West Coast, here I come. I’ll have prescription sunglasses ready and everything.
First up, I getting wicky wicky: judging and showcasing at DMC Denver on May 11 at Casselmans. Facebook event HERE.
Then Sunday, I’m very pumped to play at the seminal SMOG SUNDAYS party at Dim Mak studios w/ an awesome lineup. Facebook event HERE.
I’m spending Tuesday right by da Bay. San Francisco, bwoy! Tuesday May 15 @ Som Bar, San Fran. Facebook event HERE.
Earning some frequent flier miles this weekend.
Friday 3/30, I’m in LA with the BWOMP! crew @ The Terrace (Pasadena). Facebook event HERE.
Sunday 4/1, I’m in the land of Po Boys: New Orleans. I’ll be judging the DMC NOLA Regional and then playing a Red Bull Music Academy after party @ Republic. Facebook event HERE.
Check out my homie I-Dee’s 2011 DMC 6 Minute routine. The set earned him 2nd place in the highly contested 2011 DMC USA Finals.
Good luck to Vajra representing the USA this weekend in the 2011 DMC World Finals in London. This will be my first time not attending the event in 5 years, but I know the USA is in good hands.
I’ll be picking 10 of my favorite tunes each week for the new DMC World Magazine. Peep the first installment here with a bonus interview. I’m calling the column Shiftee’s Picks.
The DMC US Finals are going down this Saturday at Santos Party House in NYC, 2pm-8pm. ALL AGES, so bring the kiddies. I can personally attest that this is the strongest field DMC USA has seen in at least 7-8 years. Tons of former champs and contenders including my homies Precision & I-Dee. Bad boy Vajra is also vying for the crown.
Oh right, and I’m showcasing too, along with DJ Woody’s amazing Turntables in Technicolor and Mista B.
Turntable Lab Radio invited myself & other scratch enthusiasts to throw down a good ol’ fashioned Ahhhh session and discuss scratch issues facing the modern turntablist. Rafik (Germany), R-Ash (France), Excess (NYC), and Spictakular (Jersey!) were all in da house. Grab the full episode HERE and peep some of the scratch madness below:
Turntable Lab Radio 003: All-Star Scratch Session by turntablelab
Shouts to Snack & Cmish for bringing us on. The invite was especially cool for me since I used to check Turntable Lab daily for the latest scratch records and battle videos when I was first coming up. I think I’ve got every DMC, ITF, instructional VHS tape they ever stocked.
Here it is: The Golden Years, my time-traveling journey through DMC history. This video is a tribute to all the incredible DJ Champions from DMC’s glorious past. I’ve spent countless hours over the years studying masters like Roc Raida, Q-bert, Craze, and A-Trak. My goal: to one day stand in their shoes. Literally…
Directed/Produced by John Carluccio (http://cinqua.com, http://battlesounds.com)
Sponsored by Dubspot DJ/Production School
Shout out to the new 2010 DMC World Champion: DJ LigOne from France!
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PRAISE FOR “THE GOLDEN YEARS”
“If you ever wondered why a few human beings become DMC World Champions, it’s because the creative side of their brains work differently than everyone else’s. Shiftee’s brain remains in a class of it’s own as he invites his World Champion forefathers to join him on stage to share his 2009 set without one of them so much as leaving their home!
This is up there with David’s human spin as one of the most memorable events in DMC history.”
- Tony Prince, DMC Founder
“YOU ARE CRAZY!!!! THAT NEW ONE ISSSSS CRAZY!! HAHAHA …. IM STILL LAUGHING!!”
- Craze, 1998/1999/2000 DMC World Champion
“Shiftee killed it, what an original idea. Brings back great memories. But also, the routine is ill! RIP Roc Raida.”
- A-Trak, 1997 DMC World Champion
“I love originality, that’s why I love DJ Shiftee and this video.”
- Q-Bert, 1992/1993/1994 DMC World Champion
“I haven’t been entertained like this in quite a while. The styles, personalities, and energy are all there in great detail and accuracy!”
- Cutmaster Swift, 1989 DMC World Champion
“A DMC World winning set as you have never seen one before! I laughed out loud, got goose bumps and smiled like a Cheshire cat throughout this INCREDIBLE video. “
- Sally Mclintock, DMC World Events Manager
“WHOOOAAAA!!!! Shiftee just turned the game upside down again! This is truly a gift to the entire battle scene.”
- DJ Solo, 2010 DMC USA Supremacy Champion
“John Carluccio is a genius and DJ Shiftee is one funny & brilliant DMC World Champion!”
- Christie Z-Pabon, DMC USA/Tools of War
“Shiftee educates the YouTube generation on Turntablism while cementing his own legacy in superb fashion.”
- DJ I-Dee, 2005 DMC USA Supremacy Champion
“It is a genius idea, but what’s dope about it is that Shiftee respects and loves his craft and this video proves it 100 percent!!!!!”
- Boogie Blind, 2001 Vestax World Champion, X-Ecutioners
As you may have noticed, every “Golden Years champion profile” has been of a DMC World Champion . . . except for Swamp. Why Swamp? Aside from the fact that he’s an incredible DJ, I think the reasons for the inclusion will become clear once you see the video 
.
Nevertheless, there have been soooooooooo (ten “o”‘s) many fantastic DMC World sets over the years that didn’t take the main title. Here are 3 of my biased personal favorites (in no particular order).
P-Trix (USA), 1999
Klever (USA), 2001
Klever (USA) – 2001 World DJ Championships
Alladin (USA), 1989
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“The Golden Years” premieres at the 2010 DMC World Championships on Monday, October 18th – KOKO, London.
Internet release: October 20th.
Kentaro, the 2002 DMC World Champion out of Japan, is one of the dopest DMC champs out there. His winning set is a masterpiece, packed with originality, a plethora of intricate beat juggle patterns, next level loop/needle drop routines, and a massively impactful finale.
Check out this ridiculous routine from his 2001 DMC set:
One thing I love about Kentaro is he has kept turntablism at the forefront of his post-DMC career. His incredible, multi-turntable live sets are very much extended turntablist sets. For example:
He’s even jamming with traditional Japanese instruments:
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“The Golden Years” premieres at the 2010 DMC World Championships on Monday, October 18th – KOKO, London.
Internet release: October 20th.
