Before reading this make sure you read the first half of this article, by clicking here.
The history of the birth of hip-hop DJs in the late 1970’s and 80’s is probably the closest to the core elements of Red Bull Thre3Style compared to any other genre. Although this may sound out of place, being that Red Bull Thre3Style is about mixing up genres, that is exactly what the pioneering hip-hop DJs did: They took any style of music and played it out in such a way that it became something completely fresh and exciting. In the second half of this article we look at the powerful influence of Grand Wizard Theodore and Afrika Bambaata.
Grand Wizard Theodore's Mom Invents Scratching
Theodore Livingston, a teenage prodigy going under the DJ name Grand Wizard Theodore, one day found himself practicing mixing records on his turntable in his bedroom. His mother, irritated by the noise of the music, came upstairs and started berating him telling him he was being too loud. Distracted by his mother's scolding, he didn't realize that he was moving the record on the turntable back and forth, essentially "scratching" the vinyl and creating a percussive sound. He instantly realized that he was onto something and began playing with his newfound musical invention.
Grandmaster Flash would then go on to mentoring the young DJ, helping him innovate what has now become the most iconic of all hip-hop DJ talents, what is known on an expert level as 'turntablism', or in plain terms just 'scratch DJing'. Turntablism has become a world-recognized art form and highly developed skill that is showcased in hip-hop battles and demonstrations to massive eager audience around the globe. And to think if Theodore's mom hadn't decided to shout at him for making a ruckus he may never have discovered the hidden brilliance of a record manipulated with the hands and wrists.
Afrika Bambaata Rocks the Planet
As the 70's rolled by and the phenomena of hip-hop parties and DJs began to move from uptown Bronx down to Harlem and later across New York, many crews emerged. Almost identical to the Soundsystem crews of Jamaica as mentioned in part 1 of this series, they consisted of a DJ, his soundsystem and several emcees to hype the crowd. DJ Kool Herc was famous for his magnificently loud sound and Grandmaster Flash for his imaginative flavour and brilliant performance. But it was Afrika Bambaata who became known for his almost infinitely large record collection and his uncanny ability to find tunes never heard before that would work the dancefloor into frenzy. He was unafraid to play any kind of music, whether it be straight funk and R&B, rock n roll or even early German electronica. In a sense he embodied the essence of Thre3Style: He had the uncanny knack of playing all sorts of genres in one set and rocking the party to the roof.
Moreover he would go onto making one of the most influential electronic records of all time: Planet Rock. Assisted by the legendary Arthur Baker, the two recreated elements of the Kraftwerk tracks 'Trans Euro Express' and 'Numbers', laid them over a fast-tempoed 808 drum-loop and added catchy rap hooks on top for good measure. Although no one had ever heard anything like it before, it was an instant party starter and has been sited as the roots of electro and a major influence on other electronic music genres such as techno, house and trance.
History was born
The culture of hip-hop parties and DJs germinated for a long time throughout the 70's and early 80's and it was only until the release of the Sugarhill Gang's "Rappers Delight" in 1979 that the USA, and in turn the world, would sit up and pay attention to what has become one of the most exciting and revolutionary genres of music over the last thirty years. Incidentally the Sugar Hill Gang were a manufactured crew, put together by the shrewd and entrepreneurial Sylvia Robinson.
In the end it was the voice of the emcee or rapper who would lead the charge and make hip-hop the phenomenon that it was and still is. Certainly the history of the hip-hop emcee is as fascinating as the history of the hip-hop DJ, both growing up and developing together. Never forget, however, that hip-hop is a culture that takes in many aspects: breakdancing, graffiti and even slam poetry. But it was the DJ who started the fire and he has kept it burning all these years.
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