DJ Hero, Scratch: first guitars, now DJing and turntablism.
May 4, 2009 by Mr Trick
Filed under Tablist News
Its been tough to ignore the monumental rise of the Guitar Hero franchise and its various copycat incarnations (Rock Band etc). As befits these Fear & Loathing times for the music industry, games have now proven a better earner for some bands than the albums their tracks were licensed from. Aerosmith are one fine example, notoriously making more money from their branded Guitar Hero game than they ever made from any of their albums to date. Not bad when you consider their multi-platinum-selling status with records like Pump.
The guitar format was always going to wear out though, and so inevitably games developers have turned their attention to DJs, DJing and turntables in particular (though “Laptop DJ” is one franchise I’d love to see launch… and fail). Enter two new titles: DJ Hero and Scratch. DJ Hero, as the name implies, is from Activision, makers of the Guitar Hero game. Scratch, meanwhile, is being developed by a far smaller company, but is noteworthy for tablism fans for one simple reason: Mixmaster Mike is helping develop it. In fact, it seems Scratch was such a strong product that Activision tried to buy the company just to remove the competition it might present.
What I’m curious to know though, is what you readers all think about this. Personally,I think its easy to shoot these things down as exploitative and undermining an artform that takes years of dedication. Hell, I play guitar and I’m no fan of Guitar Hero in many respects. However there is a flipside to this, in that these Guitar Hero-type games have seen a good upsurge in kids learning guitar – no bad thing in my view. Could DJ Hero and Scratch do the same? Pure exploitation or is there really no such thing as bad publicity – even for artforms??
Comments below please!
Further reading: ‘DJ Hero’ Vs. ‘Scratch’ As Music Game-Makers Turn To Turntables
Turntable Radio – The Mr Trick Years: Show #18
April 25, 2009 by Mr Trick
Filed under Podcasts (all), The Mr Trick Years
“This week Turntable Radio turns its attention to the French turntablist scene, airing tracks from the likes of DJ Pone, Netik, Troubl, SamSaScratch, Crazy B, DJ Mouss, Turntabl Spirits, Audiomicid (feat. DJ Kodh) and more. Most importantly though, we are proud to air another WORLD EXCLUSIVE – this time courtesy of reigning DMC Team champions Birdy Nam Nam. The track, “From Here To There”, has to be heard to be believed: think dub style beats and crafty turntable melodies and you’re only halfway there. This one has been on permanent rotation since we got it – superb! Also on air this week are: Astro, Revolution, DJ Idea, Q-Bert, Craze, Scarfade, Mista Ed, Stylewarz, Short-e, Phaderheadz, Mixmaster Mike and more… As ever, this shit ain’t to be missed people!” (Originally aired 2nd Feb 2003)
Click here to download the show! (103Mb)
Turntable Radio – The Mr Trick Years: Show #17
April 18, 2009 by Mr Trick
Filed under Podcasts (all), The Mr Trick Years
“This week we sit down with the Truesicians, one of the UK’s finest tablist crews, to chat about their history, their views, their music and much more. Alongside this we have freestyles, a skit they laid down, an exclusive airing of 2Tall’s brand new track “Growth 2″ and a track made especially for Turntable Radio – “Superdoodle”. Also on the show tonight we have music from SamSaScratch, Stylewarz, DJ Craze and the 2002 World Series-winning set from DJ Vajra of the Platter Pirates. Definitely one not to miss!” (Originally aired 26th Jan 2003)
Mr Trick writes:This show is now noteworthy for one particular reason, namely that we aired a bunch of 2tall stuff that never saw the light of day. Thinking about it, that applies to a fair portion of Turntable Radio shows (that’s what happens when the man happens to be a close friend!), but I still think these tracks are dope and worth looking out for. Will 2tall ever release them? No… more’s the pity!
Click here to download the show! (103Mb)
Apologies all for the lack of shows…
April 11, 2009 by Mr Trick
Filed under Tablist News, Turntable Radio News
As many have noticed, we’ve been a little quiet with the podcasts of late. Our apologies for this, but as Turntable Radio remains a strictly non-commercial site run by myself and Laurent, it can sadly fall foul of the rest of our lives getting in the way. With the Mr Trick & Wrongtom show taking off, Rhythm Incursions more busy than ever and Laurent’s forthcoming Original Cultures project readying for launch, its taken all our time just to juggle everything and sadly, now and again something falls by the wayside. Rest assured though that we are back on track now, and have three “The Mr Trick Years” podcasts in the bag – one of which is live now, the others following at 7 day intervals. Enjoy!
Turntable Radio – The Mr Trick Years: Show #16
April 11, 2009 by Mr Trick
Filed under Podcasts (all), The Mr Trick Years
“This week we step back with more never-before-aired tracks and sessions than ever, from various tablists across the world including Scarfade, Timestretch and Marvel in the UK, Manic Store in Japan, DJ Joolz in Germany and much, much more. To celebrate the release of the awesome “History of the Hip Hop DJ vol. 1″ CD we are also doing a “super old skool” triple threat of cuts, harking back to 1982, 83 and 84 respectively with tracks from World Famous Supreme Team, Uncle Jamms Army and Knights of the Turntables. Nostalgic stuff – make no mistake! We are also proud to air in full the mighty battle between DJs M-Tech and Netik at last years ITFs. The pedigree of both these guys is ridiculously high, thus guaranteeing this to be some stunning audio. A head to head battle, it demonstrates all the things we love about these contests. So, sit back get comfortable and crank the stereo up LOUD, cuz this is one show you do not want to miss…” (Original show aired 19th Jan. 2003)
Click here to download the show! (105Mb)
Turntable Radio – The Mr Trick Years: Show #15
January 8, 2009 by Mr Trick
Filed under Podcasts (all), The Mr Trick Years
On show 15 we continued our look at the mixtape scene by celebrating the work of the Bay Area’s seminal crew the Bullet Proof Space Travellers. Comprising Eddie Def, Marz, Quest and Cue, these guys were arguably the most prolific crew out there, churning out more mixtapes than most, not to mention dropping sick battle weapons and releasing their devastating “Built To Last” LP. Throwing trends and conformity to the wind, they mashed up metal, cut up over Nirvana, appeared live in avant-garde Shakespeare productions and generally secured their place in history as the fuck you heroes of turntablism. Question is: where are they now? Anyone know? If so, let us know in the comments below. Now, strap on your seatbelts people: this is a wild ride…
Click here to download the show! (105Mb)
Turntable Radio – The Mr Trick Years: Show #14
October 28, 2008 by Mr Trick
Filed under Podcasts (all), The Mr Trick Years
Originally aired 5th January 2003: “Turntable Radio is taking a 2 week break to prepare new shows for 2003 and generally get a rest from the weekly schedule. So, over the next 2 shows we will be looking at mixtapes, airing segments from our favourites out there. This week: the Invisibl Skratch Piklz special – we look back at the seminal mixtapes dropped by the members of the ISPs, and air 30 minute excerpts from Q-Berts “Demolition Pumpkin Squeeze Music”, Mixmaster Mikes “Rescue 916″ and Shortkuts “Rekonstructed Elements”. All are classics: mixtapes that we remember as being a prime factor in getting us all hooked on turntablism in the first place. Heard them before? Well listen once again and join us in getting all nostalgic for great days Not heard them before? We envy you – you’re in for the mother of all treats!”
Click here for full tracklisting.
Click here to download the show! (101Mb)
Turntable Radio – The Mr Trick Years: Show #13
October 21, 2008 by Mr Trick
Filed under Podcasts (all), The Mr Trick Years
Originally aired 29th December 2002: “This week on Turntable Radio we take a look back over our first 12 shows and the music of 2002. I have selected my favourite unreleased tracks of the year (with music from the likes of PrimHero & Mart-1, Waxfactor, B-Roc and SamSaScratch), and we also look back at the highlights of our shows to date – including the D-Styles interview and the Hip Hop Slam special. Add to that a rare recording of the Birdy Nam Nam DMC-winning set (courtesy of DJ Need), a trio of tracks from the UKs rising star DJ 2Tall and a look back to the spectacular music from France and Germany, not to mention a brace of DJ Happee tracks and you have one show not to be missed.”
Click here for full tracklisting.
Click here to download the show! (101Mb)
Turntable Radio – The Mr Trick Years: Show #12
October 7, 2008 by Mr Trick
Filed under Podcasts (all), The Mr Trick Years
Originally aired 22nd December 2002: “This week we have a VERY special show lined up for you all as our Christmas treat for turntablist fans the world over. DJ Happee has recorded a track EXCLUSIVELY for us, and thus this will be a world first airing, just for TTR listeners! We also have 10 or so live freestyles, routines and more that were recorded at last weeks Snatchcon Christmas Party here in London at the Ruby Lounge. Stepping up to the plate are: DJ Whut, DJ 2Tall, DJ Blakey (individually and collectively as Truesicians), DJ Clockwork and DJ Sneakee. Expect sick juggles, snippets from battles sets, one-take freestyle cuts and a lot more! On top of this we have never-aired-before tracks from the incredible Ground Zero crew from Germany, who drop their “Panphobia” track, and DJ Mart-1 from the Turntabl Spirits in France, repping with his “Feel The Bass” track. To keep everyone in high Christmas spirits were also gonna be dropping a selection of tracks that keep the tempo up and the beats hard. This show is one to play loud!”
Sidenote: the Snatchcon Xmas party was, as I recall, the first time me and Monk-A worked on putting a scratch night on. From there we created the Needlework nights, and from that we started the Needlework label and released 2tall’s debut EP and album…
Click here for full tracklisting.
Click here to download the show! (105Mb)
Turntable Radio – The Mr Trick Years: Show #11
October 1, 2008 by Mr Trick
Filed under Podcasts (all), The Mr Trick Years
For show 11, we (and I quote) “decided to take a break from our regular format to take a look at the mix output of the mighty 1200 Hobos crew”. Now, in the course of doing these shows one question I always got asked was “how the hell do you find 90 minutes of tablist music to play each and every week?”. Well, looking back my response now is “I really have no idea”, but one prime indicator of things drying up on the music front was the “mix specials”, in which I created a get-out clause, namely focussing on 2 or 3 mixes rather than scrape together 20+ tracks to air. This show was the first of those, and while they do scream “I ran out of tracks!” to me, the fact remains that with hindsight I’m glad I put some time to covering mixtapes I thought were essential. These days mixes are ten-a-penny; anyone can whack one online and get some downloads. Back then though, whilst we had the internet and all that, mixtapes and mix CDs were still the underpinning of the scene, with most of the main figures having made their names on them (and/or battles). Read more
