This collection of hip-hop DJ routines marked the first serious effort to reintroduce the DJ as a true artist to hip-hop fans. In the fog of producer-heavy rap music from the Bad Boy and Death Row camps that dominated list... more »eners' ears in the mid 1990s, Return of the DJ is a refreshing shot of oxygen. It contains outstanding performances--including Rob Swift's classic Biz Markie routine in "Rob Gets Busy"--all from some of the still-burgeoning turntablist movement's most important DJs. Kicking off with Kool DJ E.Q.'s hip-hop primer, "The Death of Hip Hop," the whole collection is an amazing revelation of hip-hop's true legacy, as cut-and-pasted by artists such as Invisibl Skratch Piklz, Peanut Butter Wolf, and the World Famous Beat Junkies. You won't even miss the MCs. --Todd Levin« less
This collection of hip-hop DJ routines marked the first serious effort to reintroduce the DJ as a true artist to hip-hop fans. In the fog of producer-heavy rap music from the Bad Boy and Death Row camps that dominated listeners' ears in the mid 1990s, Return of the DJ is a refreshing shot of oxygen. It contains outstanding performances--including Rob Swift's classic Biz Markie routine in "Rob Gets Busy"--all from some of the still-burgeoning turntablist movement's most important DJs. Kicking off with Kool DJ E.Q.'s hip-hop primer, "The Death of Hip Hop," the whole collection is an amazing revelation of hip-hop's true legacy, as cut-and-pasted by artists such as Invisibl Skratch Piklz, Peanut Butter Wolf, and the World Famous Beat Junkies. You won't even miss the MCs. --Todd Levin
"You won't hear these joints at any club or on any radio station these days and that's a shame. You will IMMEDIATELY appeciate the first two cuts by DJ EQ and DJ Ghetto. Other notable cuts include the Babu joint at the end, the Mixmaster Mike cut and the Rob Swift joint.But that's like picking out the diamonds in a treasure chest ... EVERYTHING HERE IS OUTSTANDING and I am NOT quick to give praise. Every scratch on the album is on time and the production is very progressive. I swear, at the end of the Babu cut, I was ready to buy a set of 1200s, some wax and sign up for the next DMC competition."
Artistry
The Prince of Darkness | Buffalo, New York | 07/17/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I am not a devote fan of the hip-hop genre. I simply do not have the tolerance for the way many artists rely upon a base of tired rhymes, and deabilitatingly conventional deliveries. Their are exceptions, i realize (my own personal favorites would be Tribe Called Quest's earlier work). But the component of hip-hop that always pleased me the most has, and probably always will be held in the hands of the DJ. This album, simply put, is the finest collection of the best in the business. Each track is an assimilation of samples expertly chosen from the roots of Hip-hop, and those few contemporary artists who have held true to their predecessors quality. This is, by and large, before the time when DJs value was based soley on those who out worked the rest, and raced to find the most obscure samples. Thankfully, and finally, this is also before the time when DJs, albeit poor ones, sold their wrists to the unholy junction of rap and metal.So stare into the eyes of the goofy comic vampire on the cover and take a listen to what hip-hop has lost, and hopefully some day will regain."
A great start
Doctor Beat | 05/12/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"We've all heard a little scratching in old hip-hop and the very occasional new song, but this CD will blow you away if you're a discerning hip hop listener and if you've ever been intrigued by the DJ. I was introduced to modern turntablism when I heard the Cut Chemist track from this album on the radio one night, and it was worth every risky cent buying the whole CD from hearing that one track. Every one of them is outstanding; pick this up if you're at all interested in hip hop and are a bit percussion-minded."
Great mix of turntablism
The Prince of Darkness | 09/19/2002
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This is a great scratch cd which encompasses many different types of turntablist styles. This CD is only topped by Vol. 2. Vol. 3 is a bit of a let-down but all three are worth checking out."
Track Listings (12) - Disc #1
