For all those budding basement beatmakers out there, Futility Records and Spectrum Events have launched the first-ever Van City beat battle. The contest-open to all Vancouver-area producers-is being hosted on-line by the Futility Records message board (www.futilityrecords.com/). The deadline for entry is Monday (December 19). After the contest closes, each producer will be provided with a sample kit to work with to create a two-to-three minute submission. The winner takes 10 CDs from Universal Music and will have his or her beats sent to industry tastemakers-including Bobbito Garcia, DJ Z-Trip, and Ali Shaheed Muhammad (A Tribe Called ?uest).

"We want to shine some light on the beatmakers of Vancouver," Sean Lalla of Spectrum Events told the Straight. "I have a feeling that the same way A-Trak came out of nowhere and, literally from his basement, became a local, and then a national, and then an international DJ champion-I have a feeling there's gonna be a couple of local beatmakers that shine through."

Futility Records' DJ Neoteric says he hopes the battle will help build community within local hip-hop. "[With the message board] I set out to create a place for everyone to come together," he explained. "To have a central spot for promotion, ideas, conversation, and networking."