Re: [ARSCLIST] the origin of scratchin'

[James L Wolf <jwol@xxxxxxx>]

Grandwizard Theodore and Cool Herc are definitely among the originators of scratching and other aspects of DJing/turntablism. But I'm pretty sure there were other DJs in the early to mid-70s who participated in the Bronx dance and party scene that gave birth to hip-hop as we know it now. New techniques were picked up, passed around and developed so quickly that it's hard to name one individual who truly originated them.

A book I've found realy illuminating about the early history of hip-hop is "Yes, Yes, Ya'll" by Jim Fricke and Charlie Ahern. Very much worth the read and very instructive about the interconnections between the different forms of hip-hop culture.

One thing I learned from that book was that even more important than scratching to hip-hop were looping and needle-dropping (which was Theodore's real specialty). In the days before sampling, the DJs would get two copies of a record which had a percussion break they liked ("Apache" by the Incredible Bongo Band being a big favorite). On that break they would switch back and forth between the two copies of the record, backspinning and/or dropping the needle as necessary to create a continuous loop out a relatively short break. Those were the points where the best dancers would do their thing - thus break dancing.

Compared to that technique, scratching was more of a decoritive touch. But as acetates and then samplers began to come into use for beat construction, scratching became the more predominanant way for DJs to show what they could do. There are still some turntablists these days, Q-Bert and Rob Swift for example, who have developed to amazing lengths the idea of creating new beats out of old. But these musicians don't have a big role in mainstream hip-hop anymore, mostly just in underground circles.

James

>>> "Andes, Donald" <Donald.Andes@xxxxxxxxxx> 11/07/07 7:32 PM >>>
Hey Tom,

Grandwizard Theodore is most commonly credited with creating
"scratching".

Legend has it happened when he was playing records in his home. When his
mom came in to talk to him, he paused the record on a spinning platter
so he could hear her. When he released the record, it happened to be at
a drum transient, and taking notice, he replicated it; and scratching
was born. Grandmaster Flash (a mentor of Theodore's) incorporated and
popularized scratching, but it came to international audiences primarily
through Herbie Hancock's song "Rock-It" which featured scratching by
Grand Mixer DXT.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Wizard_Theodore 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Mixer_DXT 

Don Andes
EMI Music

-----Original Message-----
From: Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List
[mailto:ARSCLIST@xxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Tom Fine
Sent: Wednesday, November 07, 2007 3:59 PM
To: ARSCLIST@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 
Subject: [ARSCLIST] the origin of scratchin'

In my never-ending quest for the most trivial music knowledge on the
planet, I have this question ...

Who was the first rap/hip-hop artist to use a turntable, record and
cartridge as a rhythm instrument, ie "scratchin'"? My guess would be
Grand Master Flash's DJ or Run-DMC's DJ, but I admit not knowing the
full genesis of rap.

Thanks in advance if you know the answer!

-- Tom Fine

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