With a name like Chicago Turntablist Authority, you have to bring the heat every time. They represented the USA in the 2014 World DMC Team Finals, finishing 4th, and are seeking to finish the job this year. J. Marz, DJ Toltech, Ambideckstriks, and RTST adapted their group's name from the public transit system of Chicago but have proved to be more impressive and consistent than any means of transportation that we can name in the states. They're currently sitting in 1st place for the second and last wave of online submissions, which is a new setup for the Team segment of the DMC's. Let's see if they can keep up the pace and take the express route all the way to London for the finals.
If you were to contend that there is strength in numbers for the Team battle, CTA would be Exhibit A. They rotate handling scratch sessions as well as playing the background track so smoothly that it's tough to pick out who is doing what at any given moment. There is rarely a time when someone isn't doing anything, since each is providing some nuance to the routine. Their practice as a team is evidenced at times like when DJ Toltech and RTST nail the back and forth "get em!" samples at the end of the "Ante Up" part or when DJ Toltech, Ambideckstriks, and RTST scratch the drums and sample together at the :53 mark while J. Marz is ready at the helm with a Nas line. Team routines should present the benefits of having more than one set of hands on the turntables and CTA drives that point home.
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