The Best DJs Ever

I love DJing and I feel it's the foundation of rap music and one of the pillars of hip hop culture. I think back when the DJ was the focus and the rapper(s) complimented the DJ. It was a requirement to shout our DJ or you were not a real rap group or MC. The "Selecta" or "1 Man Band" had to get his/her shine or you were missing something. So this is an ode to my favorite facet of rap music that's somehow losing it's focus because of producers. Mixtape DJs will not be counted due to Serrato, CDs and computer DJ programs. I'm talking about spinning wax for a group or MC.

1. Terminator X (Public Enemy)
Remember he 'Only Speaks With His Hands Man, His Hands'. Guess what when he spoke, we listened and said "Dayum how does he do that?" His cuts and mastering of the 'transforming' scratch technique was seldom matched. Early PE records had to let him rock solo or they had to do a song bigging up argueably the best technical DJ of the era. His skill led to two solid solo albums.

2. Jam Master Jay (Run DMC)
What alot of you don't know is the late great Jay was the brains behind Rum DMC's whole persona and concepts. He wasn't the front runner like Run but they admit Jay was the brains to their success. Jay is a master of cutting and scratching. The lyrical greats had to let him rock. Remember this without Jay there's no Onyx or 50 Cent. Do the knowledge!

3. Jazzy Jeff
Yes we know all about his MC co-defendent. However, you better had been paying to attention to Jeff on their earlier work. Ok, I'll refresh your memory hmm, how about "Brand New Funk". Jeff was killing the 1200's on that track. Jeff is probably a close second to X in terms of turntable wizardry but Jay nudges him out because of his prominence and pioneer factor. Jeff even reappeared on Little Brother's "Can't Stop Me" reminding the new skool he's still got it on the tables.

4. DJ Premiere
Despite his amazing and historical production catalogue you have to recognize and realize his production success it clearly linked to his throw back DJ style. You knew Premiere was on the track because providing the hook for you via his DJ skill of injecting the hook in via scratch. Simple but highly demanded technique. It's pure hip hop culture when he's on the tables!

5. Grand Master Flash
Only reason why I don't put him higher because he faded away but came back with a fury in the 2K. He had to remind cats he's one of the pioneers of scratching records and how to properly catch the break. You have to watch him to appreciate this skill.

6. Kid Capri
He helped push DJing to the mainstream and show you he's one of the greatest he headlined Def Comedy Jam as their sonic requirement. You can't tell me you couldn't wait to hear him do his thing at the end of the show and the dancers get busy to his skills. One of the first to drop a mainstream DJ album as well.

7. DJ Rectangle
East coast cats are probably shaking their heads to this guy but he's a beast. I have a couple of his tapes from back in the day. Guess what? He played everything and I mean everything nothing regional about him. I heard some of my favorite west coast artists for the first time because of him.

8. DJ Scratch
Currently known for his production prowess but do the knowledge on this guy. He's the cat behind EPMD and Redman's show and sound. Very creative on the 1s & 2s! Remember the spin behind your back and scratch with your chin trick? He's one the first DJ to do this consistently and well. I've tried and uh let's say it cost me some needles.

9.Marley Marl
Marley is thought more of as an producers because the sheer number careers he broke and help guide in rap's formative years. We somehow forgot he's actually the guy scratching in all of those songs and constantly cutting in Roxanne Shante's "Roxanne's Revenge". The guy is nice but his prowess at sampling and creating some monster tracks made us forget what Marley's full time job used to be.

10. The Excutioners
This super group of DJs are incredible led by the infamous Roc Raida. I'm not going to name all of them but just listen to their cds and you can really appreicate what they bring to rap music. Pure turntable wizardry!