For the battling DJ, competition is at an all-time high. With the current proliferation of turntablism in the mainstream, it’s no surprise that there are more big DJ battles than there were several years ago. This year, on top of the well-known D.M.C. World DJ Championships, we’ve seen other large-scale, corporate-sponsored DJ competitions such as the Kool Mix Battle and the Guitar Center Spinoff. The 2002 DJ battle season ended with a bang, with the I.T.F. World Championships and the Vestax Turntablist Extravaganza World Finals in November, and the Allies All-Star Beatdown World Finals both his month, December.

This year’s I.T.F. World Championships were held in Munich, Germany on November 16. The Advancement Class competition featured the 2001 I.T.F. runner-up DJ Kodh from France defending the world title, as 2001 Champion DJ Woody (Table Gimps, UK) did not defend this year. Facing DJ Kodh in the final round was the U.S.A.’s I-Emerge (5th Platoon). In a close battle, DJ Kodh came out the 2002 World Champion. I-Emerge came out the champ in the Scratching category, after facing France’s DJ Netik (2002 DMC World Supremacy Champion), and Ritchie Rufftone (Table Gimps, UK). France won another championship in the Beat Juggling category - DJ Troubl beat defending champion Jr. Flo (Funky Teknicianz, Canada) and Kiko (Platter Pirates, U.S.A.). In the Team category, the Nocturnal Sounds crew (U.S.A.) successfully defended their world title, facing competition from Killa Tactics (Belgium) and Impy’s Pizza (U.S.A.).

The Vestax Turntablist Extravaganza World Final 2002 was held in London, England on November 21. Thirteen DJs from around the world competed for thousands of dollars worth of cash and prizes. Among the competitors were the U.S.A.’s Lenn Swann (the 2002 Guitar Center Champion), Canada’s DJ Dopey (Turntable Monks), and Germany’s Man-At-Arms. The UK’s DJ Woody won the competition, with Japan’s DJ Taiji following as runner up.

This year’s tremendous battle season ended with what is perhaps the ultimate DJ battle, the Allies All-Star Beatdown World Finals—created and judged by the Allies, some of the most successful battle DJs in history. The world’s best battle djs were selected and invited to battle in three regional championships around the globe. The best of those DJs made it to the World Finals, held at Irving Plaza in New York on December 10. Eight djs competed for over $10,000 in cash and prizes, a lifetime royalty deal from sales of the battle video, and the World Championship title. Battling were Precision (Lo Lives, U.S.A.), Solution (Nocturnal Sounds, U.S.A.), Perseus (Turntable Technicians, U.S.A.), Netik (France), Troubl (France), Gimamen (Switzerland), and P-Money (New Zealand). Canada’s DJ Dopey defended his 2001 title. France’s DJ Troubl continued his successful battling year, winning the Beatdown championship. He faced tough competition each round - the U.S. Champion Precision, the European Champion Netik, and ended by facing the defending champion DJ Dopey in the final round.

For more information, check www.allstarbeatdown.com.

— djpone@89skratch.com