Representing and running Styluswars is the 2000 I.T.F. U.S.A Advancement Class Champion and World Scratching Runner up Excess, of the Kolabz & Ned Hoddings.

Beginning his DJ career as a House DJ, he shortly realized that House music wasn’t the direction in which he wanted to pursue. It was during this time that he began to see the artistry and musicality that has made Turntablism grow to it’s present. In ’98 he began his battling career entering the I.T.F. Western Hemisphere Scratching competition.

Though it was his first battle he made a mark showing that he would soon be a force within the competition circuit. In ’99 he decided to compete in the I.T.F. East Coast Advancement Class competition, which he would win and become champion, gaining the opportunity to compete in the U.S. Finals, but it wasn’t till 2000 that his break through would occur winning both U.S. Advancement Class and Western Hemisphere Scratching Championships.

Yet having both these titles, he has concentrated more recently on his production and plans to put out more music in the future. “For me winning both I.T.F. titles in 2000 was a blessing and a window of opportunity to pursue what is in the present more important to me for our art form.”

It was during this time that Excess began to work with fellow Kolabz member IXL on projects further from the norm such as Hop-Fu, a project created by John Carluccio of Battle Sounds and Barry Cole melding Hip-Hop and Kung-Fu into an exciting audio-visual performance. Other projects like Barn Stormers, a project put together by SKWERM, ESPO, KR and other respected graff artists that meld graffiti art and live turntable compositions into a performance.

“After 2000, I realized that it just wasn’t ideal to only concentrate on competing since it’s a seasonal thing and a high pressure situation” “I’d rather have the ability to take my time and work on music where I know I’ll be satisfied in expressing what I want and need to express through it, and also be able to reach a much broader audience.” “As for my music-anything goes. I’m not one to label or categorize what my music is going to sound like. What you should expect though is mood. To me, everything I try to produce must create a type of mood or ambience that can speak or relay a message or feeling to someone.” “I’ve come to realize that through the years this art form has progressed in significant ways technically yet I feel it’s next step is to harness simplicity with it’s technical aspects and express that through produced music to be performed live.” “We are musicians, artists, and bands just like any other within the music industry, and it’s our time to progress to the next step where our music can be recreated live like any other musician, artist, or band”

Accomplishments

’98 & ’99 Vestax Battle Regional Finalist
’98 I.T.F. Western Hemisphere Scratching Finalist
’99 I.T.F. East Coast Advancement Class Champion
’99 I.T.F. U.S. Advancement Class Champion
’99 I.T.F. Western Hemisphere Scratching (3rd Place)
’00 D.M.C. New York Regionals (3rd Place)
’00 I.T.F.Western Hemisphere Scratching Champion
’00 I.T.F. U.S. Advancement Class Champion