1 definition by danny elbee
a word coined by Dj Babu(Beat Junkies). turntablist - a person who has been dj'ing for many and multiplte years, having achieved and mastered the beginning levels of djing like mixing (matching b.p.m. and counts on any two musical records)and programming (mixing two different songs that have similar style and "match" each other so you can not notice the transition between the two). a TRUE turntablist can dissect any quantization rhythym on two records and innovate and manipulate the sound LIVE, in realtime to make their own different rhythyms, using a mixer: which switches the sound between the 2 turntables thus giving the option of switching sound from record to record, using a crossfader. when this art is done in a recognizable quantized rhythym this is known as BEAT JUGGLING. another part of turntablism is the skratch. this is when you use one record to play a song, and you use the mixer to switch on and off the sound of your fingers manipulating the other record's sound. there are hundreds of intricate patterns and combinations of record movement along with simoltaneously fader movement which gives the sound of a speedy, intricate, clean instrument (kind of like a drummer's quantization). REAL turntablists' scratches and beat juggles follow the general rules of western music quantization. a REAL tablist does not just scratch, for that is only ONE aspect to the art ... keep this art alive ... dont seel yourself short!! many years of learning and practice and persistance and discipline in this art is the only way you can be honestly called a turntablist.
dj qbert, mixmaster mike, dj craze, the X-ecutioners, dj a-trak, dj pound are all real turntablists. a real turntablist knows how to beat juggle and scratch seemlessly.
by danny elbee September 6, 2006