What a great night for music. Last week we had Hockey, Bilal, Blu, Exile, Spinna, and more. And to finish it off, a NYC version of LA’s own Nightlife. Mr. Choc, Babu, J.Rocc, and Shortkut were on the decks bringing you there funky beats all night long. 

Thanks for coming out and playing with VTech. We hope you’ll keep it locked here as we have plenty more to bring you. More music, more events, more downloads. So check back with The Sounds of VTech as we bring you more exciting events in the weeks to come. An exclusive NIGHTLIFE CMJ Podcast is on the way!

This Friday, October 23rd, as CMJ slowly winds down, come and vibe to some music brought to you by some of the best from the West. NIGHTLIFE is in town and VTech and Beat Junkie Sound presents a special evening just for you. From LAX to JFK, Babu, J.Rocc, Mr. Choc and Shortkut are here to bring the So. Cal heat. So on Friday, though the weather might be cold outside, inside Sutra Lounge at 16 1st Ave., the Beat Junkies will be making it hot. Don’t get burned.

CMJ 2009 CMJ 2009 CMJ 2009

This year, VTech heads to CMJ in New York City where we’ll join forces with Bilal, Spinna, J. Rocc, Exile, Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, Thundercat, the Beat Junkies, Hockey and more,  bringing you the best in music.

We hope to see you all there.

Check back with The Sounds of VTech as we bring you more exclusive downloads, special events, parties and more.

VTech and the Beat Junkie Sound are back to present to you another episode in the NIGHTLIFE series. This month we bring you, special guests, the DA BEATMINERZ…

Far away in the distant land of New York, the phone rang. On one end, the Beat Junkies, the other, DJ Evil Dee and Mr. Walt. The conversation began… Beat Junkies:” You wanna come to LA for Nightlife? Da BeatMinerz: “Okay… ”  and so this episode of NIGHTLIFE begins. Tune in on September 11th, 2009 to find out how it ends.

Da BeatMinerz

It’s East Coast versus West Coast on September 11th at the Echoplex as the boys from Bushwick come to LA. But will they get “Bushwhacked” as they go up against J.Rocc, BABU, Melo, Choc, and Rhett? Let’s not go that far… It’s a friendly meeting of the minds, a melding of music. A guaranteed evening full of good energy and great music that will get your weekend started off right. We’ll see you there.

This past Friday, the party to be at was at the Echoplex as VTech and Beat Junkie Sound brought NIGHTLIFE back to L.A.

The warm evening weather and the promise of good music brought people out in droves to celebrate NIGHTLIFE with Pete Rock. A queue began to form before the venue doors had even opened. Once inside, DJ Babu and J.Rocc warmed up the tables as the audience began to take their positions around the stage with some die hard fans never moving. 

The music was bumping, the crowd dancing, and as Friday transitioned to Saturday, Pete Rock took the stage.  The magical touch of Soul Brother #1 was instant. The cheers and applause that greeted this arrival on stage continued throughout his whole set. And while Pete handled the mic, the decks and the crowd, unsuspecting guests began to gather. The musical talent that found their way backstage and on stage to watch him and partake in the NIGHTLIFE “May Birthday Celebration” was quite noteworthy. DJ Dez (Slum Village), Chali2na (Jurassic 5), DJ NuMark (Jurassic 5), DJ Dummy (Common), Madlib, OhNo, MED, Frank Nitty (Frank N Dank), Dudley Perkins, Dan Dalton (original creator of NIGHTLIFE), Houseshoes, Illa J, Nonstop,  and many more stopped by to say hello, give a birthday shout out, and enjoy a drink or two while nodding their heads in approval to the beats they heard. 

Here’s the first of a few exclusive video clips of the evening’s events. From sets with J.Rocc and Babu to Pete Rock and the two “Rocks/Roccs” (J.Rocc and Pete Rock) working it out on the one’s and two’s. 

It’s Wednesday. Just a few more days till the work week ends. Just a few more days till freedom. And as you wait for Friday to arrive, you should be spending this time eagerly pondering and anticipating what this weekend has in store for you. Hint: Something you can’t miss.

What better way to start of your weekend festivities than with NIGHTLIFE this Friday night at the EchoPlex. On May 8th, VTech and the Beat Junkie Sound Presents NIGHTLIFE with special guest DJ Pete Rock. Come out and enjoy good music with good friends and have a good time. It’s what NIGHTLIFE is all about. 

Established in 1992 by J-Rocc, the World Famous Beat Junkies is a Hip-Hop crew of DJs that include Rhettmatic, Melo-D, Shortkut, DJ Babu and Mr. Choc. They have traveled the world  and have won accolades and awards in DJ battles and competitions such as the DMC, the Supermen, the International Turntablist Federation and more. 

The Beat Junkies as a crew and individually have also been featured alongside artists such as Jurassic 5, The Visionaries, The Likwit Junkies with Defari, Phil Da Agony, Cypress HIll, Invisbl Skratch Piklz, and Dilated Peoples.

Beat Junkies Roll Call

J.Rocc

One of the original turntablists, J. Rocc founded the Beat Junkies in 1992 with Melo-D and Rhettmatic, but has done just as much on his own as in a group setting. He began DJing in the mid-’80s with a California group named PSK. Soon after forming, the Beat Junkies became a seminal force in the rise of instrumental hip-hop, including core member Babu plus future stars Shortkut and D-Styles. 

In addition to numerous mixtapes and his own production for Stones Throw releases, J. Rocc has been the DJ for Madlib’s live shows since the early 2000’s, was the 3rd member of Jaylib (Madlib & J Dilla) during the group’s live events, and collaborated with Madlib on Beat Konducta Vol. 5-6: A Tribute to J Dilla. 

Rhettmatic

DJ Rhettmatic (born Nazareth Nirza) is a member of the Beat Junkies DJ crew. Rhettmatic began his DJ career in 1983 with the DJ group Double Platinum, and was one of the founding members of Beat Junkie crew.

In 1995, Rhettmatic released an album with partner, KeyKool (MC/Producer), “Kozmonautz.” Key-Kool & Rhettmatic’s album is regarded as one of the first nationally recognized hip-hop albums by an Asian-American group, and received critical acclaim by notable hip-hop publications such as the Source Magazine, Rappages, Rap Sheet, URB Magazine.

In 1996, Rhettmatic claimed the title of DMC Disco Mix Club West Coast Champion, and in 1997 along with fellow Beat Junkies DJ Babu, DJ Melo-D and DJ J-Rocc, claimed the title of ITF (International Turntablist Federation) Team World Champions.

Rhettmatic is the DJ for hip-hop crew The Visionaries, which also consists of LMNO, KeyKool, Zen, Dannu and 2Mex.

Shortkut

Since 1987, Jonathan Cruz, known internationally as DJ Shortkut, has thrilled all DJ, turntablist, and hip-hop audiences worldwide. Known for his unbelievable beat juggling and percussion techniques and routines, Shortkut has expanded these skills to directions that cannot be defined.

Shortkut began his DJ career in 1987 with Just 2 Hype!, a DJ crew based out of Daly City, California. In 1994, the legendary Invisibl Skratch Piklz came into action.

As an explosive member of the Invisibl Skratch Piklz (ISP) and later, the Beat Junkies, he continues to stir the imaginations of audiences, and leaves them captivated with his phenomenal music. His classic compositions provide an experience that is incomparable to any other music adventures.

Melo-D

Since 1992, David Mendoza, globally recognized as DJ Melo-D of the world famous Beat Junkies, has conjured fascination amongst music enthusiasts both in the national and international scenes. Elevating his individual style and developing his turntable talent to emit technical precision and a flawless style of mixing are practices he has mastered throughout his DJ career. As an accomplished musician, Melo-D invents original compositions that illuminate his rhythmical creativity and striking imagination. His audible innovations exemplify his dedication to advance the DJ artform. 

DJ Babu

Along with being a member of the Beat Junkies DJ Crew, DJ Babu is one-third of the hip hop Dilated Peoples, and together with rapper Defari, forms the duo the Likwit Junkies.  

Babu has won multiple competition titles Including the Vestax World Championships and multiple ITF titles. As a revered battle DJ he has appeared in and hosted numerable videos. Under the name “The Turntablist”, produced perhaps the genre’s most popular battle record, 1996’s Super Duck Breaks, which sold over 10,000 copies.

DJ Babu has also featured on numerous acts alongside groups such as Jurassic 5, Swollen Members and The Visionaries.

Mr. Choc

His mixes are syndicated in 26 markets. He’s steadily booked at clubs across the country. He’s a professor at the Scratch Academy in Los Angeles. He released one of the most acclaimed DJ albums of all time. Whether it’s on-air, in the club, as a teacher or releasing an album, Mr Choc is the one DJ who excels in all fields. Indeed, the veteran Los Angeles-based Choc is one of rap’s most respected DJs.  The staff of the Jam Master Jay-founded Scratch DJ Academy noticed Choc’s DJ skill and knowledge. In 2004, the Academy hired Choc as a professor. Born in Fresno, California and raised in Bakersfield, California, Mr Choc’s success comes from a lifelong passion for music.  In 1993, he got a three-hour mixshow with fellow DJ C Minus in Bakersfield and another mixshow in Arizona. By 1995, he was picked up by Los Angeles’ Power 106, making him a go-to guy at three stations in three cities at the same time. Within six months, Choc focused his energies on his work at Power 106, where he was doing overnights and mixing on the weekend. The following year, he became a member of the World Famous Beat Junkies, one of the most respected DJs crew in the world. 

Be sure to follow the guys on Twitter:

www.twitter.com/beatjunkies <http://www.twitter.com/beatjunkies>
www.twitter.com/jrocc <http://www.twitter.com/jrocc>
www.twitter.com/rhettmatic <http://www.twitter.com/rhettmatic>
www.twitter.com/djbabuforeal <http://www.twitter.com/djbabuforeal>
www.twitter.com/djmelod <http://www.twitter.com/djmelod>
www.twitter.com/shortkut <http://www.twitter.com/shortkut>
www.twitter.com/bigkiddru <http://www.twitter.com/bigkiddru>