Wednesday, June 14, 2000
The University Daily Kansan
Section B · Page 3
DJs transform Lawrence into hip-hop mecca
Scott Lowe Jr.
writel@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Saturday night, Lawrence was a disk jockey battleground and the center of the hip-hop universe.
Liberty Hall, 642 Massachusetts St., played host to the 2000 Technics/DMC Lawrence Heat. The Lawrence Heat was a regional battle in Dance Mixers Club's "Battle for World Supremacy 2000," which determines the best DJ in the world.
DMC is a New York promotion group responsible for the competition. Sixty of the best DJs in the country came to Lawrence trying to advance to the next round.
Lawrence was the only small city to host a competition. Other cities included Chicago, Cleveland, Atlanta, San Francisco, Dallas, and Washington. D.C. Bill Pile, Avalanche Promotions in Lawrence, was responsible for
bringing in the competition for the third consecutive year.
"It was very tough during that first year," Pile said. "We had to convince DMC that the Midwest had the talent to compete, and Lawrence is a good, central location."
Pile, who is a DJ, took the initiative and made connections with other promoters.
"I just knew that people would put this together." Pile said. "And tonight we have a good turnout and great talent."
The competing DJs are more accurately known as battle DJs or turntableists. The object is to use the turntable as an instrument, mixing beats to create new sounds.
Points were given for originality, sound, style and execution. DJ Roi Rho from The Bronx, N.Y., was one of the judges and a three-time U.S. finalist.
"I judge on originality, skill and being on point," he said. "Different
states have different skills and pride that they bring to the table, but you never steal someone else's style."
For Roli Rho, and many others with DMC, this was their first time in the Midwest
"Lawrence is cool," he said. "I came out here hoping to see some tornadoes, but the battle blew me away."
About 300 attended the competition. Many of them came to support their friends and the local music scene.
Andy Atkinson, Lawrence resident, is a local DJ who goes by the name of Teikleness. He said he came out to support the craft.
Atkinson said he played at local parties, and was wowed by the level of talent present on Saturday.
"It's important to support the local DJ scene," Atkinson said. "Lots of people don't know about the music reputation of Lawrence and Kansas City."
"I didn't compete because I don't want to embarrass myself," he said.
Last year's winner of the Kansas Heat, DJP, finished second. DJP, whose real name is Danny Phillips, from Springfield, Mo., said the art of mixing meant more to him than winning.
"It's all about having fun and rocking a party," he said. "I'm not very technical like the other competitors, but I love to be creative and do unexpected things."
One of the stars of the evening was Grandmaster Caz, host of the competition. Caz has been a DJ and producer for 26 years—which dates him back to hip-hop's infancy. Caz amazed the crowd with his knowledge of hip-hop history. He is a member of DMC's DJ Hall of Fame, and has lived through the evolution of rap.
During breaks, Caz quizzed the crowd about rap history trivia, and was impressed by their knowledge.
"I'm a purist and hip-hop is my baby." Caz said, "It's not just music, but culture."
"I can't believe it; all I wanted to do was to make the top six," he said. "I want to see the look on my crew's faces when I get back."
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By the time the evening round started at 8 p.m. the field of 60 was down to 25. When the dust settled at 12:30 a.m., 18-year-old Malik Crippen had won a trip to the East Coast finals on July 19. Crippen, an Atlantic City, N.J., resident who called himself Da Gambit was more surprised about his win than anyone else.
Crippen will be one of 16 JDs competing in the finals. Crippen also won a sound mixer and other DJ equipment. The winner of the East Coast finals advances to the World Championships in London.
Edited by BriAnne Hess
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