Turntabalism/DJ

When slick studio productions began to replace the early sound of the cutting and scratching DJ in the '90s, a new generation of disc spinners began approaching the turntable as an instrument in its own right. Solo Turntablists juggle beats, cut-and-scratch rhythms and juxtapose elements from different songs to create entirely new songs that feature fluid changes, layered instrumental passages, and more scratching than a kid with chicken pox. The Invisibl Skratch Piklz's Mix Master Mike's work with the Beastie Boys on Hello Nasty catapulted him to Turntablist fame, though DJs such as Vinroc, Apollo, Q-Bert, Rob Swift and Peanut Butter Wolf are all well respected.