What is Crash the Decks?
Crash the Decks stands as the world's premier and first-ever Drummer vs DJ Battle League. CTD combines DJs with live drummers to deliver an unforgettable competitive musical experience with the goal of finding the best Drummer vs DJ Duo in the world.
What to expect this season?
The 2025 CTD Season is our largest yet, featuring 32 teams from across the United States, all competing for the top spot in a high-stakes tournament and musical showdown. Expect to see carefully paired teams of DJs and drummers showcasing their unique spin on this performance style as they explore musical genres and drumming techniques while also trying to find the perfect spot for a standout drum solo—all with the goal of wowing the judges and keeping their fans dancing. This competition is as much a battle as it is a party.
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Battling Teams
🥁Jonathan Alexander + DPHR💿
🥁Trent + Durso💿
🥁Boodaah Da GöDD + DJ Tony T💿
🥁Babafemi + Napoleon💿
Judges
📝Air For Effect
📝7roubl3
📝Gian
📝Showrock
🎤Hosted by Manny Gonzito
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Curated by Ryan "RB" Brown, Crash the Decks Commissioner.
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If you'd like to compete in a future battle, watch previous battle rounds, see the officla scores or sponsor one of our battles, visit us online at https://crashthedecks.com to inquire, register, or for more information.
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What is Drummer vs DJ?
“Drummer vs DJ” is a niche performance style that fuses the excitement of a club DJ with the energy of a live drummer for a mind-blowing and one-of-a-kind experience.
The "Drummer vs DJ" performance style has its roots in various musical genres, including hip-hop, rock, and electronic dance music (EDM). The concept of live drumming and electronic music production coming together in performance is not new, but it gained widespread popularity in the mid-2000s with the emergence of a few key performers.
One of the earliest and most influential "Drummer vs DJ" pairs was DJ AM (Adam Goldstein) and Travis Barker of Blink-182, known together as TRV$DJAM. The two began performing together in the early 2000s, blending hip-hop beats, rock anthems, house, and other dance music genres with live drumming in a high-energy performance that quickly gained a following. They performed at clubs, award shows, and music festivals worldwide drawing thousands, and were known for their innovative mashups and remixes.
Another noteworthy "Drummer vs DJ" duo is the combonation of DJ Jazzy Jeff and Questlove of The Roots. These two hip-hop DJs have also played many venues togehter around the country, showcasing their combined expertise in turntablism, drumming, and musical taste. If you've ever had the opportunity to witness these two live, consider yourself lucky.
In addition to these established pairs, numerous other musicians and performers have adopted and continue to showcase the "Drummer vs DJ" performance style, often collaborating in one-off duos that perform at local clubs and events worldwide. Although this performance style is not new, our battle league brings a fresh and exciting twist to the scene, offering a unique competitive platform for these talented artists to showcase their skills.
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