2012 DMC San Antonio DJ Regional Review
by Christie Z-Pabon – DMC USA


March 24, 2012


Photos by
Christie Z & Fabel: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.197043680405807.38613.178103952299780&type=3
By Mia Johnson: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.3255553263942.2150202.1120397165&type=3
By Christopher Leal: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.3668497954282.170632.1329810240&type=3
By Daniel James https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.379587468742032.95774.100000723462165&type=1


This year was the best DMC battle I’ve seen in San Antonio - ever! The night kicked off with DJ Manila Ice playing a thoroughly entertaining set that was so eclectic that you would have thought 3 DJs had been taking turns partyrocking.


Registered for the battle were:


DJ Donnie Dee – San Antonio TX – Trendsetter DJs
The Don Santos – Houston TX – Ill Faded Prod. & Table Vision
Tee Wax – Phoenix AZ
DJ La.D.Da – Austin TX  - BumSquad DJs
DJ Techneek aka Lordmeems – Kirby TX - Prhymemates
717 – San Antonio TX
DJ Trouble – Austin/San Antonio  TX
DJ Frank-Dux– Amarillo TX
DJ Spanx – San Antonio TX – San Antonio Master Mixers
DJ Vicious – San Antonio TX – Texas Skratch Massacres

Judges include none other than DJ Total Eclipse (X-ecutioners), DJ Enfoe (2005 Vestax No Tricks Champion) and Manila Ice! Resident US Champ: DJ Kico had a gig that night – we were so bummed that he had to miss this momentous occasion!


Word on the street was that former DMC US Finalist, DJ Donnie Dee was returning to the battle. I don’t know if it was out there like that – I didn’t tell anyone - but the other DJs definitely stepped up their game since last year. DJ after DJ smoked their 2 minute sets. Frank-Dux  even got theatrical with a big bad wolf mask.  Seriously, Frank-Dux better keep battling because he has something special to bring to the 1 and 2s! Hometown hero, 717, too, though he didn’t place in the top 3 this year, he is definitely on my unofficial “TX Battle DJs to Watch Out For” list!


PopMaster Fabel (VP of the Rock Steady Crew) filled in as host and did a great job! He gave respect women in Hip Hop speeches, had the crowd chuckling, felt like I was in my living room with him on the mic LOL.
I never saw DJ Donnie Dee battle before but he is an amazing party rocker as well as a super cool host. I knew he followed the DMC battles closely and anytime I gave him a dvd, he went home and watched it right away. He party rocked at the DMC US Finals in 2011 and was invited to judge. Maybe that battle, the best in years (buy the dvd dammit) was the one, filled with many champs returning to the battleground, that convinced him to make that return. Whatever inspired him, he delivered the most awesomely unique 2 min. and 6 min. sets. I just don’t think I have ever seen anyone put routines together quite like he did for this battle. We always talk about bringing the Funk back into the battle – after a time when it got really technical and un-funky – well Donnie might be able to run for president on the “Bring the Funk Back” campaign! Can’t wait to see what DJ Donnie from San Antonio does at the 2012 DMC US Finals on Aug. 4 at Le Poisson Rouge NYC. (Teaser Alert! Maybe he will even enter that other big DJ battle that weekend – to be announced)

Just something to note: Most DJs were using the Rane TTM 57 mixer and only 2 or 3 used the Rane 56S.


So at the end of the elimination round, we saw the judges individual rankings 1st through 6th – (1st place gets 6 points. 2nd gets 5 points. 3rd gets 4 points. 4th gets 3 points. 5th gets 2 points and 6th = 1 point.  While DJ Enfoe showcased, we tallied up the scores:


DJ Donnie Dee: 6 + 6 + 6 = 18
DJ Vicious: 5 + 5 + 5 = 15
The Don Santos: 2 + 4 + 4 = 10
717:   4 + 3 + 2 =  9
DJ Frank-Dux: 3 + 2 + 1 = 6
DJ La.D.Da = 1 + 3 = 4
DJ Techneek: 1




That being said: worthy competitor, DJ Techneek placed 7th in the Elims and did not get to advance to the top 6.  DJ La.D.Da, taking the 6th position went first in the 2012 DMC San Antonio DJ Finals followed by DJ Frank-Dux, 717, The Don Santos, DJ Vicious and lastly, DJ Donnie Dee.


It was a really hot Top 6 and it was good to see DJs who battled in DMC San Antonio DJ Battles since 2009 placing in the Top 3 – basically a graduating class – proving that battle experience is hard to come by but if you keep practicing, never giving up, you will go far with it!
DJ Total Eclipse rocked an awe inspiring set after the Finals but before winners were announced.  My favorite was his Oh Micky (Toni Basil) beat juggle! So hot! I hope he films it and we can send it to Toni!

Below you will find the judges finals scores after the finals:
[1st = 3 points.  2nd = 2 points.  3rd = 1 point]


1st: DJ Donnie Dee: 3 + 3 + 3 = 9 points
2nd: The Don Santos: 1 + 2 + 2 = 5 points
3rd: DJ Vicious: 2 + 1 = 3 points
4th: 717: 1 point


Congrats to The Don Santos and DJ Vicious for their practice and persistence! They were better than ever this year and I hope they either join any of the upcoming battles or come back again next year!


Thanks to Gibson/Stanton reps Robert and Mac for coming through. It’s very cool to see how excited Gibson is (since acquiring Stanton) about the DMC DJ Battles that they are sponsoring. We had the Stanton STR8.150 turntables set up for DJs to get their hands on. Anyone can try them in New Orleans on April 1st @ The Republic.  Thanks to DJ School  - Dub Academy for supplying the turntables for the battle and for looking out for the Stanton coffin and not letting anyone walk off with it!!

Thanks to promoter Mia of Mia Ent. for putting the battle together and helping to keep the DJ battle scene jumping in SATX. I know other cities in TX are trying to get the DMC  to visit them instead – but we are a loyal crew – SATX was bringing DMC battles in, since 09 – when the scene was struggling to get recognition – we gotta stick with who was down when we were feeling down! So happy that we are making a big exciting comeback. 2012 should be better than 08, 09, 10 & 11 combined – and only get better, God willing, for years to come. Find us next year in San Antonio if they invite us back!!




Prizes for the 2012 DMC San Antionio Regional DJ Battle included


1^st Place:  Donnie Dee won:
The Rane Sixty One Mixer ($1799)
Stanton: Cartridge: SM v3 MP4 plus Uberstand and DJ Pro 2000 Headphones
Shure SRH550DJ Headphones
$75 Gift Certificate from 12 Inch Skinz


2^nd Place: The Don Santos won:
Stanton DJ Pro 2000 Headphones
Shure Record Bag
$75 Gift Certificate from 12 Inch Skinz


3^rd Place: Stanton Black Uberstand
Shure Reverb T-Shirt
$75 Gift Certificate from 12 Inch Skinz




DMC SATX Sponsors for 2012 include:
Rane
Serato
Stanton
Purely Rooted
Dub Academy
QBS Graphics
12 Inch Skinz
Scratch DJ Academy
Shure
HipHopDX.com
IDJNow
TurntablistNetwork.com
Skratchworx.com
Dubspot DJ & Production School


Vendors
Million Monkey Clothing
Face of Fame Clothing