This year, Red Bull Big Tune qualifying battles were hosted in: Philadelphia, Oakland, Houston, Detroit, Chicago, Seattle, Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles. Each city represents a distinctive sound and style. From "Hyphy" in Oakland to "Chopped and Screwed" in Houston, a variety of sounds will resonate throughout the evening by the following players:

Philadelphia: Illmind / Ritz
Oakland: Marc Garvey / Hit Makers
Houston: Sound Mob / EQ
Detroit: 14kt / Frank Duke
Chicago: C- Sick / Rob Bates
Seattle: Brainstorm / Rising Son
Washington, D.C.: Algorythm / Best Kept Secret
Los Angeles: J.Bizness / Diaba$e

BRIEF HISTORY

Originating in Seattle in 2005 as a partnership between event producers Vitamin D and Jonathan Moore, Big Tune was created as a platform to showcase the musical talents of emerging and established producers in a fresh and forward-thinking way. The spirit of the Jamaican Reggae/Dancehall culture, where battles such as this occurred nightly and were commonly referred to as "clashes" is the inspiration behind Big Tune.

Red Bull Big Tune is more than a beat battle, it is a full-fledged music program designed to inspire and educate the next generation of music producers. Interactive music education programs for inner-city youth are hosted at each tour stop featuring hands-on music production lessons by producers Jake One and Vitamin D. Participants also receive tutorials about the music business by Jonathan Moore.

Watch the Red Bull Big Tune documentary web series and learn more about the program at http://www.redbullbigtune.com/.

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20081120/LATH081
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Red Bull Big Tune

CONTACT: Nyla Hassell of Red Bull, +1-310-460-5154,
nyla.hassell@us.redbull.com

Web site: http://www.redbull.com/
http://www.impactreptheatre.org/
http://www.redbullbigtune.com/

NOTE TO EDITORS: For press requests and interviews, contact nyla.hassell@us.redbull.com or sarah.chambliss@us.redbull.com. Press photos from past events can be downloaded free of charge at www.redbull-photofiles.com

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