Note: This story was originally posted in the Magazine Spring of 2008 we are reposting the story here on Our website www.VIPNightclubMagazine.com
Back in 1994 we became aware of a Turntablist and upcoming turntable performer by the Name of DJ Craze. He did some wild crazy things in the 1994 Technics DMC eliminations and we actually were very impressed with him even this early in his development. His set included a Bass line break down of “Goodbye” and at the end he had a small botched up little spiderman routine, because the table he stood on wobbled too much, but even with the small misshaps his overall routine was still rather impressive.
He didn’t win that year, but DJ Craze definitely came back with a vengeance in future years taking home the title of DMC world champion and the golden turntables not just One time but Three years in a row. At age 20 DJ Craze took the title from then defending DMC World Champion A-Trak, the wonder kid that at the age of 15 became the youngest DMC champion to win the title.
Check out the 1998 DMC USA Finals
and World Finals Routines
After beating A-Trak, DJ Craze saw great potential in joining forces with DJ A-Trak and immediately formed a DJ crew called “The Allies” who’s member’s also came to include Craze’s former DJ Crew member DJ Infamous. DJ Craze would become a Three time Champion defending his DMC Title while also capturing a few other Titles including the DMC Team Champion Title with his crew the Allies.
In his routines DJ Craze brought elements of Drum n Bass to turntablism, first flipping Hip Hop beats into Dum N Bass beats with precise beat juggles with various sounds and bass lines. DJ Craze has always been very fluid, original and entertaining with his DJ battle routines. While he may not have been the most technically advanced scratch artist when he won his first title, he was by far the most well rounded DJ in the battle. His routine incorporated strong dis intros and outros, a very tightly executed set of beat juggles, ambidextrous scratch skills, body tricks, and that indelible DJ Craze charm and flair that not only helped him win that year but also allowed him to defend his title in subsequent years. Like a fine wine his scratch skills also improved tremendously over time, making Craze an even more formidable DJ in his 1999 DMC Battle, 2000 Battle and beyond.
DJ Craze’s 1998 DMC title and subsequent wins afforded him the ability to tour extensively throughout the world. We’ve seen him several times and his style has changed dramatically over the years.
In 1998 we saw him in a much smaller club playing a variety of underground hip hop, east coast hip hop, and oldschool hip hop with just a touch of drum n bass here and there and of course a performance at the end of his 1998 winning DMC routine. In later years DJ Craze started incorporating more e Drum n Bass and later some hard hitting Electro House tracks interspersed with some hip hop and old school along with some beat juggles scratches and routines. Craze basically asks questions to find out which of his fans are in the house and based on the crowd to response will play more or less of each style of music. One of the best shows we’ve seen DJ Craze perform at also included world famous Human Beat Boxer Killa Kela. Together the two were an unstoppable force that commanded the dance floor and created a magical night that really stuck in our heads as one of our favorite club nights of all time.
Craze is a magician on the turntables, he can basically rock just about any style of music but his love runs deep for Drum N Bass, Hip Hop and now even some Dub-Step. It’s all about bass, funkyness and a good vibe. As a turntablist he loves to experiment with sounds and as a DJ he knows how to rock the crowds.
Music production is a strong passion for Craze as well and he loves producing his own tracks.
Here are some more recent routines using Tracktor Scratch
DJ Craze and his turntable pal Klever to have a chuckle about their most embarrassing DMC moments…
DJ Craze: “One word: Spiderman. It was my first DMC nationals competition. I was 17 or 18 – I had a fro, mad pimples, crooked teeth… I looked horrible. I did the dumbest trick ever in DMC. I had two ‘Protect Ya Neck’s by Wu-Tang and it went ‘…Spiderman, Spiderman’ so I put on a mask and then I jumped on the decks and it was just horrible – and I got booed! People were like, ‘What the fuck? Boo!’ My girl saw it and was like, ‘Oh my god, you were ugly as fuck!’”
Klever: “I can tell you my worst moment – losing to fuckin’ Plus One in ’01. I still love you Plus One. I’m not bitter…”
DJ Craze: “It was kinda my fault too, I was a judge!”
Klever: “Really?”
DJ Craze: “It was on me.”
Klever: “I’m gonna kick this guy’s ass.”
DJ Craze: “You don’t remember? It was all down to me – it came down to my vote! I thought that was why you always bring that shit up? Awkward… Next question! But look at you now homie!”
Klever: “It wasn’t embarrassing, it was a let down. It was written though – I felt like the UK hasn’t had a championship deejay in like a decade, so I felt that we [the US] had held it down so he was destined to win.”
DJ Craze has always been an innovator. A very versatile DJ that learned how to scratch well with either hand, by neccesity as he puts it because his fader on his old mixer used to go out on One side so he would switch practicing scratches with the side that still cut.











