There are only a handful of DJ’s keeping the torch of “old school” hip-hop burning, and DJ Chicano (簡光廷, Chien Kuang-ting), the 01’Vestax DJ Champion, is one of them.
“DJ’s were originally from the street in the 70’s when there were no computers or the Internet,” says Chicano.
In the hope of promoting an older style of vinyl deejaying, he decided to take hip-hop back to the street, organizing the afternoon street party Beat Square in Ximending.
Photo courtesy of Beat Square
Tomorrow is Beat Square’s second anniversary, and besides inviting guest DJs E-Turn, Vicar and Kid to play at an after-party, Chicano is planning a DJ competition called Show’em What you Got. He has even invited his mentor, DJ Ta-Shi, the 92’ DMC Japan Champion, to be his fellow judge.
And he has advice for competitors: “A DJ is someone who propagates information like a teacher. So before you get up there and convey your ideas, you have to expand your horizons. Your skills will be your weapons and the songs in your head will be the bullets!”
■ Beat Square’s DJ competition and showcase will take place tomorrow afternoon from 3pm to 6:30pm at Taipei City Cinema Park (台北市電影主題公園) in Ximending, 19, Kangding Rd, Taipei City (台北市康定路19號). Admission is free.
■ The afterparty featuring DJ Ta-Shi, DJ Chicano, and DJ Booyaa is from 11pm to 4am at Muse, 12F, 138, Bade Rd, Taipei City (台北市八德路四段138號12樓). Admission for guys is NT$800 and gals is NT$400. On the net: blog.roodo.com/djchicano
Korner, a new venue catering to those who aren’t into mainstream clubbing but love to dance, opened in Taipei earlier this month, and word has it that there has already been some hot nights. Though there’s not much seating, Korner is spacious enough to accommodate up to 100 people dancing at the same time and boasts some great visual art.
DJ@allenblow of Taimaica Sound System (台買加環繞音效) and DJ ZO will be throwing down some reggae and dub tunes there tomorrow.
■ Tomorrow from 11:30pm to 3:30am. Add: B1, 200, Sec 4, Roosevelt Rd, Taipei (台北市羅斯福路四段200號B1). Admission is NT$100.
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