DMC World DJ Championships

Judges: DJ Shifteee, DJ Chonz, DJ Stretch (elims only) & DJ Lazy Eyez (finals only)

DMC Denver was a great success! Thanks to DJ Lazy Eyez and The Solution for keep it going and thanks to Adam at Cassellmans too! It was great working with everyone! My right hand friend Marilyn Alonzo accompanied me on this trip to DMC Denver and DMC LA and it was great to have her assistance. We had a great time hanging with Mariana Villareal and her sister while we were there. We are looking forward to seeing them at the 2012 DMC US Finals on Aug. 4 and The 2012 Grand Master Roc Raida Memorial Gong DJ Battle on Aug. 5 (both at Le Poisson Rouge NYC).

After we hung our banners and dropped off my mixers, Big Samir (The Reminders) and DJ Man-O-Wax from Chicago rolled up to say their Salaams. Unfortunately a Mos Def show was our competition that night and a few of our friends were performing there instead. We heard Mos Def aka Yasiin Bey was staying in our hotel (The Kurtis) but didn’t run into him.

So about the battle – Most of the DJs were there even before we returned from our dinner so that was very cool. Others trickled in. We sat down with the whole group battling to reconfirm which Rane mixers they planned to use (56s or 57sl) and to make sure we were all on the same page. Some DJs were were unfortunately not on the same page and were unprepared. I’ll give a DJ credit for putting his neck on the line and battling – but this year, DJs not reading the crucial battle info I send is at epidemic proportions. With this much technology at their hands, esp. dvs – how does any DJ new to battling think they can show up and breeze through a battle without reading a mere page of info that could have helped him/her to be more prepared and appear more professional?

At least one planned to use the Rane TTM-57 and then we found out that his drivers were not up to date … if he had read the info I had emailed him when he registered – that could have been avoided. 2 other DJs who wanted to use the 56s ended up on a 57sl due to some confusion but they actually went with it and did their thing! Thank you guys!

At first I was a bit skeptical of working with anyone new as a host besides DJ Lazy Eyez, due to not so good experiences with many stubborn strong headed MCs who can’t take any direction - but he explained that there was no way to judge, host and do tech support for the battle Djs at the same time so he offered up Mane Rok and Panama Soweto. And you know what? THEY WERE INCREDIBLE! I have never worked so successfully with 2 hosts – and they actually were running my battle on their own – getting the DJs set up on the side to go next, timing the battle, etc. It was truly an amazing experience to have hosts:

In a day where most wont do anything except what is in their “job description” Mane Rok and Panama Soweto were truly a blessing! They are definitlely going on the DMC US most recommended hosting list with Kool DJ Red Alert, Lord Finesse, GrandMaster Caz, Fatfingaz and Toquon tha MC!

1st = 6 points. 2nd = 5 points. 3rd = 4 points. 4th = 3 points. 5th = 2 points. 6th = 1 point.

It was a bit bumpy getting through the 2 min. elimination round with technical issues but once we hit the Top 6, it was mostly smooth sailing. The judges had to be called back to discuss the 6th place DJ because there was a tie – the judges gave Kosmo and Wise the exact same score = 3. Yes Staxx also had 3 total points (a 6th placing and a 5th placing) but in the case of a tie, DMC goes with who has one solid higher score. Kosmo and Wise each had a 4th place score from 1 judge each = 3 points. So the judges had to discuss who would be 6th place and who would be 7th. Shiftee made a case for DJ Kosmo saying that he was one of the 4 cleanest DJs in the whole battle so Wise the Mayan Mixmaster was put in 7th place. I felt for Wise because he came in 7th in DMC Phoenix this year too!! God willing, he will battle next year and place in the top 6 since he came sooooooo close this year! Don’t give up Wise!!

Between the elims and the finals, DJ Lazy Eyez had performances, bboy/bgirl battles and more! It was a very well rounded Hip Hop event!! Even Paulskeee of Mighty 4 (San Fran) popped up at the battle!!!

So the Finals proceeded with Kosmo in 6th place going 1st, Notch in 5th place went 2nd, Tee Wax went 3rd, etc. After each DJ performed his 6 min. routine, the judges named their 1st, 2nd and 3rd champs and after a fabulous set by DJ Shiftee – the winners were announced and prizes were awarded.

Coincidentally – Deus is from the Bay Area who now lives in CO. Cocheze is from CO but lives in the Bay now. Cocheze placed a close 2nd in the 2012 DMC Bay Area DJ Battle, which was one of the hardest to win battles of this whole year outside of DMC LA. He actually was prepared to travel to DMC LA and battle if he didn’t win DMC Denver! He was H U N G R Y for that win and it paid off! Congrats to Cocheze who, like quite a few others this year, will be in the DMC US Finals for their first time ever!

"It was great to visit Denver, a new city for me this year for a DMC Regional. I enjoy meeting the battle DJs and look forward to seeing the newer ones progress and continue to battle. I'm especially excited that there's been a renewed interest by DJs who haven't battled in years because for me they're like new since I've only seen them on video. Thank you Christie for allowing me to assist you!"

The just released Sixty-One Mixer courtesy of Rane and Serato valued at $1799!!!

And he advances to the 2012 DMC US Finals on Aug. 4 @ Le Poisson Rouge NYC courtesy of The Solution and DJ Lazy Eyez

2012 DMC DC Runner Up aka Vice Champion: CYSKO ROKWEL won
Stanton DJ Pro 2000 Headphones

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