RemixGalaxy Blog

Braving a steady rainfall and brisk autumn-like gusts, a devoted and notably diverse slew of hip-hop heads and party-hopping scenesters trekked out to last week’s RemixGalaxy Battle of the DJs. Hosting the sonic cage match was Bucktown’s exclusive, multi-tiered, bassfarm Ohm Nightlife. Featuring five bars, dynamite lighting, and stacks of bass-drenched, crisp-sounding speakers, the facilities definitely did not disappoint. Early bird attendees scored impressively rugged leather-finished 2GB jump drives loaded with exclusive tracks from George Clinton, Twista, Frankie Knuckles, Trax Records legend Screamin’ Rachael, and even a previously unreleased Tupac gem! Several attendees also got hooked up with two hours of free drinks. Still, it was the music that really made the night memorable.

As the metamorphosing music industry continues to head in unpredictable directions, RxG’s Battle of the DJs was an evident testament to the staying power of turntablism and the remix as an art form. Though DJs aren’t de rigueur in rap rock bands anymore and the golden age of hip hop has passed, there’s still plenty of these guys (and girls) out there. Garnering DJs from different neighborhoods who wield disparate styles, the night showed just how far one can stretch two turntables. Showing deft touch, craftsmanship, and pounds of bravado, contestants didn’t flinch a millimeter when exhibiting their styles. Even when partaking in some on-the-spot experimentalism, it was obvious each performer didn’t choose their style; it chose them.

There were many, many highlights to the night. However, a few of the sets really caught our ear. DJ DZL’s set of spazzy prog house dance jams proved to be very refreshing when it was pancaked in between some syrupy club rap sets. DJ Flame’s stout scratching and old-school hip hop cuts were so hot they caused global warming. DJ Lil John’s pseudo-reggaeton beats surprised the crowd, especially when he rolled out a Gwen Stefani jam right off the bat. DJ Traxman busted out some ferocious animal-sounding scratch skills that melded into old school hop, without headphones. Also, DJ Marat 14k’s palette-cleansing set of shuffling vibrations, gun poppin’, Voltron synth pop, and twinkling breakdowns, boomed without sounding hyperextended. Impressive stuff indeed.

The first battle may be over, but you can still vote to decide who advances to the Finals. If you haven’t already voted, head on over to the RxG site to check out the audio and video clips from the night. Then vote for your favorite DJ and send him to the finals where he’ll have a chance to win the $2500 Grand Prize! Most importantly, if you’re in the Chicago area, don’t miss the next round of scalding scratching and sampling going down on Thursday, October 8^th. Same place, same time. See you at Ohm Nightlife, 10 p.m. sharp!

RemixGalaxy.com is teaming up with Rockstar Energy Drink to bring the 2009 Battle of the DJs to Chicago. At least 24 of Chicago’s hottest DJs from a wide variety of genres will compete over 4 nights from August through October until we can crown the winner as Chicago’s best DJ! The title is more than just honorary. It comes with a grand prize of $2500. If you’re in the Windy City, you can catch the events live at Ohm Nightlife, located at 1958 W. North Ave. We’ll be giving away free USB jump drives and loads of Rockstar Energy Drinks. Even if you’re not in Chicago, you can still help choose the winner. After each of the first three rounds, audio and video of the performances will be posted in the online battle arena, where you’ll be able to watch, listen and cast your vote to help determine who advances to the Final Round. The preliminary rounds are scheduled for August 27, September 10 and September 24, 2009. The winners of those events will advance to the Finals, which is going to be a blowout party to be held on a soon-to-be-announced date in October. Join us if you can, and if you can’t be there, be sure to watch the online battle arena to cast your vote after each round.