A-Trak, an artist well versed in turntablism and DJ techniques, has spoke out on the topic of #RealDJing. Over the last few years there has been a lot of talk about what DJing has become, has the art been lost? Are people doing the bare minimum just for the payout? The fact of the matter is that DJing is changing and there are so many skill levels of the art. Technology is also always changing, making it easier for people to learn how to perform on a basic level.
Though, more often than not artists in electronic dance music are producers first and DJs second. This may have something to do with why this craft has become lost and skewed in the eyes of music fans. Overall, A-Trak hits the nail on the head with his short essay about #RealDJing. Everyone has their style and you’ll know the real acts from the fake acts because they’ll be the ones taking risks.
“There’s a lot of talk lately about what DJing is becoming. I’ve seen it evolve a lot over the years. I started DJing when I was 13, scratching vinyl and playing strictly hip hop, winning championships. The DMC judges thought I was pretty good at it, but think my definition was narrow back then. I remember when my aunts and uncles found out I was a DJ they assumed I was the guy talking on the radio. So to define who we were, we called ourselves turntablists. We wanted legitimacy. As I grew up I got into more sides of the craft. Party-rocking and mastering different musical genres. In the early 2000’s I was Serato’s very first endorsee. I remember talking to Jazzy Jeff and AM about Serato: was it stable enough? We also had to convert all our music. DJing was becoming digital. Then Kanye hired me to tour with him, because he learned how to perform from Common and Kweli who had real DJs too – shout out to Dummy & Ruckus. We went on an Usher tour and Kanye wanted me to bust solos. My routines were too specialized so I had to make new ones that this new audience would understand. I started seeing the bigger picture. Then I got into electronic music. I remember seeing Mehdi, Boys Noize, Feadz playing on CDJs and thinking: these guys are turntablists too. Surkin was the first guy I saw DJ on Ableton in a way that felt like true DJing too. Now there’s a whole new cast in electronic music, and it’s still exciting to me. I’ve seen a lot of fads come and go over the years. And I don’t think my way of DJing is the only way. I wish I could also play like Carl Cox and DJ Harvey too. But I have my style and it’s my passion. I love standing for something that means something, as Pharcyde would say. When you come to my show you know you’ll see me cut. And take risks. DJing is about taking risks. I represent #RealDJing #YouKnowTheDifference”
Connect with A-Trak:
https://www.facebook.com/atrak
https://twitter.com/atrak
https://soundcloud.com/a-trak
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