Interviews
The film progresses primarily through the interviews and commentary by different DJs of the hip hop world. There is no narrator or interviewers included in the film and some DJs are present throughout the film. Important interviewees include:
- Grand Wizard Theodore: he explains how he invented the technique known as scratching.
- Mix Master Mike: he talks about how he used cassettes to practice his mixing techniques because he couldn't afford a turntable.
- The X-ecutioners (Rob Swift, Total Eclipse, Roc Raida, Mista Sinista): they explain how hip-hop DJing is recorded in a fashion similar to that of a regular band.
- John Carluccio: has worked extensively with turntablism and developed a method of recording scratches and other techniques onto paper, allowing DJs to communicate their compositions to others.
- Afrika Bambaataa: founder of the Universal Zulu Nation; he wanted to turn gang affiliation into something positive and helped to establish turntabalism as its own genre.
- Grand Mixer DXT: the first DJ to establish the turntable as a fully performable and improvisional musical instrument; developed the technique of altering the pitch of the sound on the LP record.
- Grand Master Flash: developed the technique of cutting and mixing.
- Steinski: Began to share techniques and methods with those wanting to learn; before DJs were very secretive about their techniques and which music they choose and he decided to share what he knew via an album titled “The Lessons."
- DJ Qbert: he explains how he DJs for fun now and does not compete as often as he did before because of the large amount of work necessary to develop a routine.
- DJ Flare: influential scratch DJ that invented the “flare scratch” where sounds are split into two parts.
- DJ Babu: produced the most popular battle record and established turntablism as a style of music separate from the MCs and rappers that were leaving DJs behind.
- Steve Dee: explains how he dedicated one year to becoming the best at what he does and as a result he became the founder of a technique known as beat juggling. He also is a huge influence in the competitive aspect of turntablism.
- DJ Craze: winner of 3 consecutive DMC competitions; explains how competitions are important but also enjoyable for the competitors.
- Christe Z Pabon: She is the coordinator of the DMC competitions. She comments that she appreciates those who bring something new and are not afraid to be different.
- Jon Bernson: Director of an afterschool programs for DJs as well as MCs and rappers.
Other featured DJs included:
- DJ Premier
- Z-Trip
- DJ Jazzy Jay
- Electric Boogabos
- Almighty Kay Gee, MC with the Cold Crush Brothers
- Kevie Kev and Dot A Rock, MC with Fantastic Freaks
- Naut Humon
- DJ Marz, Quest, DJ Cue, and Eddie Def, Bullet Proof Scratch Masters
- Billy Jam
- Dave Paul
- DJ Relm
- Madlib
- Apollo
- Melo-D
- DJ Faust and Shortee
- Feedback
- Klever
- DJ Cruise
- Jay Slim
- Snayk Eyez
- Cut Chemist
- DJ Nu-Mark
- Dilated Peoples
- DJ Shadow
- DJ Swamp
- DJ Streak
- DJ Krush
- Swift Rock
- Mark Herlitly
- Doze Green
Read more about this topic: Scratch (film)
Famous quotes containing the word interviews:
“What a perpetual disappointment is actual society, even of the virtuous and gifted! After interviews have been compassed with long foresight, we must be tormented presently by baffled blows, by sudden, unseasonable apathies, by epilepsies of wit and of animal spirits, in the heyday of friendship and thought. Our faculties do not play us true, and both parties are relieved by solitude.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)
“If the justices would only retire when they have become burdens to the court itself, or when they recognize themselves that their faculties have become impaired, I would grieve sincerely when they passed away, and you would not feel like such a hypocrite as you do when you are going through the formality of sending telegrams of condolence and giving out interviews for propriety’s sake.”
—William Howard Taft (1857–1930)