.:Turntablism: Beat Juggling & Scratching v2.0

Finally the time has come for the 2007 DMC World Championships, and a new champion will be crowned. The big news this year is that no one is defending their title, so they are all up for grabs. The French rule of Netik and C2C is over and we shall see new turntablists reign supreme.

We will be seeing Australia’s Perplex have another go at the title against the likes of USA’s Precision, UK contender JFB as well as Japan’s DJ Miyajima and France’s DJ Fly. It should make for an interesting night, am definately looking forward to it (as I happen to be in London). For more news and info check out the DMC World DJ Championships website.

The official Press Release:

WORLD DMC DJ CHAMPIONSHIPS WEEKEND 2007
BATTLE FOR SUPREMACY & WORLD TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL - Saturday 6th
DMC WORLD DJ FINAL - Sunday 7th October

Indig02
(Greenwich, London)

Hosted by KILLA KELA, TRIP, BILLY BIZNIZZ and CUTMASTER SWIFT

Live acts all weekend – TBC!

Beat junkies and turntablists beware! The 2007 WORLD DMC DJ Championships are upon us, with this year’s event looking set to be the biggest yet! The World Final weekend will be taking place at the brand new Indig02 in London on the 6th & 7th October

This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for the elite of the UK’s deejays who’ve progressed through all the recent heats and finals to take on the rest of the world’s turntablists. The winners will also receive a selection of exclusive prizes from Technics, Ortofon and ck one, with the overall champion having a chance to win the Golden Technics Turntable and Ortofon’s prize of $10,000.

With DJ technology ever evolving DMC keep it old school (for now anyway) with only one set of Technics SL1210 turntables, a mixer with no effects or modifications and only stylus in the Ortofon range allowed per competitor. A factor that will give each participant an equal platform and really crank up the pressure for each round!

The competition is broken down into key events over two days:  first is The Battle For World Supremacy, a solo head-to-head knock out where competitors are to out skill their opponent using nothing but turntables and cleverly constructed routines. Representing the British contingent is the tough talking Switch who takes to the stage for the second consecutive year. Then come the World Team Championships, where a DJ collective of two or more combine their skills resulting in jaw dropping turntable orchestras.

Then, to climax there’s the big one - the Individual Event, where each contestant gets 6 minutes to put their skills to the test and prove that they’re the best in the World. This years UK Champion JFB goes up against 25 other global contenders in an attempt to bring the title of World DMC Champion home, a feat that hasn’t been achieved since the Scratch Perverts DJ Plus One won the title in 2001.

Tickets priced at £15, or £25 for a weekend ticket. Available from www.dmcworld.com www.theindigo2.co.uk and www.ticketmaster.co.uk  (0844 844 0002)

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Friday the 29th June 2007 - Shepherds Bush Empire - shards of scratches were flying all over the place to decipher the next representatives of the UK at the World Championships in September. The results were as follows.

Check the official DMC World DJ Championships site for more news, results and events.

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While I’m here wallowing in the DMC Championships of the past - the 2007 Championships are well on the way. This week brings the UK finals to the Shepherds Bush Empire. The best turntablists from around the UK have fought it out in the regional heats and will be battling for the title of UK DMC Champion and a chance at taking the coveted World DMC Title. The regional heat winners from Bristol to Birmingham and Liverpool to London include X-Rated, Rasp, Mr Eclipse, Andy H, Furious P and JFB. Which one will be representing the UK in the Worlds this year? I know I’ll be there to find out.

The night is hosted by Cutmaster Swift, Trip and DJ Billy Biznizz, and will feature performances from DJ Netik (Defending World DMC Champion), DJ Tigerstyle (2003 Battle for World Supremacy Champion), DJ Troubl’ and Beardyman. With a line up like this and many bloodthirsty DJ’s it is sure to be a huge night.

Tickets are £12.50 available from DMCWorld.com , www.ticketweb.co.uk and www.ticketmaster.co.uk

See you there!

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A couple of days ago I posted DJ Plus One’s routine from the 2001 World DMC’s. I decided it would only be appropriate to link you to Kentaro’s full set for 2001. The previous Kentaro video I posted wasn’t necessarily the best part of his set (actually I think it was…) His whole set is very solid, showing excellent beat juggling skills, nice clean cuts and good beat selection. His drumming skills, though, seem to be lacking a bit compared to Plus One.

Make sure you check out Kentaro’s World DMC 2001 set on YouTube. Pay great attention after the sample “We’re gonna do a song that you never heard before…”. That stuff is gold, thoroughly deserved second place.

There will still be more Kentaro to come soon, as promised. Also some timely news on the World DMC Championships which are well into the heats across the globe. View the DMC World DJ Championships website for more.

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In my last post Kentaro tore up part of his routine from the 2001 World DMC Championships. That year he place second to Plus One who pulled off his infamous ‘Still Number One’ routine. I thought it appropriate to let you see the routine that won it that year. Here is DJ Plus One’s winning routine on YouTube. He performs excellently under pressure, coming out with pure confidence and style - “I will not lose” - a big statement that proved to be true. Pulling off some nicely crafted faderless drums, he later creates creates some really unique sounds by almost tearing the needle from the cartridge and finishes up with those still number one cuts and juggles that I will never forget.

For all those who are curious, he is sampling is I’m Still #1 by Boogie Down Productions. BDP are still number one in my book too.

You really gotta check it out. DJ Plus One’s 2001 World DMC Routine. Once you’ve finished watching that, come back and check out the post on Kentaro’s second place routine.

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Australian turntablist DJ G-Smooth has collected yet another title to his name. G-Smooth took out the Australian title to go on and compete in the Asia Pacific finals in Bangkok, Thailand. Competing over 15-20 minutes each on two DNS3500 CD Players and a DNX1500S four channel mixer, the competition was tough but no match for the experienced tablist who wooed the judges and crowd with his impressive array of skills and knowledge of the equipment.

Usually feeling at home on his trusty battle set up of Technics 1200 MK II’s and SH-EX 1200 Mixer, he is no stranger to all forms of DJ equipment and will make use of whatever is at hand. Here’s a small caption about his set taken from the Denon website:

” G-Smooth began with an impressive display of scratching and transforming pushing the limits of the DN-S3500 Active Platter and DN-X1500S Flex Fader. G-Smooth was clearly a battle DJ challenging all his opponents with some very good use of gangster movie samples and a confident stage performance. Great use of the hot starts for instant drumming and impressive beat juggling placed G-Smooth as top contender for the competition.” Read More.

With an extra title now under his belt and the World DMC’s looming, all we can do is wait and see what G-Smooth has up his sleeve next.

For more info on G-Smooth and his current work check his MySpace Page.

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I wanted to post the video of Craze’s 2000 set that took the title over Dexter (see last post), but unfortunately embedding is disabled so I can’t post it on this site. Check out his set on YouTube instead.

You will find parts of this set very similar to the needle droppin’ video I posted recently. This 2000 DMC set was what won DJ Craze the title for the third year running and put him down in history books as one of the worlds top DJ’s.

View DJ Craze’s World DMC 2000 set on YouTube.

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Representing O-Z to the fullest. This has got to be, in my opinion, Australia’s best DMC entrant ever. It might (or might not) be fair to say that Dexter really should have won this title, with all respect to DJ Craze and his skills. Dexter had to accept a modest 2nd place in the World DMC championships in 2000.

Yes, here is some consistency between this and the last post, as Dexter is supporting the almighty Shadow at the forum on June 7th ‘07. Should be a great show considering the skills of both of these awesome tablists.

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Loaded and Triple R present

An intimate night with

DJ SHADOW & MC Gift of Gab (Blackalicious)

Daddy G [Massive Attack] & Dexter

This is a rare showcase and tickets are strictly limited.

Full Live Visual Show feat. MC Gift Of Gab (Blackalicious)

Hailing from California’s Bay Area, the elite DJ Shadow is set to deliver a not-to-be-missed, distinctive live performance alongside longtime comrade Gift of Gab (Blackalicious) at Melbourne institution, The Forum, on June 7th.

Ensconced as one of San Francisco’s most instrumental personas in the Bay Area movement, DJ Shadow is the embodiment of the city’s spirit, a temperament paralleled by sister city Melbourne and articulated by Melburnians. Suitably, after his previous sell out Outsider tour, DJ Shadow invites MC Gift of Gab to be a part of a fresh, carefully crafted showcase for Melbourne, an audience armed with an artistic intellect to relish in the full spectrum of imagination and all it brings to light.

Shadow and Gift of Gab are a united creative force to be reckoned who share a sentiment for progressive independent artistry. They were fellow crew members in the early day and founders of the underground award winning hip hop label SoleSides later reinvented as hip hop collective Quannum Records; the label under which Gift of Gab (as one half of Blackalicious) released Nia (2000) and Blazing Arrow (2002) as well as first solo album 4th Dimensional Rocketships Going Up (2004).

Perched alongside the current dons of the hip hop world including The Neptunes, Dr. Dre and Timbaland; DJ Shadow’s gamut of creative works range from trip hop and ethereal soundscapes through to rocking west coast hip hop, including his most recent collaboration with Q-Tip (A Tribe Called Quest).

DJ Shadow’s legendary live performance is an amazing spectacle enhanced by visuals, coupled with MC Gift of Gab, this is definitely a show that will leave you in awe and aching for more. And this may also be your last chance to see Shadow on these shores for several years to come so best be quick.

Catch the Shadow before he disappears!

Supported by heavyweights Daddy G [Massive Attack], Dexter and Mike Hunt.

DATE & VENUE

Thu June 7, Forum Theatre, 154 Flinders St, Melbourne

Box Office: (03) 9299 9700

SUPPORT. Daddy G, Dexter and Mike Hunt

TICKET OUTLETS.

$79 + BF. Available through www.loadedentertainment.com.au

Available through Ticketek - All stores 132 849

Central Station Records - Melbourne, Click n Drag - St Kilda, D M C Beats - South Yarra, Mighty Music Machine - Chapel St, Northside Records - Fitzroy, Polyester Records – Fitzroy

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Being an Australian based site, I thought it might be suitable to pay homage to one of Australia’s best in recent years - DJ Perplex. Coming out of the woodwork (or should I say steelwork?) a few years back, perplex made a name for himself down under relatively quickly and more recently won the 2006 Australian DMC championships - see Aus DMC results post. The following video is of the routine that won him the title over Snair and G-smooth. Props to Perplex - a killer routine.

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