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A twelve-week competition that will see up and coming DJs battle it out each week was launched on Tuesday.
The Smirnoff Battle of the Beats kicked off to pomp and glamour at Jikonis along Kiambu Road, with top DJs attending. The best of Kenya’s DJs showed up to begin the countdown to what would be the hunt for next big name in their art.
The three-month competition will see up and coming DJ prospects from across the country meet and battle it out on the decks each week to find the next big Kenyan entertainer.
The event was well attended, likely because the following day was a public holiday and, therefore, revellers could party into the wee hours.
Proceedings kicked off with the judges taking it down on the decks. DJs Mellow, Hypnotiq, Pierra Makena and Exclusive, who will be among the judges, were in the house.
Others included the veteran DJ Stylez, Fena Gitu and Fareed Khimani. The MC for the night was Point Blank Evumbi. DJ Tremor warmed up the set as the judges prepared for their set, and they did not disappoint.
The first on stage was DJ Hypnotiq who, according to many, was the best deejay of the night. DJ Mellow took to the decks next with her dancers and, with their well-choreographed dances, they brought the house down.
DJ Pierra came on shortly, followed by DJ Exclusive who also brought his A-game on as they were all given short sets to prove their mettle and, perhaps, show would-be contestants the standards they expect.
To participate, all interested DJs are required to attend the various auditions that will be held across the country, with the first one going down in Kisumu today at the Grand Royal Swiss Hotel. Other towns that will have auditions include Nakuru, Nyeri, Nairobi and Mombasa.
The judges will then settle on 20 contestants who will be put up in a TPF-like house from where they will be mentored by those in the industry, including the veterans who will visit them and give them tasks.
“Every generation has had their ultimate DJ and this is the premises to outline who’s-who in the sector. All the generations are represented on the decks but this generation is yet to come up with their best deejay,” said MC Point Blank.
With every task, there will be eliminations that will start with eight contestants going home on the first day, followed by two others every week until they remain with four finalists.
Between December 21 and 22, the four finalists will be whittled down in a two-day contest that will see a winner emerge. The winner will further try out his skill in a competition with a guest international DJ on the final day.
The one who emerges top in the Battle of the Beat will take home a full DJ kit, a laptop as well as a year-long contract with EABL among other prizes.
The first runners-up will take home similar prizes and a six-month contract while the second runners-up will be given a three-month contract.
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