Tables still turnin’

Last Friday, Sept. 7, the 2007 DMC Battle for Canadian Supremacy went down at les Saints, and featured 10 hungry turntablists representing Vancouver to Halifax. The DMC Battle for Canadian Supremacy is conducted in the tradition of the classic, old-school, head-to-head battles, where two DJs battle against each other, and the winner advances to the next round. When the dust had settled, the final round found Fort Erie’s DJ Shub facing Toronto’s DJ TLO, and the latter did not disappoint. DJ TLO will now go on to represent Canada at the 2007 DMC Battle for World Supremacy on Oct. 6 in London, England. It should be noted that DJ Shub took the 2007 DMC Canada DJ Championship title back on Aug.10 at an event held in Toronto, and will also be representing Canada at the 2007 DMC World Finals, also happening in London on Oct. 6.

Speaking of what we thought was becoming the lost art of turntablism in Montreal, Mix Master Mike steps out from behind Beastie Boys on Thursday, Sept. 20, to rock a party over at Club 1234. This guy has always been the craziest party DJ, employing all of his turntablist skills and his uncanny extraterrestrial senses to make shit pop. Apparently, there might be some guests in the place as well, so you know what that could mean. Doors are at 10 p.m.

In keeping with the deck-wreckers theme, you should probably know that our own gang of organized confusion now boasts turntablist radio every Tuesday afternoon from 3–5 p.m. on CKUT 90.3FM. That’s right, the Microtone Kitchen crew will be playing everything from hip hop to jazz, as well as interviewing local and Canadian artists on air, for their show Microtone Kitchen/12” Spinners Radio. DJs Mana, Killa Jewel, Praiz, Midas and special guests will be in the place every single Tuesday, so tune in.

Montreal hip hop secret Specifics just released their second album, Specifics II, on iTunes on Sept. 7. Producer Think Twice and MC Golden Boy are still enjoying the fruits of a Japanese record deal, but I’d love to see these guys get some love right here at home for once. Check out www.myspace.com/specifics for a taste of what you’re missing.

On Saturday, Montreal welcomes Chicago house icon DJ Diz to Academy for a sweaty night on the dancefloor. Diz has held down residencies at legendary Chicago spots like Shelter and Red Dog, and has produced records with his partner Iz for labels like Classic, Aesoteric, Guidance and Panhandle. Hometown boy DJ Dav is set to drop an opening set for this $15 party.

Looks like independent hip hop label ICM Records is closing its doors after four years of releases, events and music. ICM solidified themselves as Quebec’s most recognizable English-speaking hip hop collective with a roster that included Eye 2 Eye, Meta4ce, Memo, DJ Twitch, DJ Mana and Velvet Trench Vibes. While the label has folded, look for new releases from all of these artists in the near future.

November she said... fathead@videotron.ca