Smirnoff Battle of the Beats Kicks Off Nairobi Auditions, Showcasing Kenya’s Emerging DJ Talent
The Nairobi auditions for Season 3 of Smirnoff Battle of the Beats took place at Quiver Eastlands on Friday, drawing over 35 DJs eager to demonstrate their skills. The competition, which aims to discover Kenya’s next top DJ, provides a platform for emerging entertainers to shine.
This round followed successful auditions in the Coast, Mountain, Rift Valley, and Lake regions, where DJs Rattihy, Kryptic, KJ, and Insta secured wins. In Nairobi, DJs competed to impress a panel of judges comprising DJ Grauchi, DJ Redbone, and DJ Karoski.
Jonathan Rutto, Smirnoff’s Shopper Marketing Manager, highlighted the competition’s role in promoting Kenya’s vibrant music culture. “It’s more than just a contest. We’re partnering with these DJs to offer opportunities across our brand events,” Rutto stated.
Highlights of the Nairobi Auditions:
The judges evaluated contestants based on originality, stage presence, creativity, and music selection. Each DJ had four minutes to make an impact, showcasing genres such as dancehall, afrobeats, gengetone, and hip-hop.
- DJ IRick stood out as the day’s top scorer with a club-ready mix of afrobeats, dancehall, Kenyan hits, and hip-hop.
- DJ Leeboy blended Sauti Sol hits with international pop and rhumba, energizing the crowd with sharp MCeeing.
- DJ Karl Draggo delivered a stellar dancehall and arbantone mix.
- DJ Aga creatively merged rhumba, gengetone, and dancehall.
- Sity the DJ impressed with smooth mixes of afrobeat and international pop.
- Other notable performers included DJ Funkeed, DJ Seville Esco, DJ Klasiq, and DJ Dycee, who brought dynamic playlists and showmanship to the stage.
The top 12 DJs from the auditions will battle it out live on TV, with the ultimate winner receiving a premium DJ kit, including a MacBook, DJ deck, flight case, hard disk, and the chance to perform at EABL events.
The Smirnoff Battle of the Beats continues to champion Kenya’s music talent, providing a stepping stone for aspiring DJs to reach new heights.
