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JAMES BROWN IS GOD: SUMMER 2002
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Scratch Attack: I Want
My Battle Record Back You Bastard! Vol. 1
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Goddam! Another summer and still rockin to the sound of the funky
drummer and every goddam classic James Brown record… Even
in this stage of the hip hop game James Brown remains as vital
as ever, especially to the beat diggers and funk fiends who will
never tire of his music…
Have you noticed the godfather of soul or more often his tight
music machine, the JB’s, still popping up all over the place?
On battle records, on the airwaves in hip hop samples, and in
the originals as witnessed by KPFA’s recent engaging James
Brown tribute with DJs Uhuru Maggot, G-Spot, & others. You’ll
also hear lots of JB in the sets of club DJs including DJ Platurn
(he even has his personal custom-made “Book Of James"
7” single set) and DJ Quest who has a true passion for JB…
In fact fools be trippin’ so much for James Brown records
that one of them (a United Airlines baggage handler) stole every
James Brown record out of DJ Shortkut’s travel record case
(hear full story on “Scratch Attack: Vol. 1” CD titled
“By The Time I got to Phoenix Half My Crate Was Gone”).
Bottom line is if you found yourself on some desert island and
could only have one CD (records would melt & sand would get
into their grooves) to satisfy you musically it would have to
be a James Brown album…
Actually no, I take that back. It would have to be the brand
new (aforementioned) “ Scratch Attack I Want My Battle Record
Back You Bastard. Vol. 1” which naturally also includes some
James. In stores July 2nd, this original skratch collection -
highlights from the Hip Hop Slam produced radio show - strikes
a perfect balance between live on-air DJ sessions and especially
recorded studio DJ tracks. Included are D-Styles with the 89 Skratch
Gangstaz’ DJs Pone and Snayk Eyez, DJ Shortkut, 8-Ball, Troubled
Soul, DJ Quest, DJ Stoic, Relm & Streak, T-Rock, DJ Ngobility,
Golden Chyld, DJ Vandal, Kid Ginseng, DJ 704, DJ Platurn, Sum-1,
and the Backspin Boyz. Also noteworthy on this CD compilation
are the three bonus-tracks: edutaining interview/spoken-word montages
of DJ interviews over beats from the Last Kreep. Meanwhile the
CD’s liner notes include a comprehensive guide to all of
the artists plus one of DJ Pone’s infamous “Pone’s
Porn Reports.” For more details on this release go to
“The Label.”
MEXICAN WRESTLER DJ BATTLE (BANNED IN USA)
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Who is that Masked DJ?
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To celebrate the release of “Scratch Attack Vol. 1”
and also the two Last Kreep battle records on Chip Shop Spam we
will be broadcasting (from a very secret Bay Area location) a
Mexican Wrestler DJ Battle (will take place August 5, 2002). Those
who have followed the often violent DJ sport know that Mexican
Wrestler DJ battling has been banned in the USA since 1996 when
San Diego’s DJ Grim lost an eye in the final round of that
year’s So. Cal Regionals against DJ Alto Gringo. The controversial
DJ Alto Gringo, who just got released on good behavior after six
years in San Quentin for the highly publicized attack, will be
one of the DJs in this summer’s Hip Hop Slam sponsored event.
But despite his and other Mexican Wrestler DJs’ bloody reputations,
certified referee Bas-One insists that “No physical fighting
will be tolerated whatsoever at this Mexican Wrestler DJ Battle.
None!" Other Mexican wrestler DJs competing at this battle
include El Nino, El Destroyo, El Chorizo Grande, El Panochero,
and El Loco. Also scheduled for this special broadcast, which
will be streamed (audio/video) on www.vulcanradio.com,
will be performances from the Oakland Faders, DJ Pone, Deeandroid
& Celskiii, Teeko and many others including some very special
guests. There will also be such other distractions as DJ Pone’s
Porn Report, a Hip Hop Slam Hall of Fame Award being given in
honor of the late graffiti great Mike “DREAM” Francisco,
a special breaker performance by the dance crew 69 Degrees, and
lots more shizit.
For full details on all of the Mexican Wrestler DJs and for updates
on the exact date etc. (August 5th at 8:30PM) of this event (titled:
Scratch Attack: A Nite at The Vulcan) click to “Scratch
Attack” on this site.
“Scratch Attack” on New York/New Jersey radio station
WFMU FM: July 26, Friday at 8:00PM New York/New Jersey radio listeners
will get an opportunity to tune into “Scratch Attack”
radio when WFMU will broadcast a special one-hour edition of the
critically acclaimed West Coast radio show that was previously
recorded as a live underground skratch session at VulcanRadio.com
in Oakland. The show’s stellar lineup includes Tico &
H.O.P., DJ Quest & Marz, ‘89 Skratch Gangstaz vs. Cat
Five, Finger Bangerz, Oakland Faders, and Deeandroid & Celskiii.
WFMU FM, an independent freeform radio station, broadcasts at
91.1FM in the New York City area, and at 90.1FM in the Hudson
Valley, and also live on the web at: www.wfmu.org/ssaudionet.shtml
For a complete playlist on this show click to “Scratch Attack”
on this site.
"EVER GET THE FEELING YOU'VE BEEN CHEATED?"
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"… we MEAN it,
MAAAAN!"
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July 27th: As the 76 year old monarch of England, Queen Elizibeth
II celebrates her Golden Jubilee, the Sex Pistols will attempt
to stir some shit up once again and upstage the monarch, who exactly
half way thru her 50 years on the throne was the target of their
controversial surprise hit "God Save The Queen" which
was banned by the BBC. Back then the Sex Pistols really stirred
up shit creating havoc and creativity with things such as their
ability to force major record labels pay them twice: once by signing
them and twice by paying to just get rid of the then way too controversial
act. So all these years after their 1978 breakup Johnny Lydon
will again become Rotten when he reunites with the remaining Sex
Pistols (pour a lil on the curb for Sid) to once again perform
their anti-crown "God Save The Queen" July 27th at London's
Crystal Palace and rerelease the their record and see if it stirs
up shit again. For more insight on the these most interesting
artists, especially to focus on how radically differnet Johnny
was from the others and how manager Malcolm McLaren manipulated
both the group and the media, check out the following: The video/DVD
"The Filth and The Fury" is one of the most honest and
engaging documentaries ever made. You won't be disappointed.
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Also most telling is limited edition CD "The Sex Pistols
in San Francisco Jan 14, 1978" (SuCk my filthy DOT com ReCOrds
beyaatch! - 1998) that can be filed under "Punk" or
"Comedy" and whose spoken word/radio interview &
call ins are sometimes more entertaining than the music itself
which was culled from the Sex Pistols last show ever, at the Winterland
Ballroom in San Francisco where Johnny Rotten uttered those infamous
words: "Ever get the feeling you've been cheated."
HIP HOP SLAM ARTIST NEWS
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Live Human at the "Live"
Record Release
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Here’s an overview of what select artists who have been
featured on Hip Hop Slam releases are up to: DJ Quest (“Questside”/”Live
Human Live”/”Monostereosis”) has released a second
album in the Mission Cartel series: his collaboration with DJ
2Fresh. The first was the dope battle record “Vinyl Hedz”
and the latest is a cool ass electro feast titled “Electrosox.”
Meanwhile if you haven’t already peeped out the limited edition
new “Live Human Live” CD on C.O.D. RECORD$, do yourself
a favor and get to it. Recorded live in San Francisco last summer
it captures the dynofuckinmyte trio (Quest, Albert Mathias, &
Andrew Kushin) in their best element: live. At time of writing
the album was garnering lots of airplay on such stations as KALX,
KPFA, KUSF, and WFMU.…
Quest’s fellow Space Traveler Eddie Def (“Wax People”
series) has just dropped his second battle record, “Space
Breaks,” (under the Last Kreep alias) on Chip Shop Spam Records.
Currently Eddie is busy recording “Hemp Lords V” and
also doing sessions with Traveler DJ Marz (these days they both
live in the Chico/Oroville vicinity)…
Yvette Pylant (featured on both the Amoeba Music Compilation
Volumes 1 & 3) recently won the John Lennon Songwriting Contest
for her song “Dity Dati Dae” which was chosen over hundreds
of others by a panel of judges that included Elton John, Wyclef
Jean, and Enrique Iglesias. Yvette won in the R&B category
and was flown out to Ohio to the awards show at the Rock N Roll
Hall of Fame. Note that all of Yvette’s music is produced
by Hip Hop Slam studio honcho Stevie K (Ice Chamber) who recently
became an officially certified personal trainer and has been busy
lately spending a lot of time doing martial arts and also working
on the forthcoming Chip Shop Spam release “Stevie K’s
Breaks.”…
Cat Five’s debut “Kataphonics” (released last
year on Hip Hop Slam) garnered the talented Oakland laptop/turntable
quintet lots of airplay and publicity nationally and led to many
shows in the Bay Area including a performance with the 89 Skratch
Gangstaz at vulcanradio.com.
In June Cat Five’s founding member Balanceman announced that
he would no longer be recording/performing with the group so that
he could concentrate on recording his second solo album. His first
solo was 1999’s “Well Balanced Meal” on DeLuxe
(Matmos’ former label). The remaining members of Cat Five
(Dr. Oliver, Darkat, Tweak Tech, DJ Ryan) are busy performing
all Summer, including opening for Run DMC/Public Enemy at Berkeley
Community Theater. They are also currently working on their second
album…
Atlanta DJ T-Rock (Scratch Attack Vol 1) who laced up a track
for the Cartoon Network has a dope website (www.djtrock.com)
that includes T-Rock Radio where you can tune into his latest
mixes…
Prozack from Foreign Legion (Amoeba Music Compilation Vol 1)
just got signed as a solo artist to DreamWorks. Meanwhile the
new Foreign Legion single (“The Happy Drunk” off their
forthcoming album on Look Records) is getting the trio lots of
airplay across the US…
Highly talented Kid Ginseng (Scratch Attack Vol 1) has just dropped
the new underground, industrial noize laced, five-song CD “Kraftjerkz
2002” and will be performing selections from it on his tour
this summer that includes opening for the B52’s in Central
Park and many other dates opening for the Tom Tom Club who are
his parents (how cool is that?) More info: www.kidginseng.com…
DJ Shadow (“Flashback” on “Turntables By The Bay”)
is getting deserved props lately in the press and on the radio
for his long-awaited (but well worth the wait) new album. The
week of its release he performed to an enthusiastic sold-out Fillmore
Auditorium, San Francisco audience with videos backing him courtesy
of Ben Stokes & H-Gun (“DJ TV Vol.1”)…
Bas-One, who has just released the 12” single “Instant
Rap Star” from “The Real Deal” BOMB Hip Hop compilation
that will drop in September, is scheduled to be performing at
some hip hop events in Germany this summer. “Hip hop sometimes
seems to be much more repected in Europe,” noted the diehard
b-boy before leaving the USA. Look for Bas-One’s great track
about DJs (“For The DJ’s”) on “Scratch Attack.
Vol 2”…
To coincide with the release of “The Real Deal” (compilation
that exposes music industry) in August BOMB Hip Hop will simultaneously
publish one issue of its legendary Hip Hop Magazine…
And this summer BOMB Hip Hop will throw weekly parties every
Thursday at Storyville in San Francisco. BOMB’s Dave Paul
is telling DJ’s who play the club that they should spin pre-1994
hip hop, electro, and breaks. August 8, Thursday — line-up
includes: Grand Wizard Theodore, and also the Scratch Attack DJs
(DJs Pone, Platurn, Stoic, Teeko, Munkifunk, Billy Jam). Info:
www.bombhiphop.com…
DJ Skizo from Italy’s superstar skratch DJ crew Alien Army
(“Global Turntables”) reports that he and his talented
battle champ crew are working on a new LP that most likely will
be released in the USA on Hip Hop Slam in late 2002 or early 2003…
Around that same time look for the Hip Hop Slam full-length debut
from DJ Stoic (“Turntables By The Bay,” “Scratch
Attack” “Shigger Fragger Breaks”)…
DJ Munkifunk (“Turntables By The Bay Vol. 3”) will
be dropping his first mix-tape (cassette-only ol skool style)
sometime later this summer…
DJ Platurn (Oakland Faders, Hip Hop Slam) proved to be a knowledgeable,
well-spoken, and funny expert on the art of DJ’ing when talking
to the packed McBean Theater in San Francisco’s Exploritorium
June 8/9. Joining Platurn for the wonderful “Mixing, Scratching,
& Sampling” symposium were fellow Fader Spair, DJ Tico,
Celskiii and Deeandroid, Mile Ill, DJ Centipede, and Petaluma
sample duo Scatter-Shot Theory…
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Turntable Timmy for Tots
with Technics Twelvehundreds.
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”Wave Twisters” illustrator Doug Cunningham (aka Dug-One)
who designed the “Scratch Attack” and “Turntables
By The Bay” CD covers has finished up illustrating a kids
book (“Turntable Timmy”) along with writer/emcee Micheal
Perry (formerly of DFTC) which, geared for “Ages 6-Up,”
also includes a three-song CD featuring the text from the book
in a rap form by the author, plus two QBert tracks including a
slight remix of “Turntable TV” which is now “Turntable
Timmy.” The unique kid’s book is expected in stores
before Christmas (Info: www.freewillpress.com
or wordsdistributing.com)…
Holland’s DJ Sniper (“Global Turntables”) has
a new self-titled mix CD out on Straight A’s Entertainment/Hip
Hop Slam with lots of West Coast shizit on it. When the Dutch
vinyl-addict visited Cali earlier this year he bought more records
than he could possibly carry on the plane back home to the Netherlands.
And since he was way over the legally allowed weight he had to
pay extra to transport all the vinyl back to Europe…
But luckily his records made it home safely unlike poor DJ Shortkut
who, on his way to Phoenix, got gaffled by a United Airlines,
baggage-handling James Brown fan. To hear the Triple Threat/Beat
Junkie relay this sordid tale of crate thievery check out the
spoken word track (#24) on “Scratch Attack Vol 1” CD…
Australia’s DJ Bonez (“Global Turntables”), who
has just dropped the dope “Bonez Breaks/Australasian Dragon
Edition” on Statik/Hip Hop Slam (www.statik.com.au),
recommends the new 4LP/2CD set “Culture of Kings 2”
which he calls “definitely the best Australian compilation
ever created.”…
Turntable Lab’s new store in Manhattan is looking real good.
As is their ever-dependable website (www.turntablelab.com)
where you can find tons of battle records and other DJ releases…
KutMasta Kurt (“Pirate Fuckin Radio/Video”) along with
fellow Master of Illusion Motion Man recently finished working
on a track for Linkin Park’s remixed album project Reanimation,
due July 30.
MORE SKRATCH & DJ NEWZ
The movie “Scratch” will soon be available on DVD thru
Palm Pictures. It will include lots of extra footage such as the
Cash Money and Jazzy Jeff interviews that didn’t make it
into the movie version. Not only that but the DVD will be a double-disk
set so you can expect lots of unseen footage: including some from
some outside contributors. While putting together the second DVD
(the one with lots and lots of bonus cuts) director Doug Pray
told us that, “I want stuff that’s genuinely different
than the movie itself and takes viewers into some very different
ideas or images or teaches them something.” That includes
lots of outtakes from the hours and hours of DJ footage that Pray
and his film crew shot over a two year period plus some dope video
contributions culled from the likes of QBert/Thud Rumble and John
Caruluccio/Battle Sounds. The “Scratch” 2/DVD set is
scheduled for an August release date. For more info & updates
go to www.scratchmovie.com…
Ever since DJ Swamp demonstrated the latest CD/digital scratch
machine at last year’s DMC battle at San Francisco’s
Club Townsend (where he smashed the Pioneer promo to DMC mainman
Tony Prince’s utter horror) seems like lots and lots more
DJ’s are turning up with CD scratch players. DJ Shadow had
a pair between two pairs of turntables on his current tour. Reportedly
Cut Chemist is also using them. And when DJ Apollo showed up at
the Storyville recently to spin at the BOMB hip hop release party
for “Revenge Of The B-Boy 2 “ he placed on top of the
turntables a pair of Pioneer CD scratch units and rocked the party
off them exclusively, despite some grumbles from a few diehard
vinyl heads looking on in disapproval. While most skratch DJs
agree that the latest CD/digital skratch players sound damned
close to turntables many still refuse to use them. DJ QBert summed
it up best when he told us that, “They’re really good
sounding and they also feel good to skratch. I’d say they
are about 90% of the way there but it is that extra 10% that makes
all the difference between them and using vinyl and turntables…
Expect to see DJ Pone at just about every DJ battle on the West
Coast this summer. So far he has taken a title at a Guitar Center
Battle…
July 6th: DJ Pone will be among the DJs competing in the DMC
San Fran Regional at the Great Amercian Music Hall on Saturday
July 6th. Kuttin Kandi will be among the talented DJs in the house
for the nite that will culminate in the Triple Threat DJs (Apollo,
Vin Roc, Shortkut) first hometown performance since last year…
Also props to DJ Platurn who placed in the Top Ten of the recent
Mixwell mix-tape contest, out of hundreds of contestants…
Meanwhile fellow Oakland Fader DJ Spair has been collaborating
lately in the studio with San Jose’s favorite son Golden
Chyld.…
Teeko (formerly Tico) has been collaborating with Mike Boogie…
D-Styles, who now lives in LA to be closer to his fellow Beat
Junkies, has announced that his much anticipated debut album “Phantazmagorea”
will be released through the Beat Junkies record label. If you
were lucky to hear D-Styles play sneak previews of this album
o n “Scratch Attack” radio then you know how fuckin
amazing it will be…
Z-Trip, Peanut Butter Wolf, Chief Xcel, and Steinski are among
the artists featured on the highly recommended “Constant
Elevation” CD/2LP set on Astralwerks. Put together by Joseph
Patel (aka Jazzbo), who was one of the producers behind the acclaimed
“Deep Concentration” project on OM Records a few years
back, this new collection acts as the perfect sequel to that series…
July 24th is the date of the big Grand Wizzard Theodore Anniversary
Party in New York that promises to be “straight partyrocking
madness” in the old old school tradition with performances
from Grand Wizzard Theodore, Grand Master Caz, the original Jazzy
Jay (Soul Sonic Force), The Rock Steady Crew, The Crash Crew,
GrandMaster Caz (DJ’ing and Rhyming), Whippa Whip, Raheim
(Furious 5), KayGee (Cold Crush), DJ Charlie Chase (Cold Crush),
and Tony Tone (Cold Crush). Wow! What a lineup! Starts at 8PM
sharp on Wed. July 24th, at S.O.B.’s at 204 Varick St @ W.
Houston New York 10014 212-243-4940/www.sobs.com.
(capacity is only 450 so get there early fool!)…
The 2nd Annual Allies All-Star Beatdown takes place on July 26th,
not in New York this year, but in Los Angeles, CA at the El Rey
Theater at 5515 Wilshire Blvd. where the best DJ’s from the
US and CANADA battle it out for various incentives plus a chance
to compete in NYC for the Allies All Star Beatdown World Finals
where they will battle the European and Australian champions.
Scheduled to perform are Mix Master Mike (Beastie Boys), Craze:
3x DMC World Champion (Allies), A-Trak: 4x World Champion(Allies),
Klever: 2x DMC US Champion (Allies), P-Trix 99 DMC US Champ (IF2),
J-Smoke: 99 Team World co-champion(Allies), Spictakular: 99 DMC
US Runner Up (Allies) plus a Beat Junkies routine featuring Babu,
Melo-D, D-Styles, J-Rooc and Rhettmatic. who will also emcee the
event along with the Allies’ Infamous. The competitors are:
Abstru (Tek Masters) North Carolina, Boogie Blind (Lo Livez) New
York City, Enferno (Trooperz) Virginia, Golden Chyld (Finger Bangers)
San Jose, Impereal (Turntable Technicians) Long Island, Perseus
(Turntable Technicians) Providence, RI, J-Tec (Turntable Monks)
Toronto , Jr-Flo (Funky Technicianz) Toronto , Kid Dragon (Top
Rawmen) Los Angeles, M-Rok (Funky Technicianz) Toronto, Precision
(Lo Livez) Queens, and Solution (Nocturnal Sounds) Hawaii. Tix
are $15/$20 thru turntablelab.com.
(info@the-allies.com)…
Number one fan of the DJ and hip hop culture, Tools of War’s
Christie Z-Pabon has teamed up with Jazzy Jay and created a new
“beat battle” aimed at DJ/Producers. “We’re
going to allow MPC’s, keyboards, turntables, mixers, and
anything else we can think of to bring out the entrants best,”
said Christie of the battle which is titled “The King (or
Queen) of the Beat Battle” and scheduled to take place in
NYC at CBGB’s Gallery (313 Bowery) on June 29th (3-7 PM 21+).
The battle’s high profile judges include DJ Premier, Lord
Finesse, Jazzy Jay and Steve Dee. For more info hit off toolsofwar@aol.com
THE SAN JOSE HUMAN BEATBOX: PEANUT BUTTER WOLF
Todd Inoue recently did a wonderful piece on Chris Manak, a.k.a.
DJ Peanut Butter Wolf, for the San Jose Metro magazine in which
he invited the former East Side San Jo resident to trace his earliest
hip hop memories. Here are two of the Stones Throw mainman’s
“Top 11 Hip-Hop Memories of the South Bay from 1982 to 1992.”
1.) Setting up a “human jukebox” outside my house in
1982 My best friend, “Sweet Steve” Helmer, and I had
this incredible idea to bring our turntable console and all our
records outside and invent our own jukebox to make money. Steve
and I had hundreds of 45s, and even though we were only 11, we
felt like grown men trapped inside the bodies of kids. We put
the record player under a table, covered it with a tablecloth,
hid underneath and charged 25 cents for two songs. My little sister,
Amy, decided to cash in as well, setting up a lemonade stand next
to us. Nobody was interested in the jukebox, but my sister made
some good money.
2.) Recording a cassette with Steve of our top 50 songs of 1982
(which he recently dug up) Inspired by our favorite radio station
at the time, KSOL, we announced songs in prepubescent voices,
mentioned a few things about the artists and tried our best at
being radio personalities. Kraftwerk, Soul Sonic Force and the
Time got equal plugs in our top 50. We even did a fake ad for
Grandmaster Flash’s “The Message.” The No. 1 song
of the year in our opinion back then? Prince’s “1999.”
For the recommended complete list of all eleven, and also to
check out a picture of a very young Peanut Butter Wolf with ol
skool potna ‘Sweet Steve’ Helmer taken in 1982 go to:
www.metroactive.com/papers/metro/05.23.02/hip-hop-0221.html
"HOW QBERT GAVE ME ARTHRITIS”
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Dj QBert's Mom and Dad
in the garage of Q's childhood home — San Francisco,
California
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This story by one of the many QBert fans, B. Moniker was submitted
for possible inclusion in the forthcoming QBert book that is being
written by myself, Billy Jam, along with editor extraordinaire
Frank Casianno III. For more info on the book, which will include
many insightful quotes from QBert, his contemporary DJs, his fans,
his parents (pictured), and lots more good stuff, go to www.djqbert.com
But read this first: “how Qbert gave me arthiritis”
When I was 17 my hood-rat cousin gave me my first (stolen) set
of tables. They were Technics 1800’s (older than I am). Thus
I embarked on my quest to become a Knight Of The Scratchtable
(Im inventing catchy names here, bear with me) Anyhow, my first
attempts at cutting records were awful, so I sought professional
lessons. Okay, I LIVE IN KANSAS! Do you know how small of a DJ
(real DJ’s and not rave kids with records and skateboards)
community we have here? There were maybe two people who could
have shown me anything, but they (who shall remain nameless) were
simply too high on themselves to spare any pointers. Skip to 1999,
in comes a guy I know with a video tape, to this day I cant remember
which actual episode it was but it was called Turntable TV! I
watched this tape only once because the guy left with it shortly
after and then lost it when his car got jacked. BUT I gathered
enough technique just from watching Q-berts hands on the mixer
and records, that I had more of a base to develop my current style.
Understand that I knew nothing of how to scratch other than dragging
the record under the needle, the crossfader was never a tool to
be used until I saw that video. And now, after all the practice,
coffee, crate digging, cutting, mixing, watching Wave Twisters,
cutting faster, more coffee, watching Reverse Oyster Beard, cutting
even faster, a 2litre of JOLT and cutting at blazing speeds, MY
WRISTS HURT!!!!! ……… But hey thanks Q-bert, if
it weren’t for you I might have taken up a different instrument,
like a banjo or something.
Cheers — B.Moniker www.bmoniker.com
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