DESCRIPTION:
DJs, we live in an age where lifting the needle off a piece of wax and swapping it, only to put the needle to the record again is a thing of the past. It's a skill that's been discarded by a new generation of Turntablists that believe pre-producing or arranging the music you play on digital mediums allow for room to do more. More isn't always better though. Most of the time more is just more.

And so the students I take under my wing will always spend time establishing a relationship with vinyl because it's important to develop the tactile instincts you need to control 2 turntables and a mixer. No one epitomized the intuitive skill required to manipulate actual records better than #JamMasterJay (RIP).

All you have to do is listen to "Here We Go: Live At The Funhouse" to appreciate the great responsibility a DJ has to not only back an MC, but do it on vinyl. If the record skips YOU must recover quickly and efficiently enough so as to avoid disrupting the lyricist's flow. Relative Mode on Serato ain't saving you. It's for this reason my students spend the first half of their semester in my #DJSkillsAndStyles class learning how to play and alter music on vinyl. As Bruce Lee says, "Knowing is not enough, we must apply". Thus, I issue the #JamMasterJayChallenge for their midterm exam.

The rules are simple. Students must use their sense of timing, rhythm and personal style to navigate through a series of drum breaks ("Big Beat", "Impeach The President" and "God Made Me Funky") as Brooklyn's own Rabbi Darkside aka Sam Sellers freestyles over their beats.

The New Schoolers I teach this term all did the damn thing but there were 3 standout students who are worthy of special mention:

Michaela (3rd place)
Joe (2nd place)
Dylan (1st place)

This trio did an outstanding job of keeping the legacy of DJs like Jam Master Jay, Tony Crush, Jazzy Jay, Grand Master Flash, GrandWizzard Theodore... and their contributions to the art of Hip Hop DJing alive.

Enjoy everyone!