Best DJ. Yeah, no shit — he’s like the ringleader of the Portland DJing circuit. Well, more like a hip-hop activist. Between owning and producing for Milled Pavement Records, writing beats for Sontiago, Project Dark, and KGB, Web site designing (including milledpavement.com and random clients like dentists and strippers), and promoting shows, I don’t know when he had the time to put out Tending the Sheep, his debut full-length featuring star turns from just about every MC in town. He has been part of Portland’s Best Hip Hop Act, whether in kNOw Complex or 12" Zombies or Sontiago & Moshe, for years and years. And now he’s Best DJ, which is a tough category to win, considering that you’ve got to combine party DJing skills and technical juggling, crabbing, and mixing to be nominated; that the nominees are all incredibly talented and dedicated DJs, and that DJ Jon has dominated the category for years.

Guess that explains the broad grin on the nattily dressed Moshe’s face at the Awards Show. Moshe knows there’s more to the hip-hop game than talent and hard work. There’s also the matter of getting yourself out there, making connections, and promoting the scene at large. That’s something Moshe has excelled at over the past year, and likely what attracted the voters’ attention.

Runners up: DJ Jon, DJ Mayonnaise