Over the course of the next month, FSD will be bringing you exclusive content from VH1′s new hit series, SMIRNOFF’s Master of The Mix. The show pits the top DJs from around the country against each other to find out exactly who is the master of the mix. The DJs will perform in a packed club in Miami in front of an esteemed panel of judges including Mia Moretti, Kid Capri and Ben Maddahi.
Fake Shore Drive will be bringing you weekly recaps of SMIRNOFF’s MOTM episodes, as well as exclusive playlists, interviews and content from the program. We’ve also been paired with a DJ from the MOTM, with FSD repping the work of DJ Dynamix. Hit the jump for a review of episode seven.
Master of the Mix airs every Monday at 11PM CST/12AM EST on VH1
With technology so easily accessible to any and everyone these days, the barriers of becoming a DJ have been broken down significantly. Anyone with Serato and a working mouse button can now become an overnight DJ (DJ Point and Click?) But not to knock them, because some song selectors are very dope, but MOTM is more technical than that, and this challenge set out to highlight pure skill.
Week seven’s challenge was all about genre-bending techniques and boundary-pushing skills. The more unique the better. The most original the best. The title? Event or Get Sent. Get it? But before the competition could start, Tina, who was eliminated last week, was brought back to redeem herself. The judges believed her elimination was based more on her partners screw ups instead of hers, so they tossed her a lifeline. She had to enter into a beat juggling and scratching contest with the contestant of her choice. She obviously chose the weakest link — that being the always-on-the-chopping-block DJ Fly Guy. Tina’s redemption song was basically a fail, because Fly Guy blew her out of the water and she was sent packing yet again. It’s so hard to say goodbye?
Now that the early contest was out of the way, the DJs began to get their sets in order. Guest judge Lil Jon showed up to offer words of encouragement before the DJs got down to business. Here’s how each DJs sets broke down. But a few things before we get started:
*Every DJ seemed to use the same songs. Were they all supposed to include “T.R.O.Y.,” “Shimmy Shimmy Ya” and “I’m Different”? If so, I missed the memo.
**Was DJ Trentino from Chicago the first DJ to use that “I’m Different” piano trick? I first saw him do that in January at the Red Bull Threestyle — it ended up leading to him using the whole contest. He mixed that with Nas’ “I Can.” Did people see him do it first or is it that easy of a song to manipulate?
Jayceeoh started off his set by mixing in ODB (of course), and then using elements of “I’m Different” and “Hip-Hop” by Dead Prez. The judges were mildly impressed.
Loczi was up next and tried a few new things including rewinding a beat that he was scratching on the other table, and using tracks from Daft Punk, Busta Rhymes and of course “I’m Different.” The biggest curve ball was his use of “Kung Fu Fighting.” The judges weren’t feeling it.
[Click Below For Next Page]