Product Description

Director Doug Pray (Hype) pays tribute to the innovative art of DJing in the electrifying documentary Scratch. Featuring the most legendary figures in the DJ scene, Pray's film is at once a deeply insightful historical document and a highly entertaining glimpse into the world of underground hip-hop. Modern luminaries such as DJ Shadow, Mix Master Mike (of the Beastie Boys), DJ Q-bert, Rob Swift, and DJ Swamp are interviewed alongside living legends like Afrika Bambaataa, Jazzy Jay, and Grand Mixer DXT, in order to paint a broad, comprehensive picture of how DJing has evolved over the years.

Seamlessly cutting between interviews and actual footage filmed at several high-profile DJing contests including Skratchcon 2000 and the DMC U.S. Finals, Pray's film is a must-see for both seasoned fans and the uninitiated, a celebration of one of the late-20th century's most thrilling, original musical movements.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #21019 in DVD
• Brand: Thud Rumble
• Model: PALM3046-DVD
• Released on: 2002-09-17
• Rating: R (Restricted)
• Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Anamorphic, Color, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, DVD, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 2
• Running time: 92 minutes

Features

• Features: DJ Qbert, Afrika Bambaata, Jazzy Jay, DJ Krush, DJ Premier, Rob Swift and the X-Ecutioners, DJ Shadow, Mix Master Mike, Cut Chemist and Numark, Z-trip
• 2 DVD Set (All Regions)
• Runs 92 minutes

Amazon.com
In the language of hip-hop, the MC raps on top of the beats. The DJ--or turntablist--supplies the beats. Doug Pray's lively documentary is a tribute to these unsung heroes of the "scratch." His approach is neither dry nor academic and is designed as much for the masters of the form as for the fans. Pray was also behind Hype!, which focused on the Seattle scene in the 1980s and 1990s. In his 2002 follow-up, he travels as far back as the 1970s (DJ Kool Herc, Afrika Bambaataa) and roams the U.S. from New York (Gang Starr's DJ Premier) to the Bay Area (DJ Shadow, Q-Bert). After watching the film and grooving to the beat, you're likely to wonder if there's a soundtrack to accompany it. Fortunately, there is--Bill Laswell, producer of Herbie Hancock's seminal "Rockit," is behind a compilation featuring many of the same artists celebrated in Scratch. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

From The New Yorker
It started simply enough: in 1975, Theodore Livingston (a.k.a. GrandWizzard Theodore) was playing music in his Bronx River Houses apartment when his mom yelled at him to turn it down; he grabbed the record with his hand and heard a scratchy noise that sounded kind of cool. Starting from this mythic zero hour, Doug Pray's enthusiastic homage to d.j.s follows the evolution of scratching from an accident to an art form. In its current state, scratching requires an absurd dexterity and a love for mind-melting sonic distortions. One practitioner, Mix Master Mike, tells of a night when he was so freaked out by the sounds emanating from his turntables that he believed he was communicating with intergalactic beings. His story, along with those of other influential turntablists, makes for a rough-sketch history of a style that's now being co-opted by footwear and soft-drink ads. Arriving at this time of relative obscurity for the movement, "Scratch" is one of those prescient social documents like Charlie Ahearn's 1982 "Wild Style," which caught hip-hop in its block-rocking infancy. -Michael Agger
Copyright © 2006 The New Yorker

Customer Reviews

Somewhat average if not insulting on certain levels....
This dvd/vhs is a subpar at best. The fact that someone on here stated," that after the old school(pre-83)Djin started dyin out?!" Its obvious the director didnt really know anything about djin until he saw Qbert at one of these turntablist venues. The fact that you give the pioneers Bambaataa,Kool Herc,Dxt,Theodore,and Jazzy Jay a meager 20 minutes let alone ommit Grandmaster Flash,Charlie Chase,Whiz kid, Scratch on Galaxy, Knights of the Turntables, to name a few is ridiculous! How the hell can you skip dam near 10 years of Djin and go right to Qbert! Wheres the Mixmaster Ice scratch? Howie Tee? Marly Marl?,the Kday mix show Djs?(Julio G,Dr.Dre,Joe Cooley,Aladdin or Uncle Jams Army?( keith Cooley, Dj Pooh,etc..) Oh my God,one the most influencial scratches ever was the Transformer scratch! and that was given as a out take not seen in film with Cashmoney and Jazzy Jeff, like it wasnt important enough or revelant to todays turntablist. Being from the west coast, there is no mention of Joe Cooley at all for his fast rabid scratch style L.A. was known for,even Miami(Dj Mann,Magic Mike,Ghetto style djs)didnt get any love. This is a very inovative period (1984-1990)that is extremly relevant to today,as far as scratchin is concern. Its startin to play like how rap music is viewed today,with the thought of Run Dmc being old school and nothin happen before that.
Scratchin was creative and innovative before 1991 ya'll. One more thing ,"BODY TRICKS", have ALWAYS been part of dj routines,wheres Dj Scratch on here?! check your history and do not follow every little thing that is stated to you as fact on this Dvd cause its not especially from some people who have been doing this for 3-4 years claiming to be old school but have no crates!! only those battle break records! come on!! come correct! This is NOT the complete history of scratchin in my opinion not by a long shot! If your gonna have Dj shadow(dj/producer)talkin about break beats and crate diggin,then you have to have at least prince paul,or pete rock,or marly marl, or especially mantronix on here. This dvd is probably suited for rave/college kids who like soo many are fad jockers, into it one day, out of it the next day.

Essential viewing for the Hip-Hop generation...
I first saw this in the theater with virtually no prior knowledge about it's contents. Needless to say, I was thoroughly impressed. This DVD is a must have for anyone with even a passing interest in DJ culture. A history lesson awaits. This is an excellent product, outlining the evolution of the DJ- from the birth of the break (Kool Herc) to the modern madness of the turntablist. This is an excellent, well-constructed and very entertaining film. Even if you are not into Hip-Hop, chances are you will enjoy this documentary. If you are, I'm sure you have already seen this, if not, BUY IT NOW! This is in my top three all-time documentaries, with 'Dogtown' and 'Freshest Kids'. This is essential viewing for all hipsters.

Captures the spirit of Scratch DJ'ing
This was a great film for me for the main reason that my wife understood me much more after watching the film. She understood why I would hold such reverence to my vinyl collection and why I could be so passionate about music... all kinds of music. Scratch brings you right into the mind of DJ's and why they fall in love with the turntable and spends countless hours with them.

If you interest in Hip Hop, you will find this movie very informative and entertaining. A must see for aspiring DJ's.