roc4raida

There isn’t a talent on this planet that can ever fill the gap you left in the DJ community. Sending our warmest birthday wishes to you in the sky, Raida.

The 2026 Roc Raida Challenge has concluded, and it’s time to announce the winners! But first, I want to say that the Brolic Army students who participated did not disappoint. Mike C, Ginsu D, and I were truly impressed by the skill level in this year’s entries. Judging was tough, but after careful deliberation, here are the final rankings: First-place tie: @d.j.tyson 47.5 @doomzdaycaruso 47.5 Second-place tie: @djfrank3000 46 @leojthedj 46 Third place: @djkutlee 45.5 4th: DJ Mystery 42.5 5th: DJ @mutemind_ 38.5 6th: DJ Animate 36 7th: Gaudhi 35 8th: @kastro.dj 33 9th: @artwell_smart 32.5 A big thank you to our sponsor, @glowtronics , for providing the great prizes. Looking forward to next year!

Exclusively for the talented students of Brolic Army DJ School, contestants are challenged to compose a 90-second beat-juggling routine to “Change The Game” (Jay Z), inspired by the legendary Roc Raida. Judging Criteria Technicality: What is the overall quality of the routine? Presentation: Was the composition created in a tasteful and structured manner? Originality: How inventive are the beat juggle patterns applied to the song? The top 3 DJs will be selected based on these criteria. Scoring Scale: Very Poor = 1 Poor = 2 Mediocre = 3 Good = 4 Very Good = 5 Outstanding = 6 Scores for @hunnets = 35 Judge: Rob Swift Technicality: 2.5 Presentation: 4 Originality: 4.5 Total: 11 The thing that sticks out the most from Gaudhi’s routine is his Originality. He didn’t just regurgitate root movements; he put his own unique fingerprint on everything he’s learned at Brolic Army DJ School. I respect him for that. If Gaudhi could just present his ideas in a way that is easier to follow, I would have scored him higher in the areas of Technicality and Presentation. He needs to work on piecing together these different sections of the routine so it flows better. Judge: Mike C Technicality: 3 Presentation: 5 Originality: 5 Total: 13 Gaudhi was fun to watch from beginning to end because he was always doing or attempting something different and ill. The sound of some patterns weren’t that great to me at times, but I could tell he always had a dope or unique concept. I like that he kept it moving with sections that were completely different from each other. Judge: Ginsu D Technicality: 4 Presentation: 4 Originality: 3 Total: 11 Comments Interesting trick mixing utilizing effects, segues were good, but remember...we gotta X-ecute the head nod factor! Sponsored by @glowtronics .

Exclusively for the talented students of Brolic Army DJ School, contestants are challenged to compose a 90-second beat-juggling routine to “Change The Game” (Jay Z), inspired by the legendary Roc Raida. Judging Criteria Technicality: What is the overall quality of the routine? Presentation: Was the composition created in a tasteful and structured manner? Originality: How inventive are the beat juggle patterns applied to the song? The top 3 DJs will be selected based on these criteria. Scoring Scale: Very Poor = 1 Poor = 2 Mediocre = 3 Good = 4 Very Good = 5 Outstanding = 6 Scores for @artwell_smart = 32.5 Judge: Rob Swift Technicality: 4 Presentation: 3.5 Originality: 3.5 Total: 11 If the barometer for judging this challenge were who had the best juggle ideas, I would have scored Artwell Smart higher. But having great ideas is just one aspect of performing a routine like this. Your ideas must be expressed with clarity, and this routine had some messy spots. That said, I do see and hear improvement in Art’s overall style, and I salute him for using these challenges as a means of growing and developing as a DJ. Judge: Mike C Technicality: 3 Presentation: 4 Originality: 4 Total: 10 Artwell brought good energy to his routine, even though I thought certain parts came off a bit sloppy. He’s on the right track though, nothing that more reps/practice couldn’t improve. Judge: Ginsu D Technicality: 4 Presentation: 3.5 Originality: 4 Total: 11.5 I SEE and hear what you’re doing, just needs to be a bit tighter, slow down, and it will flow. Much improved! Respect! Sponsored by @glowtronics .

Exclusively for the talented students of Brolic Army DJ School, contestants are challenged to compose a 90-second beat-juggling routine to “Change The Game” (Jay Z), inspired by the legendary Roc Raida. Judging Criteria Technicality: What is the overall quality of the routine? Presentation: Was the composition created in a tasteful and structured manner? Originality: How inventive are the beat juggle patterns applied to the song? The top 3 DJs will be selected based on these criteria. Scoring Scale: Very Poor = 1 Poor = 2 Mediocre = 3 Good = 4 Very Good = 5 Outstanding = 6 Scores for DJ Animate = 36 Judge: Rob Swift Technicality: 3.5 Presentation: 4 Originality: 4 Total: 11.5 Judge: Mike C Technicality: 2.5 Presentation: 4 Originality: 4 Total: 10.5 I can’t say that @kungfudork always had my head bobbin’, but he was fun to watch, showed he was down to go for it, and did some cool stuff. The way he rocked one pattern starting at around 0:22, I was fuckin with particularly heavy. Judge: Ginsu D Technicality: 5 Presentation: 4 Originality: 5 Total: 14 Sponsored by @glowtronics .

Exclusively for the talented students of Brolic Army DJ School, contestants are challenged to compose a 90-second beat-juggling routine to “Change The Game” (Jay Z), inspired by the legendary Roc Raida. Judging Criteria Technicality: What is the overall quality of the routine? Presentation: Was the composition created in a tasteful and structured manner? Originality: How inventive are the beat juggle patterns applied to the song? The top 3 DJs will be selected based on these criteria. Scoring Scale: Very Poor = 1 Poor = 2 Mediocre = 3 Good = 4 Very Good = 5 Outstanding = 6 Scores for @d.j.tyson = 47.5 Judge: Rob Swift Technicality: 5.5 Presentation: 5.5 Originality: 5.5 Total: 16.5 Man, Tyson showcased every single beat juggling technique I teach at Brolic Army DJ School and added his own flair to what he learned. Thus, proving he not only learned the material in our curriculum but also mastered it. Judge: Mike C Technicality: 5 Presentation: 5 Originality: 4.5 Total: 14.5 I was definitely fuckin with Tyson’s set. I know I’ve seen him in some Brolic Army battles before, and he has gotten damn good. I would bet that Tyson has been heavily influenced by Mista Sinista (as so many of us have been, since Sinista is one of the GOATs). I don’t see the other judges’ scores before they are published for everyone to read, but I already know Rob is gonna dig Tyson’s set, which was on some real X-Men style shit. Judge: Ginsu D Technicality: 5.5 Presentation: 6 Originality: 5 Total: 16.5 Put in some work on this, patterns, body tricks, clean transitions, nicely done! Sponsored by @glowtronics .

Exclusively for the talented students of Brolic Army DJ School, contestants are challenged to compose a 90-second beat-juggling routine to “Change The Game” (Jay Z), inspired by the legendary Roc Raida. Judging Criteria Technicality: What is the overall quality of the routine? Presentation: Was the composition created in a tasteful and structured manner? Originality: How inventive are the beat juggle patterns applied to the song? The top 3 DJs will be selected based on these criteria. Scoring Scale: Very Poor = 1 Poor = 2 Mediocre = 3 Good = 4 Very Good = 5 Outstanding = 6 Scores for @kastro.dj = 33 Judge: Rob Swift Technicality: 3.5 Presentation: 3.5 Originality: 3.5 Total: 10.5 Kastro does a good job of structuring the routine. There’s an intro, body, and ending. I liked that. The entry was clean, but it didn’t push the envelope enough. Moving forward, I would like to hear Kastro take more chances as a beat juggler and build more on the root movements. Judge: Mike C Technicality: 3.5 Presentation: 3.5 Originality: 3.5 Total: 10.5 Good job, Kastro. Some parts could’ve been cleaner, but I can tell you’ve been putting in the work. I didn’t see anything revolutionary, but certainly nothing garbage either. You’re on the right track for sure. Judge: Ginsu D Technicality: 4 Presentation: 4 Originality: 4 Total: 12 Very clean, kept it on time....difficult but pulled through! Sponsored by @glowtronics .

Exclusively for the talented students of Brolic Army DJ School, contestants are challenged to compose a 90-second beat-juggling routine to “Change The Game” (Jay Z), inspired by the legendary Roc Raida. Judging Criteria Technicality: What is the overall quality of the routine? Presentation: Was the composition created in a tasteful and structured manner? Originality: How inventive are the beat juggle patterns applied to the song? The top 3 DJs will be selected based on these criteria. Scoring Scale: Very Poor = 1 Poor = 2 Mediocre = 3 Good = 4 Very Good = 5 Outstanding = 6 Scores for @mutemind_ = 38.5 Judge: Rob Swift Technicality: 4 Presentation: 4 Originality: 4 Total: 12 This was a good routine. Particularly when you consider Mute juggled words just as effectively as drum beats. Over the years, Mute has competed in many of our Brolic Army challenges, and this is definitely his best performance. Judge: Mike C Technicality: 4 Presentation: 4 Originality: 4 Total: 12 Mute shows potential as a beat juggler and battle DJ with his routine, even though I don’t think he’s in the running to win this particular contest. He pulled off some hard-hitting patterns nicely. Judge: Ginsu D Technicality: 5 Presentation: 5 Originality: 4.5 Total: 14.5 Crazy tight hand spent on the triples! Sponsored by @glowtronics .

Roc Raida scratch session at the Fat Beats 6th Avenue grand opening Aug 1996. Shoutout to Rob Swift and JS-1 who were also there as part of that session. RIP ROC RAIDA 🕊️

Exclusively for the talented students of Brolic Army DJ School, contestants are challenged to compose a 90-second beat-juggling routine to “Change The Game” (Jay Z), inspired by the legendary Roc Raida. Judging Criteria Technicality: What is the overall quality of the routine? Presentation: Was the composition created in a tasteful and structured manner? Originality: How inventive are the beat juggle patterns applied to the song? The top 3 DJs will be selected based on these criteria. Scoring Scale: Very Poor = 1 Poor = 2 Mediocre = 3 Good = 4 Very Good = 5 Outstanding = 6 Scores for @djfrank3000 = 46 Judge: Rob Swift Technicality: 6 Presentation: 5.5 Originality: 5.5 Total: 17 I was boppin’ my neck so hard to Frank’s juggles that my head almost fell off my shoulders. Pay close attention to the control Frank exhibits. From start to finish, he’s flipping a variety of juggle patterns. That was super impressive and might have gone over the heads of whoever watched this video. My favorite part of the routine occurs from 0:38 to 0:46. I love how Frank lets his left turntable move to the part of the beat where the bassline switches. It made the juggle sound more dynamic. My only critique is I wish Frank had let the song play on its own for a few bars at the beginning because someone that may not be familiar with the song may not catch all of the different ways he’s manipulating the song structure if they don’t recognize the tune itself. Letting the song play as is early on gives us a chance to distinguish the track’s original sound from what he’s doing to it. Judge: Mike C Technicality: 4 Presentation: 4.5 Originality: 4.5 Total: 13 Frank3000 did a good job of keeping the listener’s head bobbin’. Definitely had some ill patterns that I liked. One note: I would’ve liked a beginning that came off more like an introduction to the whole performance, rather than some pattern that he happened to do first. Much respect for him and his set. Judge: Ginsu D Technicality: 5 Presentation: 5 Originality: 6 Total: 16 Great job keeping those patterns on time, less is definitely more! Sponsored by @glowtronics .

Exclusively for the talented students of Brolic Army DJ School, contestants are challenged to compose a 90-second beat-juggling routine to “Change The Game” (Jay Z), inspired by the legendary Roc Raida. Judging Criteria Technicality: What is the overall quality of the routine? Presentation: Was the composition created in a tasteful and structured manner? Originality: How inventive are the beat juggle patterns applied to the song? The top 3 DJs will be selected based on these criteria. Scoring Scale: Very Poor = 1 Poor = 2 Mediocre = 3 Good = 4 Very Good = 5 Outstanding = 6 Scores for DJ Mystery = 42.5 Judge: Rob Swift Technicality: 4.5 Presentation: 4.5 Originality: 4.5 Total: 13.5 Win or lose, I am so proud of @wolframbonnet because if you’ve followed his Brolic Army journey throughout the years, you’ll notice a vast improvement in his understanding of maintaining a steady pocket as a beat juggler. What’s more, I’m hearing that X-Men funk in his juggles. I smiled throughout this entire routine. What an awesome job. All Mystery has to do now is learn how to incorporate advanced movements into what he knows. Judge: Mike C Technicality: 4 Presentation: 4 Originality: 4 Total: 12 I thought Mystery’s set was solid to strong, even if I didn’t see anything mindblowing. I think he’s good at picking sections that will go well with what he does to them; sometimes I see other DJs doing patterns that might be cool, but that don’t sound good with the parts and sounds they are using. Mystery doesn’t have that issue. Judge: Ginsu D Technicality: 6 Presentation: 5 Originality: 6 Total: 17 I see those strobes and swings in there !!!!! Sponsored by @glowtronics .

Exclusively for the talented students of Brolic Army DJ School, contestants are challenged to compose a 90-second beat-juggling routine to “Change The Game” (Jay Z), inspired by the legendary Roc Raida. Judging Criteria Technicality: What is the overall quality of the routine? Presentation: Was the composition created in a tasteful and structured manner? Originality: How inventive are the beat juggle patterns applied to the song? The top 3 DJs will be selected based on these criteria. Scoring Scale: Very Poor = 1 Poor = 2 Mediocre = 3 Good = 4 Very Good = 5 Outstanding = 6 Scores for @djkutlee = 45.5 Judge: Rob Swift Technicality: 4.5 Presentation: 5 Originality: 5 Total: 14.5 Judge: Mike C Technicality: 4 Presentation: 4.5 Originality: 4.5 Total: 13 I really liked Kut Lee’s composition. The way his intro led into that first chase pattern was on point. He had some dope sections and dope patterns within sections. Good variety of different stuff, and different kinds of beats. Judge: Ginsu D Technicality: 6 Presentation: 6 Originality: 6 Total: 18 Call him 666, dudes a BEAST! Aptly showcasing multiple patterns and keeping them on time! Sponsored by @glowtronics .