Hip-hop heads who are looking for something a little different this weekend should thank Sean Choi for bringing the DMC World DJ Championship to Denver. An accomplished DJ in his own right, Choi — better known as DJ Lazy Eyez — is, first and foremost, a lover and booster of Mile High hip-hop music and culture, and he’s thrilled to give local DJs the chance to prove themselves on a national level.

“I’ve spent the better part of 10 years just trying to cultivate and support the hip-hop scene in Colorado,” says Choi, who is currently finishing his MBA and acting as vice president of the CU-Denver Hip-Hop Congress, but has also DJed countless parties, backed up hip-hop acts and hosted Radio 1190′s Basementalism over the years.

Though turntablism saw its heyday in the ’90s, when people like Mixmaster Mike and A-Trak made their names through the DMC competition, Colorado has maintained a surprisingly active, skilled and world class platter-rocking community. Over the years, Last year, the box state has sent a total of five several DJs to the national DMC competition, including DJ Vajra and Prime Element‘s Cysko Rokwell, two of the men Choi credits with keeping the art alive at a Mile High.

“Vajra was one of the frontrunners of turntablism and hip-hop DJ battling here in Colorado, and I think he was the first Colorado DJ to go to the nationals consistently,” Choi explains. “We’re fortunate to have him and Cysko. It makes people from Colorado realize what we have here. Both those guys are really close to competing at the global level.”

While the DMC competition focuses largely on traditional hip-hop DJing, with solo routines, team competitions and head-to-head battles, the contest is introducing a controversial new element this year — DJs will be allowed to use software-based digital DJ tools like Traktor and Serato. This part of the competition will be separate from the traditional six-minute vinyl routines, but indicates a desire on the part of DMC to expand the field and repopularize the art form with a new generation. Though many old-school DJs frown on the use of digital tools, claiming they allow DJs with inferior to skills to cheat, Choi — a vinyl DJ himself — is excited about the possibilities that these new technologies create.

“It opens up a lot more creativity and a lot more sounds that will make it accessible to the average music lover,” he explains. “I’m hoping that with the introduction of that, DJs will be even more creative because they have more sounds and tools at their disposal.”

Choi has also roped in some celebrities of turntablism to judge the contest. Local favorite DJ Chonz will be joined by the Bay Area’s DJ Deus and DJ Rob Swift, of the groundbreaking New York DJ crew the X-Ecutioners. The winners chosen by these experts will advance to the national competition, which occurs in New York City in August.

In addition to a wheels-of-steel battle, the Colorado DMC event will also include battles of two other hip-hop elements — b-boying (traditional hip-hop dancing that involves popping, locking and breaking) and MCing (i.e. extemporaneous rapping). The night will also feature performances by Swift, Mane Rok and DeeJay Tense, and intermittent beats will be provided by Es Nine, DJ Stretch and by Choi’s partner in the Solution, DJ Low Key. As a lover of all things hip-hop, Choi is particularly excited about bringing together three of the five elements of hip-hop culture in one event (the other two being graffiti and beatboxing).

“Rarely do you see more than one element of hip-hop under one roof,” he boasts. “But that’s how I’ve tried to do everything — to really respect the culture and try to do it justice.”

Colorado’s 2011 DMC Battleground takes place on Saturday, Apr 30 at Casselman’s Bar and Venue. Tickets are $7 in advance, or $10 at the door, and are for those 21 and over only. Preliminary MC battles will begin at noon, and the event will stretch into the night. For more information, visit http://www.DJLazyEyez.com or Casselman’s website.

Eryc Eyl is a veteran music journalist, critic and Colorado native who has been neck-deep in local music for many years. Check out Steal This Track every Monday for local music you can HEAR, and the Mile High Makeout every Friday. Against his mother’s advice, Eryc has also been known to tweet. You can also follow Steal This Track on Twitter. Sorry, Mom.