Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Hot on Facebook
Uproar After NC State Agent 'Fixes' Girl's Lunch Preschooler has to eat chicken nuggets instead of mom's meal »

The Most Influential DJs

By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 21, 2009 5:19 PM CDT
Email

(Newser) – With the release of "DJ Hero" upon us, it's a good time to honor the true masters of turntablism. IGN lists the most influential:

  • DJ Kool Herc. He invented the “breakbeat” by using the two-turntable style of disco DJs to play two copies of a funk record, switching between the two to elongate the instrumental break section.
  • Afrika Bambaataa. He took Herc’s breakbeats further and coined the burgeoning musical movement “hip-hop.”
  • Grandmaster Flash. Flash pioneered the “cutting” technique, which later became refined into scratching. He released the first record with scratching on it, and his Furious Five group was the first hip-hop band inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

  • Grand Wizard Theodore. Building on Flash’s “cutting” technique, Theodore added his own style of rhythmically manipulating the fader to give scratching its percussive effect—essentially, turning the turntable into a drum.
  • Jam-Master Jay. As the DJ for Run-DMC, Jay’s signature sounds helped push hip-hop into the mainstream.
  • DJ Qbert. A later addition to DJing’s luminaries, Qbert has pioneered countless scratch and turntable tricks to become known as the Jimi Hendrix of turntablism. Check out his skills in the video at left.
For the full list, click the link below.

Hip-hop pioneer Afrika Bambaataa.
Hip-hop pioneer Afrika Bambaataa.   (Getty Images)
Grandmaster Flash.
Grandmaster Flash.   (Getty Images)
The the late rap legend Jam Master Jay of Run DMC.
The the late rap legend Jam Master Jay of Run DMC.   (AP Photo/Krista Niles, File)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
DJ Qbert djing in Paris.   (YouTube)
Afrika Bambaataa & the Soulsonic Force - Planet Rock This is a short music video for the hip-hop masterpiece Planet Rock, edited from the BBC documentary 'Hip-hop A Street History'.   (YouTube)

View larger videos >>
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next »
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 12 comments
wwwonderer
Oct 28, 2009 4:32 AM CDT
OrJayster, you could blame the phrase "people of color" on those who were adamant about "colored only" and "whites only" signs.
brawne
Oct 22, 2009 4:28 AM CDT
And, if you could see that giving a shit is important? The Tao of Wu by Riza. Fucking step out of your tiny, little box and join your world.
brawne
Oct 22, 2009 4:23 AM CDT
People who are alive in their hearts and can grow with the world that they live in. Like the people who grew up dancing to Dorsey but accepted rock and roll. Hip hop is the huge evolution from Homer to now. But, if you can't get your head out of your own ass that's probably hard to see. Like the million and jillions before you who lived in your tiny space--you won't be missed. Let's just hope that you didn't leave a bunch of boring ass conformist genes lying about. Five thousand years from a frontal cortex that mattered, and we still have to deal with the wee brains. It is humanity's curse--to get rid off all the 'only me and my wants' needs to the empathetic future. Can the future make it through your selfishness? I rather doubt it, but the God I sorta believe in is hoping so. And Grandmaster Flash--Oh, yeah. I'm fucking 53 and know the difference between a master DJ and a spitter. Why don't you?

 
music • hip-hop • DJ Hero • deejay

More Newser Stories

Whitney Album Price Nearly Doubles on iTunes

Redemption? Lana Del Rey Impresses Letterman

Lana Del Rey: Sorry, Haters, I Sang Fine on SNL

10 Notable Bands With Only 1 Album

Warren Buffett Jams on Ukulele
NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne