Superstar DJs Qbert and Skribble Take Silver, Bronze.

Trance DJ Christopher Lawrence was named the 2008 winner of the America’s Best DJ contest on Tuesday, September 2, during a ceremony at Rouge at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Lawrence was presented with a gold medal and a gold-plated Pioneer DJM-800 mixer – the only one in existence.

Turntablist legend DJ Qbert took the silver, and DJ/rock star DJ Skribble took the bronze.

After the presentation of the awards by dance recording artist Kristine W, the three medalists – and No. 5 finisher DJ Scotty Boy – played special sets for an enthusiastic Rouge crowd.

The ceremony was the culmination of a four-month contest and tour, presented by Pioneer Pro DJ and DJ Times magazine. Since June, the top 100 DJs in America – as selected by the editors of DJ Times – have solicited their fans to vote for them, both online at www.americasbestdj.net, and at 40 official ABDJ events at nightclubs and festivals nationwide.  By the time the polls closed on August 16, over 35,000 had voted.

Lawrence is a DJ and producer specializing in progressive trance music, who has played for crowds of over 100,000 at festivals worldwide. His dedicated fans voted him into fourth place in U.K. magazine “DJ’s” 2006 Top 100 international poll; and he was named Best DJ at the Dancestar US Awards, and Best American DJ at the International Dance Music Awards in 2005.

DJ Qbert (Richard Quitevis) is a multiple Disco Mix Club World (DMC) world champion and a member of the DJ Hall of Fame. DJ Skribble (Scott Ialacci) is best known for his MTV appearances on The Grind and Total Request Live, and has toured with rock guitarist Dave Navarro.

DJ Grooverider has been released from prison in Dubai after serving ten months for possessing drugs.

The DJ, whose real name is Raymond Bingham, was in the middle of a four year sentence but has been let out early after being pardoned.

He flew back to the UK on Thursday to spend time with family and friends.

The DJ was originally arrested on 23 November 2007 after being caught with 2.16 grams of cannabis at the airport.

At the time Bingham said the drugs were in the pocket of a pair of trousers and he had forgotten about them.

He was pardoned and released on Wednesday 3rd September 2008, the Festival of Eid al-Adha, a religious ceremony that traditionally sees the pardoning of select prisoners in UAE.

He was handed a four year sentence in February but has been pardoned by the Dubai Royal Family.

From: bbc.co.uk

The final episodes of Season Four of Battlestar Galactica may air as late as April 2009, according to the show’s star Aaron Douglas at a cast panel discussion Sunday at Dragon*Con 2008.

Douglas, who plays Chief Tyrol, said that the SCI FI network has completely ignored arguably their biggest hit, adding “and the SCI FI Network sucks,” which got a big applause from those in the audience.

“Ten episodes is not a season,” said Douglas, referring to the first half of the season, which aired from April to June 2008. In June 2008, the remaining episodes, which will conclude the storyline for the series, had not yet been scheduled.

Michael Hogan, Richard Hatch, and James Callis seemed to echo their castmate’s feelings. In an earlier panel, Edward James Olmos riffed on the split saying, “… of course they didn’t pay us for five seasons.” Season Four was originally slated for 13 episodes, but was extended to 22 (which included a 2-hour movie).

The series finale is said to be a tear-jerker, according to science adviser/consultant, Kevin Grazier.

“I don’t know anyone who hasn’t cried after reading the final episode script,” Grazier said.

From: geeksofdoom.com

According to The Hollywood Reporter, German-born actress Diane Kruger (Troy, National Treasure) has been cast as Bridget Von Hammersmark in Quentin Tarantino’s Inglorious Bastards.

The central role was originally pegged for Nastassja Kinski, but a deal was never reach between the actress and Tarantino. Now, Kruger will play the part of a German actress who helps Nazi hunters infiltrate a movie premiere.

Til Schweiger has also signed on to star in the World War II film which already boasts a sizable star-power with a cast including Brad Pitt, Eli Roth, Mike Myers Christoph Waltz and Daniel Bruhl.

An unequivocal industry visionary, DJ Hell’s career has embodied and then transcended his many guises: Anti-Superstar DJ, International DeeJay Gigolo Label Boss, GQ Man of the Year, Playboy, Jetsetter, Bon Viveur, Munich Machine, New York Muscle. Seeing, and envisioning - that is of enormous relevance to Hell. He managed to convey pure artistic prowess as well as pure style during his thirty year DJ career. The individual look, the do-it-yourself approach, the elitism. That’s how it grew.

Teufeslwerk is a future-opus of 16 songs split onto two discs of music divided stylistically as “Day” and “Night”. Mesmerizing instrumental and ambient experimentalism characterizes the “Day” side of the record, an exploration in electronic avante garde music. The “Night” side of the record is a dynamic collection of techno tracks ranging in style from classic New York freestyle to minimal acid house while reworking the classic German electronica sound that inspired the beginning of Hell’s career.

In support of Teufelswerk, DJ Hell will embark on a sweeping tour that will include dates in South America, Japan, and North America. Unsanctioned release parties during the summer slated to take place in cities such as Vienna and Barcelona will offer a glimpse of the newest manifestation of the phenomenon called Hell. These dates will lead up to the preeminent Teufelswerk album presentation in Berlin.

DJ Hell - Teufelswerk will be released in September 2008

While the last album Labfunk was underpinned by detailed instrumentals, Full Circle is bumper to bumper with hip shakingly soulful songs, as Atjazz collaborates with an impressive selection of superb vocalists. The much lauded singles Put It On featuring Swedens Ernesto, and Love Someone with house music legend Robert Owens were the perfect precursor to this long player Full Circle. Other guest vocalists who deserve recognition include Hospital Records Mr J from Phuturistix, who appears on Together, … Read More »Dawne B who also featured on Harmony, (one of the critically acclaimed tracks from Atjazzs previous album,) The Communards and Test Dept. collaborator Sarah-Jane Morris, and Sonar Kollektivs siren Clara Hill, who lends her strong vocal talents to Before (gaining plays from BBC Radios Trevor Nelson along the way,) and Sense Of Life. With more singles from the album and new remixes to come, Atjazz has also had recent releases for labels Innervisions, Plastic City and Reincarnation. Mantis Recordings was born in the UK’s East Midlands; a place rich in dance music history (Charles Webster, DiY, Bent, the UKs first house music chart hit by Krush, the birthplace of the Renaissance club and a fast footed past of Northern Soul all nighters). A background in hip-hop and house music led to the first releases by key artist and co-founder Atjazz.

Charles Webster is also joining forces with Atjazz, on a project under the name ‘Version’ . They already have several remixes in the bag and a EP’s coming soon for Miso, Mantis and Jazzanova’s prolific Sonar Kollektiv label. Atjazz has also produced songs for Clara Hill’s second album album ‘All I Can Provide’, released the massive track ‘For Real’ on their then sub label Innervisions run by Dixon & Ame and produced 2 exclusive releases for Germany’s ‘Plastic City’ and I-soul8’s new imprint ‘Slam Jam’

A busy man indeed you may say, well, there’s plenty more coming from his studio in the shape of a collaborations album which will see Atjazz hooking up with some big guns of house music. and a full album of Jerky Soul & Hip Hop produced along side Clyde & Si Tew, Watch this space…

“The album is simply stunning, absolutely Beautifull soul music” - Laurent Garnier
“This record is amazing” - Minus 8
“It is a timeless modern soul record” - Domu
“Honestly its a doooope album” - DJ Simbad
“Fantastic Album” - Michael Rutten
“Amazing Album” - Borja, Lovemonk