Canada's own A-Trak has a new official video out, and it's from a recent single called "We All Fall Down" featuring Jamie Lidell. If you're in the mood for some light viewing to set up your NBA All-Star weekend right, then sit back and enjoy this video.
A-Trak talked about the art of DJ'ing and how it's evolved over the years through his own personal experiences, a must-read:
"There's a lot of talk lately about what DJing is becoming. I've seen it evolve a lot over the years. I started DJing when I was 13, scratching vinyl and playing strictly hip hop, winning championships. The DMC judges thought I was pretty good at it, but think my definition was narrow back then. I remember when my aunts and uncles found out I was a DJ they assumed I was the guy talking on the radio. So to define who we were, we called ourselves turntablists. We wanted legitimacy. As I grew up I got into more sides of the craft. Party-rocking and mastering different musical genres. In the early 2000's I was Serato's very first endorsee. I remember talking to Jazzy Jeff and AM about Serato: was it stable enough? We also had to convert all our music. DJing was becoming digital. Then Kanye hired me to tour with him, because he learned how to perform from Common and Kweli who had real DJs too - shout out to Dummy & Ruckus. We went on an Usher tour and Kanye wanted me to bust solos. My routines were too specialized so I had to make new ones that this new audience would understand. I started seeing the bigger picture. Then I got into electronic music. I remember seeing Mehdi, Boys Noize, Feadz playing on CDJs and thinking: these guys are turntablists too. Surkin was the first guy I saw DJ on Ableton in a way that felt like true DJing too. Now there's a whole new cast in electronic music, and it's still exciting to me. I've seen a lot of fads come and go over the years. And I don't think my way of DJing is the only way. I wish I could also play like Carl Cox and DJ Harvey too. But I have my style and it's my passion. I love standing for something that means something, as Pharcyde would say. When you come to my show you know you'll see me cut. And take risks. DJing is about taking risks. I represent #RealDJing #YouKnowTheDifference"
(Copy-pasted from Instagram)
(VIA @MrRagerx)
This is a must-watch as Duck Sauce's first single off of the new album called "NRG" get its own official video, huge tune:
If you actually call the NRG hotline at 1-844-674-3825, you'll hear a special message. Brilliant move.
(VIA Lessthan3)
Red Bull has a special week planned next week surrounding the 2013 World DJ Championships to be held in Toronto. 21 DJs from around the world, including the current Canadian Champion Adam Doubleyou, will each be given 15 minutes to impress the judges where ultimately 5 finalists will be invited to the Nov 9th finale at the Kool Haus to decide this year's champion. The judges for this year's competition include Canada’s own Skratch Bastid, Grandtheft and Kid Koala as well as international musical tastemakers Jazzy Jeff and Jess Jubilee.
Here's the full schedule surrounding this year's World DJ Championships in Toronto:
Monday, November 4 - Welcome Day
5:00 pm
Competitor draft
Thompson Hotel Lobby Bar - 550 Wellington St W, Toronto, ON M5V 2V4
NBA-style draft, all 21 DJs draw and time slot of performance. Interview opportunities with all 21 international DJs. All international bios can be found at
www.redbullthre3style.com/djsNightly Performances:
9:00 pm
Surprise opening night guests
The Drake Underground - 1150 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M6J 1J3
Tuesday, November 5 - Day 1
Daily Events:Panel and Q&A session with Toronto Music mainstay and veteran DJ Denise Benson
The History of Music in Toronto
The Thompson Hotel, 1812 Lounge - 550 Wellington St W, Toronto, ON M5V 2V4
Kid Koala, Shortkut and Turnstylez, six international DJ competitors
Adelaide Hall, located at 250 Adelaide St. West, Toronto, ON (Update)
Tickets are $10. Click here to purchase tickets.
Wednesday, November 6 - Day 2
Panel and Q&A session with DJ Jazzy Jeff
The History of DJ Gear, hosted by My Man HenriThe Thompson Hotel, 1812 Lounge - 550 Wellington St W, Toronto, ON M5V 2V4
Jazzy Jeff, Skratch Bastid, Starting from Scratch, Four Color Zack, Hedspin + special guests, five international DJ competitors
Virgin Mobile Mod Club - 722 College St Toronto, ON M6G 1C5
Tickets are $10. Click here to purchase now.
Thursday, November 7 - Day 3
Daily Events:Panel and Q&A session with A-Trak
Mixer to Mogul, hosted by My Man HenriThe Thompson Hotel, 1812 Lounge - 550 Wellington St W, Toronto, ON M5V 2V4
A-Trak, Smalltown DJs, Torro Torro + special guests
The Hoxton - 69 Bathurst St, Toronto, ON M5V 1M5
Tickets are $15. Click here to purchase now.
Friday, November 8 - Day 4
Nightly Performances:
8:00 pm
Ali Shaheed Muhammad (A Tribe Called Quest) VS Maseo (De La Soul), Cosmo Baker, Numeric + special guests, five international DJ competitors
Danforth Music Hall - 147 Danforth Ave, Toronto, Ontario M4K 1N2
Tickets are $28.50. Click here to purchase now.
Kool Haus - 132 Queens Quay E, Toronto, ON M5A 1B6
Tickets are $16.50. Click here to purchase now.
