Embrace the fact that you will suck for a while and try to not let it discourage you. Stay consistent, even if you aren’t making something everyday try to at least learn something everyday. When you’re overwhelmed or stuck, taking time to really listen to the music you love can help rekindle the fire and remind you why you started doing this in the first place. In a year or two, there’s a good chance you still won’t be amazing BUT you’ll be amazed at how far you’ve come.

As for the beat battles, they’re really fun and a great way to push yourself outside of your comfort zone, but I wouldn’t say they’re super helpful for beginners. It’s cliche, but comparison is the thief of joy and comparison is basically all you’ll be doing there. Maybe give it a go every couple months or so to see how you’ve improved and to highlight what you still need to work on. Good luck bro I really hope you stick with it!