The KRK Kreator Classic, a bracket-style competition aimed at North American beat-makers, recently wrapped with Theronn Calvin (aka Clyde Strokes or Clyde) named the winner. Clyde’s prize-winning beats advanced him through six weeks of head-to-head Instagram vote-based competitions to come out on top. In addition to $7,500 in gear, Clyde’s prize includes a three-day producer’s intensive alongside Scott Storch, DJ Khalil, and Amadeus at the inaugural KRK Kreativity Bootcamp in Nashville.
“I love all three; they’re all giants,” says Clyde about the Bootcamp mentors. “I grew up listening to a lot of Scott Storch records, so I’m extremely excited and already planning things to work on with him and the other mentors. I want to see Scott Storch on the keys and DJ Khalil on the drums. I’m just excited to see how they all move in the studio; it’s going to be great. In addition to the Bootcamp experience, I can’t wait to start working with all the equipment involved, which was an outrageously huge prize.”
As the first-place winner, Clyde received a Grand Prize package that included KRK’s newest products, the S10.4 Subwoofer, CLASSIC 8 Studio Monitors, and KNS 8402 Studio Headphones, a $500 Guitar Center gift card, and a one-year BeatStars Pro membership, along with gear from some of the industry’s top brands, including iZotope, Native Instruments, Shure, and Universal Audio.
Clyde found that one of the most difficult parts of the contest was the social aspect. “The process was a lot. It really pushed me to market myself; I think that was great,” he explains. “When I received the support back from people, it made me realize I can promote myself. Weirdly enough, although it was a struggle at first, it became my favorite part.” The success of his outreach has not only inspired him to promote himself more often, but also led to collaboration plans with other contestants.
After advancing to the Top 40, Clyde was tasked with submitting a new, unique beat each week to stand out from his competitors. “When I saw a chance to enter the contest, I knew I had to present my best beats into the mix,” he says. “I created my beats and stayed confident in what I made.”
Clyde began his musical journey as a rapper. When he started recording beats himself, he fell in love with audio production. That was 13 years ago. Today, as a freelance producer in Los Angeles, he draws inspiration from many of those who paved the way before him, like Kanye West, J. Cole, and Kendrick Lamar.
Kreator Classic runner-up Ernest Taylor (Big CEO Red) put up a good fight in the final round of the competition, which spanned three days of voting. Clyde and Red’s Final Four competitors were Aubrey-Dekari D. Dixon (absm00th) and Deion Frizzell (Frizzy Astro). Fans can soon re-discover the competition soundtrack by visiting the tournament site, which will feature beats from the Top 40 participants. The tracks will also be made available as a featured YouTube playlist that can be accessed by subscribers of the KRK Music channel.
“The KRK Kreator Classic is an opportunity for us to connect with our music makers in a more meaningful way; allowing us to shine a light on the amazing talent within the KRK community while celebrating our shared love of music,” says Michael Fox, KRK brand manager “We are excited to continue to engage our creators through an array of avenues. This excitement and feedback fuel us every day to develop the great-sounding products KRK is known for―tools artists need to elevate the creative process and craft their signature sound.”
Looking ahead, the 2022 edition of the KRK Kreator Classic will commence with a new pool of talent and great music. Stay tuned for details, including new partners, competition dates, and even more prizes!
For more information, visit krkmusic.com.
