ON THE RECORD

by Luke Crisell

In the three decades since Kool Herc first put the same record on two side-by-side turntables, DJs have moved out of city parks, house and block parties, and the darkened booths of nightclubs, and onto center stage, performing before admiring crowds of thousands. They have not only given rise to hip-hop and house―DJs have influenced fashion, film, TV, and more. With On the Record, Scratch DJ Academy, the premiere institution for DJ education, brings together years of training and expertise to create an authoritative guide to the dynamic art of DJing. More than just a "how-to," this is a sonic adventure, guiding you through forty years of music, creativity, and culture. From beat matching to body tricks, Grandmaster Flash to Fatboy Slim, the Bronx to Ibiza, On the Record is an all-in-one guide. So whether you're learning the ropes, considering going pro, or just want insight into a broader range of music, this book is for you.

Genres: Music, Nonfiction

342 pages, Paperback

First published March 3, 2009

Reviews

[Matt Zar-Lieberman · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book is intended as a complete guide for anyone looking to become a DJ or better understand and appreciate what DJs do, and I guess it basically accomplishes that, albeit at a very surface level. It covers the history of the DJ and hip-hop and house, what a DJ does, practical DJ tips, and some banal anecdotes. I am a huge hip-hop fan and while that genre gets a lot of coverage and the book features plenty of quotes from the likes of DJ Nu-Mark and DJ Z-Trip I didn't really learn anything new. DJ-ing is harder than it looks to the layperson, DJs travel a lot and stay up late, and they need to keep the partygoers energized. Not exactly earth-shattering revelations there. I really just wanted to learn more about the craft (I have no ambitions of becoming a DJ myself but I did think the more practical sections of how to DJ were pretty weak in terms of providing helpful information) and this book didn't deliver all that much. If you're looking to appreciate what DJs do for hip-hop I recommend you watch the excellent documentary Scratch on the subject and give this book a pass.

[Hiram Alejandro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lo acabé. Por fin lo acabé 😳. Creo q es fundamental leerlo si quieres conocer los fundamentos sobre temas como scratch, Dj o hip hop.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sorta interesting. Learned a little bit of what I was interested in personally, but not much here I hadn't already picked up elsewhere. Others may have a different experience.

[Arley Hendrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

An essential read for anyone interested in the DJing industry. It provides a unique perspective on DJing, from deep within the ranks of some of the greatest DJ's in the world, spreading across multiple genre's of music. Not only will this book give you tips that will help you maintain a crowd and complete your role as a DJ, it will also familiarize you with the many valuable lessons DJ's with some years under their belts either know instinctively or know because they lived through it. Highly recommended, enjoyed it immensely. Believe it or not it's an intense page turner if you have a passion for DJing, music, and this culture.

[Nic · Rating 2 out of 5]

meh. this book is nothing more than a conglomeration of quotes. i am a DJ, and i wouldn't recommend this book. waste of time.