DJ Craze - DMC 1998 US Finals Routine

Routine from the 1998 DMC US Finals

[@djdqmusic]

Still gives me chills after 18 years. I was lucky enough to be in that crowd; that was supposed to be Shortkut's night. Hands down best US Finals routine ever; nothing in the world was the same after this, a benchmark in turntablism

[@j-boogiebrown9961]

Short was one of my big heroes when this battle happened, but I have to admit, I've never thought he deserved to finish second. I think the top 3 should've been 1. Craze, 2. Develop and 3. Dummy. Develop's needle-dropping and juggling with the up-faders was way more interesting than Short simply scratching "Ahh" and "Fresh". Also, the way Dummy dissed half of the other competitors at the start was dope. '98 was arguably the best year in Turntablism, with this battle, and the '98 ITF World Final, probably being the two best battles of all time.

[@joshhernandez5069]

Wow, this really was an extraterrestrial type night for Craze, out of this world performance.

[@williamzirpoli6914]

Had this final on VHS, one of my favourites. So dope. Love Kuttin Kandi’s set also, she drops “I can’t wait” by Nu Shooz which I loved.

[@djmadwax]

J-Boogie Brown agreed. This battle in particular was the peak and the last real hip hop DMC DJ battle.

[@briarlyric6033]

I know it is kinda off topic but do anybody know of a good site to stream newly released series online?

[@djrodney13]

16years ago and still one of the cleanest sets as a USA Finalist. Dope!!

[@TriLiCiT]

Rodney Vargas indeed

[@paulfredric2449]

This set by Craze was light years ahead of its time. Far and away the tightest, most creative, and musical set ever in a DMC competition.

[@naysquared113]

I remember watching this back in college in '99 amazed and I'm still amazed. Technology might be better now ,but I still think this is the best DMC set of all time, top to bottom.

[@aaronthomas7664]

It's hard for me to say anyone's ever really touched this set since

[@naysquared113]

Lots of people have based their routines on trying to match this and 22 years later, no one has.

[@rbjmartin]

Agree. Best of all time.

[@gaffle-411]

Craze is THE most COMPLETE battle DJ ever.

[@perrinwright545]

DJ GaFFLe nah I even will go as far as removing the word “battle” from your statement. Craze is the most COMPLETE DJ ever!

[@j-boogiebrown9961]

Q-Bert was just as talented as Craze, but just became obsessed with scratching in the mid-'90s. Checkout his '1991 DMc World Final set to see him back in the days when he did a bit of everything, rather than just scratching.

[@DeepPocketsEnt]

I was shaking my head during this entire set. Unbelievable. This piece of human expression is right up there with The Mona Lisa, Van Goghs "Starry Night", Beethovens "Symphony 5", Tupacs "Hit em up", The Beatles "Abbey Road", Michealangelos Sistine Chapel ceiling painting, Muhammad Ali beating Spinks to win the Heavyweight title for an unprecedented THIRD TIME, Nadia's perfect 10 gymnastics routine in the 1976 Olympics, Bob Beamons 29' 2.5" long jump in the 1968 Olympics. Etched forever into history as the peak of human greatness!!!!!

[@circleinfinite]

Love this comment!

[@exmixah]

TRUTH!!!!!

[@SUdatsthecalloftheWU]

John Lennon - Isolation more like.

[@robinmcara793]

I ❤ your comment, it was a hold my beer moment already. I don't know if I would compare it to La Cappella Cistina however I love the sentiment & history of your comment. You made me realise my age lol, take care 🙂

[@BuenoMcgurski]

What you mean, DeepPockets, is that this man is one of the “Strongest of The Strange”. Look that up, you will know what I mean :)

[@paintball626]

this still remains to be my favorite DMC battle set of all time...Craze was denied the prize too many times before this set and he went on to become one of the most legendary turntablists alive today...i still come and watch this video to find inspiration in everything i do...now if only i could find my VHS tape of the DMC 1998 US Finals...

[@thabboy]

"YOU BETTER GIVE ME THE RESPECT THAT I DESERVE." DJ Craze = One of the most humble dudes on the planet!

[@dubjay1981]

When a routine was just a mixer, 2 decks and vinyl

[@dubjay1981]

And a s££t load of skill

[@ah2347]

Back when you needed real skill and talent

[@Boycott-Ai-NOW]

@@ah2347 u STILL need REAL talent for battling... Even the battle records used back then was the 1st form of cheating just b4 digital took over...

[@menace_to_myself7856]

@@Boycott-Ai-NOWNo Tf you don’t. Everything is preloaded

[@Boycott-Ai-NOW]

@@menace_to_myself7856 Preloading don't matter, it's creativity that wins... Same as a pianist, it's preloaded, but it's wat u do with it that matters... Same as 'Tf' is soooo original...

[@newyorker19810]

damn that art of noise juggle at 1:07 is still epic

[@willfentress1505]

well i guess you was right.....

[@rayoneal8391]

It's 2021...it's still insane!

[@ronaldblaze5987]

This guy did 150 sets before he was KING. He admitted to alot of shit routines but that's what made him good. He persisted and knew he had skillz. To any young aspiring turntablists you can do this.. but it takes dedication, commitment and hard work. Beleeedat

[@brentwilliams2692]

I wonder what every DJ thought at the 3 minute mark? I wonder if they all were like... "well... second place doesn't seem all that bad". HAHA. Still the greatest routine in DMC history.

[@MIAMI305LIVE]

Brent Williams yeah and at 3:30 the beginning of the end for everyone was apparent....lol

[@joshhernandez5069]

LMAO BEST COMMENT, SO TRUE! 😂

[@djimma5080]

Dj dummy sat down not smiling says it all, never seen that guy not smile apart from this vid

[@Deezeone]

Lord finesse hearing craze scratching his punchlines hahahaha

[@kevinkendrick7805]

His technique is like flawless. His hands are so quick while being so light and graceful

[@themadasian74]

This is by far the BEST DMC set ever, bar none. Lets not forget that this is a MIXING competition. Craze goes from one record to another seemlessly. No train wrecks. Mixing at its finest. Craze will even tell you that this set is his best. He did this same set at the worlds and while it was nice, it wasn't as precise and fluid as this one.

[@Richard_Straker]

His worlds set was different but with some of the same routines.

[@djstacktrace]

This is the best DMC set I’ve ever seen craze absolutely kills it

[@TheWilly2fly]

Hands down my fav routine ever. That section with the pitch control and gameboy sample is too sick for words.

[@DeepPocketsEnt]

When that buzzsaw sound came on at 3:00 and he started doing body tricks, that Gameboy sample coming out of nowhere just blasted everything over the top , it was like overkill at that point, "STOP STOP, THEYRE ALREADY DEAD SON, CHILL!!!!" 😆 Everyone's jaws were dropping in the crowd right then lol

[@MrTeeboogie]

Its best routine of the DMC championships of all time HANDS DOWN!!!

[@musicislife2000]

THE GOAT OF MY GENERATION 90s LATINO POWER👊👊💪💪

[@TripleKmafia]

He's the greatest of all time.

[@DJContagious360]

I have this on VHS!!! Def best routine I've ever seen... Been watching this shit since '00! I watch a few times a month at least! I met Craze in Portland, OR a few years back... I was all shy and shit and he invited me over and had a beer with me... One of best moments in my life!!! CRAZE IS IT!

[@damandjsbreh4226]

I was there!!! To get in was another adventure...We arrived, me and a friend and we were met with "Tickets are SOLD OUT!" from one of the bouncers....So my boy said lets go....as we were walking away the side door suddenly opened while someone was walking out and I managed to grab just before it closed. So the adventure begins...I told my boy lets get lost in the crowd and we managed to squeeze through the center...while enjoying the first contestants I felt a tap on my shoulders...you guessed it, it was two bouncers ready to escort us out...I stopped the main one and had a talk with him...We were then allowed to stay...my boy asked "what did you say to him" I simply stated to the bouncer we were not there to cause any problems and if it was him in my shoes and i was in his...I told him I would have let him stayed and enjoy the show...he showed sympathy and told us "enjoy the show man" THE most amazing show I've ever seen...The sound for Craze was simply on another level....this video does not give it justice on how good it sounded. The drum and bass portion was felt so strong coming out of that system. Also, no one had ever done anything like that before so the reason you didn't here the crowd react initially after he ended was because we were all SHOCKED and amazed at what we had just witness. Still incredible to watch. Thanks to the bouncer that was cool and let us stay. Respect!

[@furiousfingers27]

His rhythmic precision is incredible. It's one thing to scratch fast, but he never loses the beat...

[@rayoneal8391]

Still strong in 2023!

[@DJAUDIO1]

25 years ago, CRAZE set the new standard for turntablism. Amazing set.

[@giulioarti4852]

2020 and I think this is the best battle routine of all time

[@MrJd74100]

I agree

[@LeFlurLeflaEshkoshka]

One of the illest sets ever created. Actually this year of the DMC was crazy. Craze, Short, & Dummy murdered that sh*t.

[@ND-Skyz]

I used to have this on vhs. Seen it a million and one times. It will never get old.

[@big_soundjunglist3]

Greatest to ever do it 🙌

[@benji.B-side]

This is just sheer excellence in the art of DJ battling!! I give him the respect he deserves!

[@readybeeill]

maybe the most flawless set ever. This set is so musical and ahead of its time its crazy.

[@noisicerp]

2:19-3:00 is one of the sickest routines ive ever heard

[@joshhernandez5069]

Yup!!! I come back to this video over and over just for that part!!! When the buzzsaw sound comes and he starts doing body tricks everyone in the building knew it was game over for all the competition.

[@JDKNSATL]

wish you could see lord finesses face when he unloaded that intro.

[@DjAlkalina]

best routine of the history!!!!!!!!

[@jimzucker]

this shit makes me miss my teenager years and the hip hop. I'm so glad i was into this back then

[@williampalmer1660]

It’s the best battle routine of all time. It does not get any better. 2:16 is the moment.

[@extremesupremefreshextreme4893]

I had this vhs tape and would watch this routine all the time while I smoked. Not many people I knew were into watching Dj battles back then. I knew this was a magical moment. By far my favorite routine I’ve ever seen! DJ Craze a legend! Met em in Miami teal cool humble dude

[@TheWilly2fly]

The definition of destroying your competition ❤️

[@psyscezz38]

probably has to be 1 of the best sets of ever seen..!4 REAL

[@DJNet66]

I was there when he won that title.He was off the chain!

[@MiniMotoAlliance]

2019........ still dope AF

[@IronCharioteer]

2020...... still dope AF.

[@wallacehardiniii9038]

I know for a fact there aren't many people in the world that understands how difficult this is!

[@needlejerk]

this routine is one of my all time favorit.

[@blankowvsingt]

Best of the bestest routines ever... Nobody can could or will make it better... This is the best of the bestest

[@IronCharioteer]

Even with all the new tech, no one has shown the skill and originality displayed by Craze with this routine. Give someone all the buttons, knobs, synching, and the FX in the world and they still won't be able to touch this routine.

[@DeepPocketsEnt]

No one will ever best this routine. I'm pretty sure that is physically impossible. The music they would need for it just doesn't exist, plus no one could ever duplicate the skill level and perfect timing he had that night. Just absolutely flawless, from start to finish. It will never be touched.

[@djroho5636]

best dmc set of all time. these were the good old days when turntablism was alive

[@kurt2161984]

15 years ago and this still sounds light years ahead of must modern DMc sets!

[@naydo]

the best routine ever in the universe!

[@therobmiester]

@RomyFresh There are a series of Lord Finesse samples for the first minute... he was the host for the show that night too!

[@b-north]

this is the most musical I've seen anyone on some turntables but it still hip-hop and he is still being a great turntablish!!!!

[@johnhopkinson4054]

Legendary...best routine ever

[@rhymezgalore]

THIS SET WAS A MASTERPIECE. CRAZE FOREVER

[@kayflip2233]

He was inventing something new every second. Even transitions were important to him. Crazy.

[@camb8352]

def the greatest routine of all time

[@spiriofmanu]

Best era ❤

[@ElaboratedSoulz]

best routine ever created! he combined previous dj champs pass n present stylez into 6 mins..thats mad clever!

[@djbis]

I think I am with you on that... great variety, fuckin clean, confident, eclectic, and just well put together.

[@alexoz3018]

Personally I haven't found a better set. Straight killin

[@enilyksnor]

Damn I feels so old. Best of the 90s craze n qbert i wished I kept my 1200 mk2s

[@djmichaeltimex4511]

One of my favorite "Revenge" sets ever

[@DOPEZ1200]

this is the best dmc set of all time

[@BrentDThurman]

98 was my fav year by far

[@bobjackson6524]

INCREDIBLE

[@user-ot7xf6vz6h]

The G.O.A.T of the juggle game right here untouchable a Canadian that’ won the USA championship with A trak

[@Zeronineeito]

I honestly say.Insane. I really love him style when he was young. 私が二番目に好きなルーティン。

[@Plattenlord]

that time he changed the Game for ever👊

[@TTMAcademy]

My #1 Fav DMC Røutine...I gøt this øn VHS!!!!

[@bigfatdick5000]

when craze does it , it's really cool .

[@UBZUKki]

Incredible......

[@readybeeill]

the most musical routine at the time. So far ahead of everything that was out there in 98.......still as sick as the first time i saw this.

[@damnsonalabanca420]

Still cant get over how good this set is

[@agath194]

A genius! like Bethoven in his field!!

[@Vekked]

Yea, juggles with custom tracks are missing the "flip" which is like the coolest thing about beat juggle routines... where people don't just hear the end result, they hear difference between the original and what you made it as well. It's easiest to achieve using a known track, but doesn't HAVE to be well known as long as it's accessible. My salsa beat juggle gets good reaction even though I've never met a person who knew the song I used, and only 1 person who recognized the sample in it.

[@JDDavis-ef9wv]

Special Music Show 2HR OG.zzzz DJ .zzz😎🎼🔥🔥

[@djjess9553]

2022 this still the greatest routine

[@showbizben]

Watched an interview with Vajra after winning the 2011 DMC and he was saying if Craze performed this now he'd probably still win. Not sure if that's true but this was a definite game changer he didn't just step it up a level he absolutely destroyed everyone that came before and almost everyone who's come since.

[@Vekked]

Canadian finals is in 2.5 weeks, gonna be going for my 3rd title there, and World finals are Oct 5th. DMC Online results announced this Wednesday too :)

[@barrybigdog3406]

Vekked the future

[@CreamOfBeats]

with Craze being ambidextrous, dude has been on another level for a LONG time!

[@user-ot7xf6vz6h]

A Canadian that’s won the American 🇺🇸 DMC championship along with dj ATRACK then they went on to form the allies crew nothing but str8 fire 🔥

[@DJKrissJ]

A very well deserved victory for this routine. It was definitely cleaner than Shortkut's. Classic battle between two legendary DJs. Just brilliant.

[@themadasian74]

Totally agree. Shortkut was the favorite going in and showed tons of technical skill but just wasn’t was clean and musical as crazes set.

[@DavidMander-rs4uk]

Technics 1210 mk2 ...The deck of champions! 👍

[@ka0584]

23 years later. Nobody has been able to top this.

[@8itzer]

I'm 44 and Craze still amazes me!

[@genedeguzman1293]

SKILLZ!!!!!!!! No headphones No laptop GOAT!!!!

[@circleinfinite]

no needle skips, no mistakes. i wonder how much he practiced this and how many copies of those vinyl he burnt through

[@modernsunrecords]

the best turntablism show of the history.... sincerely...MASSACRE ON THE TURNTABLES

[@fredomeireles]

I agree! A classic routine! sounds great!!

[@needlejerk]

this routine is one of my all time favorites of all time.

[@nauris710]

PERFECT EXAMPLE

[@regitmeisner3546]

Legend!!

[@nikku1166]

still my favorite routine after all these years.

[@Swisspastel80]

Best set ever?

[@AlphaXQ]

im not surprised that Dj Craze can still be dope at his routines :D

[@zeitgeist909]

Still waiting (2022) to hear a better put together and tighter set. It's been a while...

[@AyyuBX7]

I miss these REAL DJ battles where it was just 2 turntables, a 2 channel mixer, and an amplifier. No laptops or software.

[@tonyhenderson6346]

The 98 finals was fire word 🔥🔥📼 craze killed it though damn 🗣️🔥

[@swans7618]

HOLY SHIT. This guy is so COOL. Smooth

[@barracudusfundus7280]

DJ SEM TECNOLOGIA É OUTRO NIVÉL

[@jarretkarlson]

yo ...... this is the illest set i've ever scene, word next level

[@danizm78]

possibly the best routine of all time!

[@leaf3827]

Just the intro is a win for the next 1000 years .

[@velerous5542]

The best set of all time nothing can fuck with this holy shit