Made on BeatStars: LiAngelo Ball's "Tweaker"

BeatStars has been the backbone of some of the most viral hits to ever come out. For those who don’t know, the beat behind Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road” (produced by Kio) was bought on BeatStars. BossMan Dlow’s “Get in with Me” was produced by BeatStars creator Dxntemadeit. Another BeatStars creator, 1srael, was behind Drake and Future’s “Wait For U.” 

You can now add LiAngelo Ball’s “Tweaker” to the list, produced by two rising Russian creators KUNICA and Glockie Cheez. It’s pretty undeniable that the song is 2025’s first viral hit of the year. It has allowed LiAngelo to sign a $13 million deal with Universal Music Group and Def Jam. It has amassed over 14 million streams at time of writing, and sold 94,000 units in its first week, according to Chart Data. Not to mention, it has been the source of countless videos on social media.

The most interesting part is that the beat was discovered through the BeatStars and Voloco integration. Here’s how it happened.

The Story Behind Tweaker

LiAngelo Ball and his team were determined to bring their creative vision to life. While exploring Voloco, they searched for "NBA YoungBoy Type Beat" and "Drop Top," eventually discovering a beat crafted by KUNICA and Glockie.

KUNICA met Glockie during the summer of 2021 in Saint-Petersburg, Russia, while attending college. A year later, Glockie shared a series of Baton Rouge-inspired loops, which KUNICA reimagined, leading to the creation of the beat. Once uploaded to BeatStars, the track was listed as a “free download,” making it instantly accessible on the Voloco app. Two and a half years later, LiAngelo and his team found the track. 

Why This Matters

Opportunities like this aren’t exclusive to big-name producers with a long list of placements. Both Glockie Cheez and KUNICA, for instance, had relatively modest credits to their names (including placements with Boosie Badazz and Russian rapper Kizaru). Their success with “Tweaker” wasn’t the result of industry connections—it was purely organic.

This story also highlights the global potential of music. When creating, it’s easy to imagine your work reaching only local artists or audiences within your home country. However, this record proves that creators worldwide are constantly seeking inspiration and tracks. Music transcends regions—it doesn’t have to be produced by someone living in a specific country to resonate across continents.

To give yourself the best chances to earn an opportunity like this, KUNICA offers a key piece of advice: “Find [creators] that you can work with and develop with. Remember that it is the consistency that will give you results, which may not come at once.”

How You Can Maximize This Opportunity

Here’s how you can put yourself in the best position to grow your career. 

1. Enable Free Downloads: By allowing free downloads on your BeatStars uploads, your tracks will automatically appear on Voloco, making them accessible to artists searching for beats.

2. See Who’s Recorded Over Your Tracks: Follow this flow within Studio to see who has recorded over your beats through Voloco: Studio > Sales > Customers > select “Voloco” on the dropdown. 

3. Build Relationships: Take it a step further by reaching out to the artists who’ve used your beats. In some cases, you may have access to their email addresses if they’ve recorded over your track. If not, their username is often available, allowing you to connect directly through Voloco. A friendly message introducing yourself and expressing interest in hearing what they’re working on can go a long way. By fostering this connection, you not only build relationships but also open the door to potential collaborations and creative opportunities.