DMC 2008: The Toronto Eliminations
The Toronto elimination round of the 2008 DMC DJ Championships, took place on Saturday night. Presented by REMG entertainment, the turntablist showdown was and held as part of the Wakestock Boarder's Bash, at the Sound Academy.
The pairing of the DJ battle, with the Wakestock afterparty didn't mesh so well. It seemed that partygoers were much more interested in the events happening outside at the Polson Pier Cabana - a bikini contest and inflatable gladiator games. When the majority of your attendees are 20 year-old, male, extreme sports enthusiasts; it's hard to get their attention on the DMC competition, which started at 10 o'clock in the mostly empty main room.
Eight DJ's competed this year for the opportunity to represent Toronto at the DMC Canada Championships to be held in Quebec City on September 13th. The Canadian winner will move on to compete at the DMC World Championships in London, England on September 26th and 27th, 2008.
The eight competitors were:
DJ T-Lo
Tronix
DJ MaSkillz
DJ Arsenal
DJ How High
DJ Miich
DJ Snare
E-Flip
Each DJ had six minutes to impress the judges, a mix of Toronto's Hip Hop movers and shakers, including Now magazine's Addi Stewart, and from CKLN 88.1 FM's, Mix-tape Massacre show, host Bryce Seefieldt (aka Seven30). With two set-ups for the DJs to use, the competition moved along quite quickly.
When the head-to-head battle was finished, the judges only took about twenty minutes to reach their decision. The host for the night, Bozack Morris, called all the DJ's back up to the stage for the results. First place was awarded to DJ T-Lo, second went to DJ Arsenal and third was last year's Toronto champ E-Flip.
The night started with a sparse crowd, but by the time announcement of the winner rolled around the main room of the massive complex was quite full. Next year I hope this competition can be done as a stand-alone event, as most people there didn't seem to really care about the DJ battle. They were way too interested in following the bikini-clad girls around, to get their photo taken with them.
Photos by HargraftPhotography
Comments (5)
Ever been to one? They're awesome. I went to last year's Canadian final in Toronto and had a blast.
These DMC battles are flippin awesome and there is a HUGE crowd of fans in Toronto - the problem is they are rarely advertised and often paired with unsuitable events. I think just b/c Rza and Gza were at wakestock, some idiot promoter thought - hey, DJ music! lol... I went to the battle at the Opera House in 2006 and it was absolutely PACKED!
Keep your eyes peeled for all DMC qualifiers/finals, turntablism fans :)
DMC's are amazing...Stan!
I was pretty dissapointed at the fact that the DMC's were held very poorly this year in Toronto...Especially getting hit with $20 at the door, and a rushed national supremecy battle...
I thought that DJ TLO won that battle!! Fair and sqaure!!! Personally, I think he was straight up robbed!!! But I guess the judges saw something that I didn't in between Shub's consistant same sounding sets....It was a great battle none the less, and all the best to Shub at the worlds...Dude has tallent...TLO is still the people's champ tho...Melodic routines, with various genres of music, dope disses, which were personal by the way!!! (Which NO OTHER DJ HAD)and nasty cuts and sets....This is just my personal opinion, Im sure others have their own...I might go and watch DJ Teelo at the finals in Quebec, because truthfully, I became a fan after watching that battle, and wanted one of those awesome T-Shirts that he's wearing in the picture above! My hate goes off to Teelo...
And to all of the other DJ's competing in the battles...Keep the culture alive and well, despite Stan and his friends!
Anyhow, hopefully Toronto puts on better events next year so that people can actually come out and support their own local musicians...Turntablists that is...
peace
Yo I thought the championships this year were sick. I agree we need to support the artistry of DJ's. Speakin of which, Bacardi has a lounge/ tent set up at V fest and are bringing in hot local AND international DJs to spin.
Headlining they got...Moby, Flosstradamus, Deadmau5, Lee Burridge, Switch and SebastiAn. gonna be dope collaborations.
Its free to if u already have vfest tix.
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