Disc jockey
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
- DJ redirects here. Alternate meanings in DJ (disambiguation).
In the sense of the word as it is used in circles and cultures where reggae and related musical styles are prevalent, a DJ is an MC or rapper--in Jamaica, Panama, and other parts of the Caribbean and Latin America--whereas the DJ is called (music) selector in Jamaica. Therefore what is called dee jaying or chatting in Jamaica is called rapping in most other parts of the world.
DJs can be heard on the radio or at any number of social gatherings, among them weddings, nightclubs, art openings, warehouse parties, or high school dances. As a result there are many different types of DJ, each fitting into a particular niche defined by performance setting (broadcast booth or nightclub) and intended audience (jazz or hip hop fans). A DJ's performance style and the techniques they employ reflect these considerations. Wedding DJs play music but are often expected to act as a masters of ceremonies who introduce the bride and groom, lead dances, or invite guests to play games. A DJ at a rave would not be expected to do any of these things, but would be expected to introduce a greater technical element to their performance by manipulating the songs they play in order to maintain a given tempo and energy level. It can be said that DJing is not a single action but instead a series of actions whose makeup is predicated upon a number of situational factors and expectations. The examples of talk radio "shock jocks" like Howard Stern and Don Imus show that one need not play music to be considered a DJ by some audiences, though the title "on-air personality" might be more appropriate for them. In reggae music, the term deejay refers to the person who comments the songs that are played by the selector. Recently it also stands for a reggae artist who sings in a style similar to rap.
| Table of contents |
|
2 Equipment 3 The DJ as artist 4 DJ Control and Economics 5 Disc vs Disk 6 The People 7 The DJ as Teacher 8 DJs in Rock Bands 9 Bibliography |
Technique
mixing and blending, cueing, phrasing, cutting, beat juggling, scratching, body tricks, beatmatching
Equipment
Turntable, CD player, Mixer, headphones, Slipmat, Sampler, Drum Machine, Effects Processor, Laptop computer
The DJ as artist
A recent phenomenon in the musical community (but primarily within the sphere of popular music) is the assertion that some DJs are not simply "playing records" but are in fact creating new music out of the playback and mixing of the pre-recorded media. Fuelled mainly by the innovative mixing techniques that have come out of the hip hop and EDM scenes, and regarded as a musical extension of the literary cut-up technique, this growing attitude posits that such a DJ is not content simply to beatmatch two or three records and layer them over each other but that the end product should emerge as a new musical composition. To achieve this goal, such a DJ may employ such techniques as phrasing, sampling, scratching, the application of effects (e.g., delay, flange, etc.), and any other technique the DJ feels inclined to use. Examples of such DJs as "artists" adding musical or dramatic value include DJ Shadow, Coldcut and DJ Spooky. In effect they are developing an aural montage that may be spontaneous/improvised or carefully crafted. There are parallels in surrealism and the visual arts.
DJ Control and Economics
Due to the control that DJs have over the music that is played on radio stations, some record companies have desired to use money to control disk jockeys. The bribing of disc jockeys to play selected artists is called payola.
Disc vs Disk
The name "Disc jockey" developed in the era when the only sound recordings available were analogue disc records. For the reason it's disc jockey rather than disk jockey, see disk or disc. Disc is more often spelled "Disk" in the USA.
The People
- Christopher Stone became the first disc jockey in the United Kingdom, playing records on the BBC on 7 July 1927.
- Jimmy Savile, the first DJ to use twin turntables in 1946.
- Alan Freed, influential disc jockey and music promoter in 1950s New York City
- Murray the K, successor to Freed, the "Fifth Beatle"
- Wolfman Jack, internationally famous for his howls and patter on high-powered Mexican station XERF; later hosted early syndicated radio show
The DJ as Teacher
Another DJ who has been widely renowned is Christian Marclay who as Paul Miller aka DJ Spooky had taught at the European Graduate School
DJs in Rock Bands
In the late '90s Nu metal bands started to introduce DJs into their band to give their music a hip-hop style.Usually their role in the band is minor on live shows but they usually have a large influence in the recording stages.
Bands which include DJs are:
- Slipknot (Sid 0)
- Incubus (DJ Kilmore)
- Limp Bizkit (DJ Lethal)
- linkin Park (Joe Hahn)
- Lostprophets (Jamie Oliver)
- Deftones (Frank Delgado)
Bibliography
- Poschardt, Ulf: DJ Culture. London: Quartet Books 1998. ISBN 0-704-38098-6
| Hip hop |
|---|
| Breakdancing - DJinging - Graffiti art - Hip hop music - Rapping (List of rappers) |
| Fashion - Feuds - Slang - Timeline |
| Genres |
| East Coast - West Coast - South - Gangsta rap - G-funk - Horrorcore - Jazz rap - Alternative - Nerdcore - Old school - Hardcore |
| Trip hop - Freestyle - Hip house - Hip life - Go go - Miami bass - Nu soul - Ghettotech - Electro - Rap metal - Reggaeton - Merenrap |
| African - Belgian - Dutch - Filipino - French - German - Greek - Icelandic - Italian - Japanese - Mexican - Polish - Spanish - Turkish - Swiss |