Has the DJ become irrelevant in today’s Hip Hop?  Or did the industry engineer a divide and conquer on the elements of Hip Hop?  Special guest DJ Rock On joins Church on The Block for a discussion about the art of turntablism and its impact on the culture. 

“If you know your hip-hop history it started off with the DJ.  The DJ supplies the beats and the music, and the reality is the DJ is also the producer.  Not just the producer of beats but the producer of the atmosphere.  Creating the atmosphere.  Creating the vibe as we would say today.” DJ Rock On says of the legendary Kool Herc who’s credited for contributing to the culture’s creation and the art of turntablism. 

“Corporations have come in and just dismantled hip-hop culture.  But the DJ is still relevant.” Rock On continues.  “There are so many DJs, legendary DJs who are producers.  We don’t have the classics without DJ Pete Rock, DJ Premiere, DJ Hi Tek, and many others.”    

“If you look at the industry, the industry standard is not the DJ in the forefront.  You got artists now disrespecting all types of DJs.  Putting their hands on DJs…this new generation; thinks that a DJ is just somebody who goes and plays at a club or plays at your party.  They don’t see the relationship between the DJ and the emcee.  And how they rock together and how they work together,” explains DJ Ruckus. 

“I think it’s those who manipulate the culture.  Those who create a separation of the culture have caused that kind of harm.  We don’t need to have a DJ and a rapper.  Let’s just pay for the rapper.  We’ll play your music on a track in order to just save money.  They created this separation.  This divorce between the two.  If you go to any show, the DJ is going to set the tone, Pastor Phil says.  That’s what the corporations did not respect.  The art of turntablism and the mathematics behind it.  The rhythm. 

“The DJs were your first A&Rs.  They were also some of the first producers.  If you’re an artist and you don’t have a DJ as a part of your crew, you’re missing out because a DJ can add value and they can add quality.” – DJ Ruckus, explaining just how much the DJ contributes to hip-hop performances and in the studio.  “We control the crowd…DJs are still relevant, and they are still needed!”

There’s a reason why turntablism is one of the elements of Hip Hop. “I get in a lot of trouble when I say this as an emcee myself.  But I tell people all the time until you have a DJ, you’re probably not an emcee.  You can be a rhymer; you can even be a good rapper.  You can put flows together and all that stuff.  But performance-wise, putting on a show, being able to change, freestyle, see what’s feeling good,” Pastah J exclaims with immense respect.   

Improvisation is key Pasta J reveals, “The best shows that I have ever done have been when I have a DJ behind me who just drops a track I would have never thought to drop.  Who pushes me to do something I never would have done.  Or we get creative and while we’re getting creative, they’re doing something else in the background that just takes it to the next level…”

You’ve got to be able to rock the party.  “It’s not just about the old school…. if you’re an artist today you need a DJ now.  You need a DJ like Ruckus says, that’s going to enhance your performance and that’s going to be able to co-pilot you as you navigate the crowd and the audience,” says DJ Rock On. 

We have to keep the culture alive and teach the next generation the art of turntablism to keep hop-hop alive.  You can listen to Church on the Block every Sunday at 10 am EST., 9 am CST. on Holy Culture Radio, Sirius XM, Channel 154 for real talk about the church, the streets, and hip hop.  And tap in with our hosts Pastor Phil, Pastah J, and DJ Ruckus on Instagram. To join the conversation.