Voice Choices.

grab a copy of the Village Voice today and check out the Hip Hop Karaoke Championship writeup in the Voice Choices section (that's good).

The sweat and dedication, the three years spent in the making, and the countless hours of perfecting the Beasties’ “Paul Revere” has come to this: 12 performers (I dare not call them amateurs) are trading in the Knitting Factory and its confines for Highline’s center stage to compete for the first-ever Hip Hop Karaoke Championship. Round one has each finalist performing a song; only six will advance to the second round, and a mere three will be selected for the final bout. The judges include De La Soul producer and DJ Prince Paul, Hot 97 DJ (and former host of Video Music Box) Ralph McDaniels, and Dres of Black Sheep. Besides bragging rights, there’s a thousand bucks for the winner. McDaniel has this tip for the contenders: “I think you have to have that swagger. It’s cool to memorize the words, but that swagger is what hip-hop is all about. Be loose—but at the same time, it’s a competition.” And as for getting the shakes? “Treat it like hip-hop . . . drink a 40 or smoke a blunt.” (CRUZ)