DJ scratching, also known as turntablism, is a technique that was developed by DJs in the 1970s. The earliest form of scratching can be tr...
DJ scratching, also known as turntablism, is a technique that was developed by DJs in the 1970s. The earliest form of scratching can be traced back to the early days of hip hop music, when DJs would use the turntable to manipulate the sound of a record in order to create new and unique sounds.
One of the pioneers of scratching was DJ Grand Wizard Theodore, who is credited with inventing the "scratch" in 1975. He discovered the technique by accident while practicing on his mother's turntable and quickly started incorporating it into his sets. This technique was quickly picked up by other DJs and soon became a key element of hip hop music.
DJs like Grandmaster Flash and Afrika Bambaataa further popularized scratching and helped to bring hip hop music to mainstream audiences. They used scratching as a way to create new and exciting sounds, and it quickly became an essential part of their performances.
In the 1980s, scratching began to evolve and DJs began to develop new techniques such as beat juggling and transform scratching. These techniques allowed DJs to manipulate the sound of a record in even more complex ways and created a new level of musical expression.
In the 1990s, the emergence of digital technology brought new tools and equipment to DJs, such as digital vinyl systems (DVS) and controllers. This allowed DJs to scratch and manipulate digital music files, which has become an essential part of the DJing experience.
Today, scratching is an integral part of the DJ culture and is considered a form of musical expression. It has also evolved to include other forms of music manipulation such as beatmatching, mixing, and live remixing. Scratching is a technique that continues to evolve and is an important part of the DJing culture.