Are UK G DJ's pretty poor when it comes to other styles?

**Alex** · 27-02-2002, 08:12 PM

Would Hip Hop DJ's rip up UK G DJ's if they were ever battling each other?

Not enough garage DJ's are taking the music to another level. Just seem's to be beatmatching as the main skill. When in other styles its just the base to work from.

On the net everyone love's Luca, but hes a garage DJ. If he was hip hop he would be pretty ordinary. He is a heavy DJ but is his skill just basics ?

**Sen** · 27-02-2002, 08:19 PM

pretty sure it has to do with the high vocal content and the odd speed of the songs...but yeah, it's a different scene than say HipHop turntablism or Techno eqisms or House loooooong mixes

**Alex** · 27-02-2002, 08:20 PM

But what style has the most talented DJ's?

**Sen** · 27-02-2002, 08:34 PM

on pure skillz?

hiphop bar none

**lady-j** · 27-02-2002, 08:34 PM

alex, they are all talented in different ways. what makes me laugh is when people try to judge a DJs ability using criteria from another scene/genre.

such as hip hop DJs who dis house DJs because they don't scratch, or house and DnB djs that diss garage djs because they don't do 4 minute long mixes, or techno djs who diss hip hop djs for mixing on mixers with no EQs...

to each their own and everything has a place. there are highly skilled djs in all genres. the best of them borrow techniques from other scenes/genres but dont make them the focus of their set. i like luca because though he can scratch well, he doesn't overdo it and he knows that garage at its core is about vibesin not turntablism. and that has stayed consistent from the orginal US garage all the way up to Pay As You Go or Heartless. the minute garage becomes all about turtablist acrobatics i am moving on.

lady-j

**deejayloveit** · 27-02-2002, 08:35 PM

i think they all have their merits.....

Turntablists

Knob Twiddlin technoids

Progressive Storytellers

Talent lies not only in the genre, but how the DJ involves other elements. Here in the North America, i've heard PLENTY of dj's on the garage train coming from a Breaks perspective. Myself, i've always been playing garage, in one form or another.....but have also played plenty of Hip-Hop, and Dancehall, and other types of house.....for the last 8 years.

So when i play UKG, my forte', i'll emply the hip-hop sensibility of song programming, with some occasional tricks taken from the book of basic turntablism.....but I'll also rock the dubbier tracks with some house long mix techniques and some jungle crossfader amen breaks action.....and i'm a knob twiddlin mo'fo' i promise you.

i look for that versatility from a DJ. UKG is simple enough as it is, being song based for the most part, DJ's have to step it up on the skill level. I push myself to do exactly that.

**Alex** · 27-02-2002, 08:38 PM

Everyone is discussing how garage is evolving and its good and bad points. Wether you like vocal driven sets or darker with mc's rippin it up.

But do garage DJ's need to step up and use more talent in their sets? Some of them are just simple beatmatching.

**lady-j** · 27-02-2002, 08:41 PM

what do you suggest alex? beyond beat matching and dropping tunes and cutting? i mean i've heard loopee with his Kaoss pad and that has it's place but think about it. most live sets now have MCs, if the DJ is doing all sorts of effects and the MC is shouting down the microphone....erm.

lady-j

**Sen** · 27-02-2002, 08:42 PM

I think so, because, heck, *I* can beatmatch like a badbwoy.

Something needs to seperate the boys from the men other than selection otherwise it's a case of who's on what promo list and who has the most money to fling at records. (it's like this currently I guess)

**Alex** · 27-02-2002, 08:48 PM

Lady J, im just having a discussion

There are many DJ's on a flyer who are there because they made a tune, released it so the promotors want their name on their flyer. It's not a hard skill to learn to beatmatch. But what exactly have they put into becoming a DJ? Sure they might of just brought some decks learnt how to mix and thats it. It just seems a bit to easy and the quality of DJ's is below a standard set by many years ago.

**lady-j** · 27-02-2002, 08:50 PM

Something needs to seperate the boys from the men

so then where does Baby C, Emma Femline, or me fit in? lol

other than selection otherwise it's a case of who's on what promo list and who has the most money to fling at records. (it's like this currently I guess)

well see, if it is all about entertainment then why should it be about only playing the most upfront selection and 'pushing things forward'? isn't that what ran another genre into the ground a few years back? all i see is the soul of the music getting pushed out...already i'm hearin tunes that sound like early 90's Antler-Subway releases. course that has to do with MC wanting stuff like that to chat over and it's all easy but i think the more emphasis that people place on the DJs and producers to push things the more technofied it all becomes.

lady-j

**deejayloveit** · 27-02-2002, 08:56 PM

it used to be one of 2 ways.

you were either a good dj, and could only become so large until you released a record.....

or

you were a producer, and could only get so large until you could DJ.

now.....in order to get paid, you better be seriously great at one or the other.....or do both solidly....and plenty.

DJ's though......they're cheaper than a dime a dozen, or whatever a UK coin is........and i hate playing the "I have all the newest CHOONS, so I'm the BEST" game.....

I have a new tape. It's got plenty of older records....maybe not old by the US standards, but there's some trax on there that are over rinsed by London's standards....but i also have some great older records that weren't rinsed into oblivion......

i pride myself on utilizing all of my skills, and programming a set from start to finish.... i wish i had this mix online today, so i could point any of you to it.....i'd certainly be willing to send out a copy to anyone.

i feel that i can walk into a show with other garage dj's take my records, even though i'm not on all the top A-lists, and not shopping every week online and in the shops, and play my music MY way.....and still walk away with props. i have to believe this, or i'll never see my own success realized.

**deejayloveit** · 27-02-2002, 08:59 PM

maybe Rokko would comment on my mixing....he's heard it. especially the new tape from my crew's tape pack. i actually have not received a full critique from him either.

**pru: piper** · 28-02-2002, 10:44 AM

to be honest - when I listen to some old Garage tapes around 97-99 the mixing was much better.

There are loads of good DJs into UKG but there are so much crap ones too. Not want to start a crew debate again but a lot of the crew DJs are poor. As most crews are doing a 'Hip Hop Garage' thing for me I have to say the DJs lost. Any Hip Hop DJ will make them look like fools.

A lot of Producers are booked as DJs when they released a successful tune but most of them are crap too. Just starting to DJ seriously because of the bookings and the money they could make. But that's not only in UKG it's in all scenes. Anyone heard Goldie DJ? He's piss poor and earns a lot of money with it.

**DJ Twin 2** · 28-02-2002, 10:57 AM

**DJ Twin 2** · 28-02-2002, 11:00 AM

WHAT DA $$$$ IS WRONG WITH BEAT MATCH MIXING??

I PERSONALLY DON'T LIKE TO LISTEN TO DJ'S CUT UP TRACKS AND JUST DROP TUNES.

BEAT MATCHING IS A SKILL.

AND AS FAR AS EVEN BEAT MATCHING GOES........A HOUSE DJ WOULD PISS ALL OVER A GARAGE ONE.

**Kreff** · 28-02-2002, 11:07 AM

I think a good example of a wicked producer but $$$$e DJ is Stciky, but promoters still book him.

**Rowland Samuel** · 28-02-2002, 12:26 PM

Originally posted by Kreff
I think a good example of a wicked producer but $$$$e DJ is Stciky, but promoters still book him.

He is a heavy R'n'B DJ mate (has been for a long tyme now) so u can't say that excatly !!

And wots wrong with just beatmatching - i'm not a fan of chopping too tuff myself !!

**Sen** · 28-02-2002, 07:33 PM

I don't think Alex was saying that anything was wrong with beat matching, just that that seems to be the only skill utilized by UKG DJs (at least that's my interpretation)

**deejayloveit** · 28-02-2002, 08:12 PM

and in defense of the beatmatching dj:

one of my close friends is also one of the turntablists i respect most in my part of the country. dj's the top hip hop radio station here for the live drive time mix show as well as a couple of weekend mix shows, has competed in regional DMC competitions and placed. his beatmatching improved dramatically hanging out and sharing some residencies with me watching me play garage, knob twiddling and riding records. took his playing to a new level.

and of course converseley, i picked up and polished more of my hip-hop skills through watching him.

the best dj's stretch themselves. want to get better, and broaden their arsenal of techniques.