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Red Bull 3Style has chosen the following DJs to compete in the Japan national finals: SHOTA, MoB, A2C, RINA, TAMA a.k.a. SPC FINEST, and KAZUYA.

The competition will be held at KING XMHU in Sapporo on Oct. 13.

This announcement is part of a series of daily updates in which DJcity will reveal the participants for each competing country.

Watch the entry videos for the Japan finalists below.

DJ SHOTA, Tokyo

DJ MoB, Tokyo

DJ A2C, Tokyo

RINA, Tokyo

DJ TAMA, Sapporo City

DJ KAZUYA, Nagoya

Stay tuned for more announcements.

Related: Red Bull 3Style Mexico Finalists

DJ Premier performs on NPR’s Tiny Desk series. (Photo source: NPR)

After close to 30 years in the game, the legendary DJ Premier is still going strong. This year alone, he started a new record label, dropped his Miguel-assisted single “2 Lovin U,” and completed a 16-city tour.

Despite his many projects, Premo recently took the time to perform on NPR and speak with Genius. Both his set and interview are available to watch below.

On Monday, the Houston-native became the first DJ ever to perform on NPR’s Tiny Desk series. Accompanied by his touring band, The Badder Band, Premo delivered a nine-song medley of some of his classic productions. He and the five-piece ensemble gave the tracks new energy.

Premo also sat down with Genius for their conversation series, Genius Level. The insightful hour-long interview covered most of his illustrious career. The former Gang Starr member reflected on his early days with the group and working with Nas, JAY-Z, and The Notorious B.I.G. He also discussed his new label, TTT (To The Top), as well as his production process.

Watch his Tiny Desk performance:

Tracklist:

KRS-One — KRS-One Attacks
KRS-One – MC’s Act Like They Don’t Know
Das EFX — Real Hip-Hop
Nas — Nas Is Like
Jeru The Damaja — Da Bichez
Gang Starr — Step in the Arena
Gang Starr ft. M.O.P. — 1/2 & 1/2
Royce Da 5’9″ — Boom
Gang Starr — Moment of Truth

Watch his interview with Genius:

Topics covered:

– His favorite beat (1:20)
– Producing Nas’ “N.Y. State of Mind” (2:30)
– His beginnings (5:30)
– How he started with Gang Starr (8:50)
– Working with Guru (15:30)
– Rumors of a posthumous Gang Starr album (18:50)
– What it’s like being an in-demand producer (21:00)
– Working with Biggie (22:40)
– Working with JAY-Z (26:45)
– Rumors of working with Kendrick Lamar (29:18)
– Working with D’Angelo (31:30)
– Working with Christina Aguilera (35:00)
– His current production process (37:20)
– His current projects and plans for the future (50:00)

Related: Watch DJ Premier and Miguel’s ‘2 Lovin U’ Video

Digital distributor Dubset Media has partnered with Sony Music to allow the use of the label’s catalog in DJ sets and remixes on music subscription services.

In addition to opening up Sony’s catalog to DJs and remixers, the deal creates a new revenue stream for the label.

Using its MixBANK rights management platform and Cross Clearance Network, Dubset identifies the underlying musical recordings used within DJ sets and remixes. Once the tracks are identified, the platform determines the label and publishing rights holders and simultaneously clears the DJ sets or remix across all rights holders.

Although thirty-five thousand labels and publishers have registered with Dubset, Sony is the first major label to get on board.

Dubset Media CEO Stephen White said in a press release:

“Hundreds of millions of music fans are streaming DJ and remix content, and labels, publishers, and performance societies need robust solutions for managing the use of their catalogs within this massive category of under-monetized music.”

Andre Stapleton, senior vp of digital partner development at Sony Music Entertainment stated:

“We have worked closely with Dubset on a deal that not only protects our artists, but also provides us with the tools to harness new revenues for them, while amplifying the popularity of the original master recordings at the same time.”

Bob Barbiere, Dubset Media chief strategy officer and svp of global licensing added:

“Poorly monetized user generated content (UGC) has already cost the music industry billions in lost revenue. DJ sets and remixes, like original music, must be independently registered, tagged, and cleared before entering any subscription music streaming service – which up until now has not been possible. At Dubset we have solved this problem.

Related: Apple Music Can Now Stream Previously Unlicensed Remixes and DJ Mixes

Red Bull 3Style has chosen DJs JIMMIX, J MEDINA, Kris Fraktura, DGD, T-Machine Gun, and DJSONICKO to compete at the Mexico national finals.

The competition will be held in conjunction with the DJ World Music Conference in Mexico City on Oct. 16.

This is part of a series of daily announcements in which DJcity will reveal the participants for each competing country.

Watch the entry videos for the Mexico finalists below.

JIMMIX, Mexico City

J MEDINA, Tijuana

Kris Fraktura, Mexico City

DGD, Mexico City

T-Machine Gun, Mexico

DJSONICKO, Mexico City

Stay tuned for more announcements.

Related: Red Bull 3Style Indonesia Finalists

69Beats, the 2016 Red Bull 3Style Poland champion, has put down a versatile, half-hour mix for the DJcity Podcast.

Known for his well-crafted routines and innovative tone play skills, 69Beats was featured on DJcityTV’s Bedroom Sessions in 2016 and Tone Play series in 2017. Earlier this summer, he started a new tutorial series called Button Pushing for DJs.

69Beats tells DJcity:

“I always like to put my friends’ tracks into my mixes. For this one, I chose two tracks from my pal StarGuy from Gdańsk, Poland who makes really cool ’80s-style funk music and great remixes. I also chose a track from my UK boys JFB and DJ Angelo who need no introduction.”

Tracklist:

1. DJ Sherry & Petey Pablo – Shhh… Be Quiet
2. Keno – Be Alert
3. Shiftee ft. Mad Hed City – Psychic
4. Lady Leshurr – Juice
5. Timbaland ft. Justin Timberlake – Carry Out – Inverness Remix
6. Amine – REDMERCEDES
7. YG – Still Brazy
8. Future ft. Nicki Minaj – You Da Baddest – Tall Boys 105-77 Transition
9. Fekky ft. Neutrino & Chip – Avirex
10. Lady Ice ft. Funky Dee, RIO, & Dubzy – Superb – Male Remix
11. Wide Awake ft. Wiley – Down Up
12. Laidback Luke & Juyen Sebulba vs. Shelco Garcia & TEENWOLF – Rompe
13. Macklemore ft. Skylar Grey – Glorious – Starguy Remix
14. Kidcutup – Switch My Style – 90 Transition Stinger
15. Fat Joe ft. Dre – So Excited
16. Faith Evans & The Notorious B.I.G. ft. Snoop Dogg – When We Party – BeatCity Hype Edit
17. Starguy – Funk Queen
18. JFB & DJ Angelo – Scratch To This

Follow 69Beats on Facebook, Instagram, and Mixcloud

Related: 69Beats Launches New DJ Tutorial Series

Chris Brown shows off his dance moves in the colorful video for his latest single, “Questions.”

The dancehall-influenced song is currently No. 1 on the DJcity Hot Box.

“Questions,” which samples Kevin Lyttle‘s 2004 hit “Turn Me On,” is the third single off Brown’s forthcoming studio album, Heartbreak on a Full Moon. The project will be a 40-track double album and is set to drop on October 31, according to two of Brown’s social media posts.

Watch the video above and download “Questions” on DJcity.

Related: Watch Steve Aoki and Yellow Claw’s ‘Lit’ Video Feat. Gucci Mane & T-Pain

Red Bull 3Style has chosen DJs RDNT, TIANZ, SCARAB-D, Talisa, Raggil Suliza, and TeeFo to compete at the Indonesia national finals.

The competition will take place at Fable in Jakarta on Oct. 21.

This is part of a series of daily announcements in which DJcity will reveal the participants for each competing country.

Watch the entry videos for the Indonesia finalists below.

RDNT, Jakarta

TIANZ, Jakarta

SCARAB-D, Jakarta

Talisa, Malang

Raggil Suliza, Malang

DJ TeeFo, Bandung

Stay tuned for more announcements.

Related: Red Bull 3Style Thailand Finalists

JAY-Z with Rap Radar hosts Brian Miller and Elliott Wilson. (Photo source: Rap Radar)

JAY-Z recently sat down for an extensive interview on the Rap Radar podcast, his first since he released his album 4:44 in June.

The 70-minute conversation, which is exclusive to TIDAL, covered a variety of topics. Among them were Hov’s inspiration for making 4:44, why he chose to only work with No I.D., his marketing strategy for rolling out the album, the reason he added footnotes, entrepreneurship and why he supports Lavar Ball, the meaning of “The Story Of O.J.,” the meaning of “Kill Jay Z,” and his feud with Kanye West.

The interview was conducted by hosts Elliott Wilson and Brian “B.Dot” Miller and is labeled part one. It is unclear how many episodes are forthcoming.

Listen to it below (even if you’re not a TIDAL subscriber).

Here is a breakdown of some of the topics covered in order:

– Making 4:44 and his inspiration for it
– Working with No I.D.
– Why he chose to use one producer for the entire album
– His marketing strategy for rolling out the album
– The reason he added footnotes
– The importance of 4:44
– How he recorded the vocals
– Why some songs didn’t make the album
– Empowering black people
– Billboard chart issues and TIDAL criticisms
– Entrepreneurship and why he supports Lavar Ball
– The meaning of “The Story Of O.J.” and its controversies
– His talks with Apple
– Therapy and spirituality
– The Meaning of “Kill Jay Z” and the Kanye West feud
– The elevator incident with Solange.

Related: Watch JAY-Z’s Video for ‘Kill Jay Z’

Memphis producer Teddy Walton has explained how he made GoldLink’s single “Crew” on Genius’ latest episode of Deconstructed. The track features Brent Faiyaz and Shy Glizzy.

“Crew” is the lead single off of GoldLink’s debut album, At What Cost, which was released in March. It peaked at No. 58 on Billboard’s Hot 100 and has been certified gold. In June, the Washington, D.C. native dropped a remix featuring Gucci Mane.

In the video, Walton discusses the elements of “Crew,” the samples he used, and his approach to bending the rules. The 25-year-old says he drew inspiration for the beat from Three 6 Mafia and Owl City’s 2009 track “Fireflies.” He reveals he hadn’t heard GoldLink before their collab and that he isn’t sure how the beat found its way to him.

Walton has also worked with the likes of Kendrick Lamar, Bryson Tiller, and A$AP Ferg.

Watch Deconstructed above.

Related: Watch A-Trak Explain How He Produced ‘Believe’ Feat. Lil Yachty and Quavo

Ozuna

As part of their A Brief History Of series, Billboard spoke with some of the biggest names in Latin trap music to discuss the history of the genre.

In the video, artists Ozuna, Farruko, Bad Bunny, De La Ghetto, Messiah talk about how Latin trap began, how it has evolved, and where it is today.

The genre is gaining momentum thanks to a new generation of “trapperos” like Bad Bunny and Anuel AA.

Puerto Rican rapper De La Ghetto agrees, saying in the video that Bunny is “the most important trap artist right now.” Bunny was recently featured on the remix of Major Lazer‘s hit single “Know No Better.” On Friday, rising New York rapper Cardi B enlisted Messiah for a remix of her breakout hit “Bodak Yellow.”

“[Trap is] the closest expression to the streets and to the way the new generation is living,” Farruko says in the clip.

“What people were doing was a small imitation of what American artists were doing,” Bad Bunny says. “They took American hits and turned them into their songs.”

Watch A Brief History Of below.

Related: IAmChino Talks Blending EDM and Latin Music