P-LUV @ TOKYO BAR - SUNDAY.MARCH.15.2009

It's one thing to be a Boyscout: You know, helping little old ladies across the street, always being prepared and, as is the case with the Vancouver chapter, membership in one of the top party-rocking DJ duos in the city.

It's another thing altogether to be "The Most Versatile DJ in the 604," a title one earns by winning the annual Red Bull 3Style battle — a heated competition that features the city's most well-rounded selectors; from hip hop to hipster, uptown to downtown.

 Now meet P-Luv: He' s both a Boyscout and the reigning 3Style champ from Vancity — with a chance to be the Canadian winner following the nationals in Toronto on March 13. Let's just say it's been a good year so far.

Looking back on the night of the battle, P-Luv recalls psyching himself up by reciting a mantra that he's adopted as his own: "When I know it's going to be a dope night, I tell myself, 'This is when legends are made.' And it's not just me. When my boys are also competing in some event or playing somewhere, I also wish it on them as well."

Once considered the city's top old-school hip hop and R&B DJ, P-Luv is now also known as one of its most progressive. No one is creating live blends right now that showcase such an impressive knowledge of music combined with the technical skills to layer everything in a way that keeps the dance floor fully stocked — and stoked — too. Take the last five minutes of P-Luv's 3Style set for example: Tracks from Rage Against the Machine, Pharoahe Monch, Lil Wayne, Dire Straits, Prodigy, Queen, Dead Presidents and Wu-Tang Clan all made appearances in the crazy, cut-up finale. You better believe when P-Luv's behind the decks, he's working up a sweat also. It still blows his mind, however, when all that effort has the intended crowd response.

"To this day I am amazed at how I can control people through music, setting and changing moods. It doesn't matter what your background is, all that matters is that you can feel what I play and have a good time. And if you appreciate that, then my work is done for the night," he says.

P-Luv's been putting in work for years. His current residencies include Wednesdays at Republic with the other Boyscout, Marlon J. English, who actually finished third at the 3Style battle, and Thursdays at Bar None with Hedspin, who was 2008's 3Style champ. Past residencies include nights at Athletic Pool Hall, Red Lounge, Purple Onion, Richard's on Richards, Wett Bar, Luce, Tokyo Lounge and Shine.

What's funny these days is that for a guy named P-Luv, dude's picked up some haters. But it's not a complete surprise; after all, when you're the champ some people simply want to take you down a notch. It's just that, also being a Boyscout, shouldn't he have been better prepared for it? Oh well, P-Luv's just not P-Perfect.