If last week’s selection represented the street of Denver’s hip-hop scene, this week’s selection of Dj Vajra represents the underground and scratch crowd.
After blazing to a third place finish in the Red Bull Thre3style competition this summer, Vajra is easily one of the best turntable masters in the box state.
After being sought after by the producers of the competition, Vajra, who retired competitions in 2004, decided to do the event under the moniker Dj MagMANimus.
Rocking a gas mask for the competition, DJ Vajra showed the judges, the legendary DJ Jazzy Jeff and Quest Love of the Roots, why he is one of the best. Although previously retired from the battle scene, he said this battle made his reconsider his position.
“When I was touring I always used to think that if I lost a battle to someone, it hurt my product working with other people… Now I feel like I am ready to get back into the battling scene,” he said.
Vajra is also a mainstay in the underground hip-hop scene and has rocked with almost everyone making waves in Denver: DJ Chonz, Whygee, DJ Checkone, Bigwheel Electrosoul, Venus Cruz and many more.
After watching several YouTube videos of Vajra, DJ Q-Bert, the legendary scratch DJ, called up Vajra. “I was surprised when he told me I was one of his favorites in the world,” said Vajra.
Within two weeks of the phone call, Vajra went to San Francisco to rock with Q-Bert and has maintained a friendship in which they share ideas and techniques.
“Vajra is one of my favorites because he is consistently trying to push the limit(s) and boundaries in music — to keep this DJ art alive. He is a perfectionist,” said Dj Chonz of KS 107.5.
Having the respect of his peers is important to Vajra, and working with people he respects, like DJ Chonz, Sound Supreme and others, helps to keep him sharp.
“The only way for a person to reach full potential is to have like-minded people to sit down with and bounce ideas off of,” said Vajra.
Vajra is so versatile one may catch him spinning at a club or backing a live band with ill cuts and mixes at your favorite local bar.
With over 15 years of rocking the tables under his belt, Vajra has been on world tours with the likes of the Roots, played half–time for the Denver Nuggets, was a resident of Basementalist (a college radio show in boulder) and even still makes appearances on the show.
The crate-digging enthusiast was also the winner of the regional finals in the DMC competitions from 2001 – 2004, but was unable to capture the national finals. DMC is an international DJ-only record label that has been established since 1983. Their annual-competitions have become the litmus test for a DJ’s skills.
With no shortage of people to work with, catch Dj Vajra at Round Midnight in Boulder on Thursdays and Fridays.
Keep up with Dj Vajra at www.djvajra.com
