7A. B4U (B4 ZA BEAT MIX) - NAOKI

Ready to tackle B4U (B4 ZA BEAT MIX) by NAOKI in DDR? Get the lowdown on its BPM, genre, and chart difficulties, plus expert and Oni notes to help you nail those steps!

Alright, let's dive into "7A. B4U (B4 ZA BEAT MIX)" by NAOKI! This track is a high-energy Konami Original, clocking in at a speedy 170 BPM with a 'Speed Rave' genre. It's a remix of the original "B4U" that you might have seen in other DDR titles like DDR Konamix or DDR Extreme US. This version, "B4 ZA BEAT MIX", gives us a fantastic blend of the original charts and a more challenging remix.

Chart Breakdown:

• BEGINNER: 65 Steps, 3 Jumps, 3 Freezes
• BASIC: 162 Steps, 20 Jumps, 10 Freezes (Difficulty 4)
• DIFFICULT: 226 Steps, 2 Jumps, 4 Freezes (Difficulty 6)
• EXPERT: 331 Steps, 19 Jumps, 13 Freezes (Difficulty 8)
• ONI: 243 Steps, 12 Jumps, 8 Freezes (Difficulty -- Officially a 7-footer)

Expert Notes: Don't let the original "B4U" fool you; this Expert chart is no joke! Expect some long streams of notes, and be ready for some offbeat patterns in the latter half of the song. You'll also encounter sixteenth notes, sometimes grouped together, other times scattered within streams, all designed to match the fast-paced melody. Keep your eyes peeled and your timing sharp!

Oni Notes: Surprisingly, the Oni chart is actually easier than the Expert one, officially rated as a 7-footer. It's mostly made up of simple streams and offbeat quarter notes. The only real curveball is a short burst of four sixteenth notes that require a crossover. It's a bit of an oddity in an otherwise straightforward chart, but it's manageable once you spot it.

About The Artist: NAOKI (Naoki Maeda) is a legend in the DDR world, serving as the sound director and contributing a massive number of tracks, often under pseudonyms. While he's known for exploring various styles, his recent work leans heavily into Eurobeat. "B4 ZA BEAT" itself is a collaboration featuring Shusaku Ichikawa and Muhehira Ohtomo.

Miscellany: This track has a history! It originally appeared in Dancing Stage EuroMIX 2 with a full set of difficulties. Later, it got a "Challenge Remix" treatment in DDRMAX2. This version offers the best of both worlds, including the original charts and that challenging remix. If you're looking for the original "B4U", you can find it in DDR Konamix, DDR Extreme US, and DDR Ultramix 2. Plus, a new "The Acolyte Mix" has surfaced in DDR Hottest Party.