VK winner: DJ Illtrax / photo:Danielle Barnett

This competition differed in that it was open to all ages and audiences, under a "keep it clean premise" in which contestants are barred from using profanity during the battle.
"We created Vinyl Kombat as a way to highlight the DJ element of Hip-Hop culture," said Bill "Needlz" Oakley, Marketing Specialist/Phonograph Product Manager for Shure. "We also wanted to expose new audiences to this dynamic form of artistic expression."
Shure is introducing Vinyl Kombat, because most DJ enthusiasts under the age of 18 are rarely admitted to nightclubs due to their age.
"Hip-Hop culture was launched by young people in the 70's who couldn't get in to the discos because they were underage," said Vinyl Kombat Event Coordinator Christie Z-Pabon. "Nightclubs have now taken the place of the discos and kids still can't get in. Vinyl Kombat offers a solution by allowing all-ages audiences at each event. Many club owners have gone a step further and embraced our mission by graciously agreeing not to sell alcohol during the competition."
DJ A-Trak of the Allies was the featured DJ during the competitions. A-Trak won his title won his first World DJ title at the tender age of 15 and by the time he was 18, he snagged for more world titles and was in retirement.
"Vinyl Kombat made a lot of noise this year," A-Trak said. "It's open to all ages, which is crucial. I started DJing when I was 13 and I wish there had been battles like this back then because it's so hard to be exposed to this music when you're underage. Plus, this joint was put on by people who've been involved behind the scenes in organizing the best battles in the last couple of years, so it's definitely on point."
Mista Sinista, D-Styles, DJ Nu-Mark (Jurassic 5), DJ Klever (Allies), and the Beat Junkies, whose members include Melo-D, J-Rocc, Rhettmatic, Shortkut, Supernatural, Wordsayer, Gunkhole, DV One, D.O.A. (vocal percussionist), The Original Jazzy Jay, GrandMaster Caz, and GrandWizzard Theodore, the inventor of the scratch, were also featured.
Each regional champion received a prize pack from sponsors Rane and Serato, as well as roundtrip airfare and hotel accommodations to the finals

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