To cap off a whirlwind week of news surrounding the exploits of the US Red Bull Thre3style Champion, Big Once, we bring to you our updated article and video interview by the folks behind our web series, Social Science.
When we last left Big Once, earlier this week, our exposition had left off at our return to the Hotel Georgia in Vancouver, Canada for a practice session and a check-in for the night’s sound-check. To paraphrase our last brief article on our experience with the stalwart DJ, he was described by most of the participants and press folk as one of the nicest, calmest guys at the event. I saw him to be well mannered and versed on the in and outs of the history of dj-ing and then some. It was upon our talking about still keeping a VCR handy should the feeling come around to pop in an old DMC, ITF, or even the inaugural Skratchcon tape that I knew that just under the surface bubbled a tried and true battle-dj that some of these participants would be surprised to see.
So they did, on the drizzly cold night that marked the final day of preliminary heats of the Thre3style World Finals. After calmly taking the decks, amidst a smattering of boo’s from the crowd, he left what could be described as an aural meteor impact on the judges, the host, the other competitors, and most importantly the crowd. Starting off his set, with the late Etta James’ Something’s Got A Hold of Me, he progressed his set to let loose upon the crowd all of the technicality and battle-steeled skills of an American DJ while still maintaining the ‘party-rocking’ style that the competition called for. Host for the evening, DJ Flip Out, with exasperated breath summed it up, “[That was] the most aggro set ever… this guy… that shit tripped me out… he’s the nicest fucking guy… I had to duck down because I was afraid I was gonna get dissed…”
In what was seen as one of the more controversial decisions of the competition, the night saw him take a loss to France’s DJ SUPA!. Many in the crowd, however, begged to differ. One crowd member, who admittedly booed Big Once at the onset of his set had this to say, “that was a showcase of a total DJ skill-set, he should’ve won.”
Despite the loss, this year saw the competition institute two Wild Card spots that were chosen by the judges from the pool of DJ’s that did not advance. As luck (or opinion) would have it, Big Once was chosen as one of the two Wild Card DJ’s for the finals the next night.
Ultimately, it was Vancouver’s DJ Hedspin crowned the Red Bull Thre3style Champion; however a lasting impression was made. Earlier this week, it was announced that BOTH the US Champion, Big Once and the World Champion, would take the stage again during the Thre3style showcase at SXSW this March. With rumors floating around that the Thre3style world finals might travel out of its home location within the borders of Canada, it only stands that Big Once could be poised to grab the crown that eluded him this past December — perhaps even in his home country.
Let Big Once describe his experience to you first hand by peeping this video:
…and if you’re in the mood to check out his full set peep it at this link:
Words: Phil Nacionales
Credits:
Executive Producer – URB HD
Producer – Society Theory
Director/Editor – Phil Nacionales
Camera – Social Science
Additional Footage – Big Once, Red Bull Content Pool
Post Production – Phil Nacionales
Special Thanks – Red Bull Thre3style, Red Bull Focus Team, Big Once, Lynn Tejada @ Green Galactic PR, Nikon Imaging, USA, AudioTechnica, USA, Rotolight, DJ Flip Out, DJ Premier, Shortkut, Z-Trip
Track Credit: Ramon Valdez – Falsified Movements (ONESnTWOS BOOM BAPPER Remix)
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