DMC NZ DJ Battle Final

28th August, Galatos, Auckland. It was a strange night, the weather shifting like recent divorcees and local authorities combing K' Rd as if it were their mother's prize winning terrier. No wonder the hip hop youth of Auckland were packing into Galatos so quickly!

Each battle season we see our DJs' skills evolve, alongside the growing popularity of hip hop, and the imaginative, boundless minds of our homegrown turntablists.

The annual DMC World Championships was set up in 1986 by DMC UK, and involves up to 30 countries, with each national champion eligible to compete for the world title in London.

With 11 finalist competitors from all over the country, including current northern ITF champion CXL, and reigning NZ DMC champ Manchoo, the crowd were here to celebrate and appreciate the artform.

A showcase of skill and style best defines the format of this competition, rather than a battle. Each entrant provides their own needles and vinyl and has six minutes to display their talent.

The first two tablists up were first time finalist DJ Native Style of Christchurch, and Cork Collins from Wellington. Collins' mixed tempo beat juggles and range of tracks really shone through.
 
Continuing the rotation were Scratch 22 from Auckland's North Shore, who has been battling for the last two years, and Phatmospheric, a veteran of Auckland's DJ scene. This was quite a tight battle with 22's technical set gaining the crowd's respect.

Case was next to go toe to toe with Tokoroa's DJ Smoove, and Case kicked two beat juggles and two scratch repertoires. Smoove fought back with a dope Wu Tang sample to set things off, then a juggle and scratch followed by a single table beat scratch to juggle- a very impressive set.

The second to last battle was hot, between Hastings' DJ Abbott and Auckland's Manchoo who had both competed in these finals in previous years. Abbott opened things up with an old, 'You ain't seen nothin' yet' B.T.O record which the crowd enjoyed.

His set including some dope scratching and beat juggling and Manchoo was set a high bar. Starting off with a seemingly simple, but definitely difficult repertoire, Manchoo moved to a more technical style after two minutes, making him (to me), the front runner thus far.

CXL and Goosh were the final pairing, Goosh, first to step to the plate with a set consisting mainly of juggles, amazed the crowd when he stopped the turntables and scratched in time. CXL's six minutes were incredibly consistent, with text book juggles and scratches gaining huge crowd support, and finishing up with an accapella scratch which stayed in beat until the clock's second hand stopped ticking.

The competition was judged by FootSouljah member DJ Raw, Militia, Reese B, Reminisce and P Money (who placed third in 2001's DMC World Championships).

The scoring is based on overall technique, skills and tricks, beat juggling, running mixes, originality and crowd reaction, the judges ranking their favorite three.

To receive the DMC National Champions jacket is a much coveted accolade and with a total of 11 points, this was to be the year of CXL. On fire this season after winning the ITF Northern Regionals, the veteran will be a dangerous force in the ITF National Final at this year's Hip Hop Summit in Auckland. Second place went to Manchoo with nine points and third equal were Smoove and Abbott with five.

CXL then headed to London for the World Title on the 13th and 14th of September. He made the final round of the World Champs, but didn't place - no matter, NZ is continuing to carve its name on hip hop's world stage!