Company’s Renowned STR8.150s Used as Exclusive Turntables for Popular Competition
ATLANTA, JUNE 25, 2014 – This year’s SAE Beats & Breaks Battles contenders are all starting on an even playing field thanks to the event organizers’ latest decision to make Stanton’s STR8.150s the exclusive turntables for the competition. With four preliminary events in each of the four regional cities – Atlanta, New York, Chicago and Las Vegas – four regional finales and the final Battle Mania event in Atlanta on New Year’s Eve, having one standard tool for all contestants ensures that it’s their talents, and not their turntables, that are delivering the results and, ultimately, being judged.
“Having the DJ element in our battles is the most important part; it’s what sets us apart from all of the other competitions,” says Amir James, co-founder of MC WAR, which organizes the Beats & Breaks Battles. “In recent years, we’ve noticed a need for uniformity and ease for all of our battlers, so we went looking for a turntable that would not only give a consistent sound but would also be recognized. We chose the Stanton STR8.150s because we think they are the best turntables in the game; a quality product that everyone is familiar with. They definitely help us keep the DJ element in our battles, which is our primary concern.”
The availability of the turntables also means event organizers will have a smoother transition between competitors while the DJs won’t need to worry about lugging their gear with them. In addition to the Beats & Breaks and Battle Mania contests, MC WAR will also be using the STR8.150s for other events, such as the Hip Hop Day music festival, at which all of the regional winners will perform.
MC WAR was founded in 2002 under the notion that you either become a rap battler or you teach people to implement the style. “We decided that instead of having artists diss each other on records, they should have a way to professionally compete,” says James. “We started when nobody else around was organizing battle rap as a league, and then it just got hot to the tune of 1.5 billion video views directly related to the style. For a while, the method of battling without music became popular, but we always felt that real hip hop was two turntables and a mic. We pride ourselves on the fact that our competitors battle over the music. Having a set of go-to turntables ensures that we’ll always have a DJ set for our competitions.”
With the Beats & Breaks regional battles already underway in Las Vegas, New York, Chicago and Atlanta, hip hop fans are welcome to stop by to hear the latest up-and-coming artists. Additional information about the battles can be found here: www.mcwar.com/events. See below for a full schedule of events.
• July 7 at SAE Institute in Marietta, GA
• July 8 at 50 Yard Line in Atlanta
• July 14 at JC Studios in Jersey City
• July 17 at Sam Ash Music in New York
• July 28 at Sam Ash Music in Chicago
• Aug 4 in Atlanta – Venue TBA
• Aug 5 at 50 Yard Line in Atlanta
• Aug 11 at JC Studios
• Aug 14 Chicago Finals at SAE Institute
• Aug 16 CHICAGO HIP HOP DAY FESTIVAL
• Aug 17 at SAE in Las Vegas
• Aug 28 New York Finals at Gibson Guitar Showroom on 54th Street
• Aug 30 JERSEY CITY HIP HOP DAY FESTIVAL
• Sep 1 in Atlanta – Venue TBA
• Sep 2 at 50 Yard Line in Atlanta
• Sep 14 in Las Vegas – Venue TBA
• Sep 25 at SAE in Las Vegas
• Sep 27 & 28 ATLANTA HIP HOP DAY FESTIVAL
o (Includes Keith Murray vs. Fredro Starr at The Atrium on Sep 28)
• Sep 29 at SAE in Las Vegas
• Oct 13 in Las Vegas – Venue TBA
• Oct 30 Las Vegas Finals – Venue TBA
• Nov 1 & 2 – LAS VEGAS HIP HOP DAY FESTIVAL
• December 31 – New Year’s Eve NATIONAL FINALS at BATTLE MANIA in Atlanta
About Stanton
Stanton, part of the Gibson Pro Audio division, is an industry leader in the design and manufacture of professional audio products for DJs. Founded in 1946 by Walter O. Stanton, the inventor of an easily replaceable phonograph stylus, Stanton has grown from being one of the first American companies to make and sell magnetic cartridges to offering a complete line of DJ products, which include turntables, high-performance cartridges, CD players, DJ mixers, accessories and digital controllers. With over 50 years of innovation, Stanton is the name DJs trust. For additional information, visit the company online at www.stantondj.com.
About Gibson Brands
Gibson Brands Inc. is known worldwide for producing classic models in every major style of fretted instrument, including acoustic and electric guitars, mandolins, and banjos. The Gibson Les Paul Guitar is the bestselling guitar of all time and is a tribute to the late, famed musician of the same name. Collectively, the Gibson Robot Guitar, Gibson Dark Fire, Gibson Dusk Tiger and the Gibson Firebird X represent the biggest advances in electric guitar design in more than 75 years. Through the Gibson Foundation, Gibson Guitar Corp. has become equally known for its philanthropic efforts on behalf of music, education, health, and human services. Founded in 1894 in Kalamazoo, MI, and headquartered in Nashville, TN, since 1984, Gibson Brands Inc’s family of brands includes Epiphone, Dobro, Kramer, Steinberger, Tobias, Echoplex, Electar, Flatiron, Slingerland, Valley Arts, Maestro, Oberheim, Baldwin, Sunshine Piano, Take Anywhere Technology, J&C Fischer, Chickering, Hamilton, Wurlitzer, Cakewalk and Gibson Pro Audio. Visit Gibson’s website at www.gibson.com. Follow Gibson Guitar at www.twitter.com/gibsonguitar and www.facebook.com/gibsonguitar.
