THE
Kenyatta
ccording to Charles Darwin,
I noticed there are
Marl did a good job of the special things about it was that
producing it. And you'd know at some point in the
second, one of my night, you're gonna hear a song that
well-known routines you've never heard before that's just
is s off that record. gonna make you flip your wig. That's
How many records what DJs used to pride themselves
do you own? I have in back in the day, being able to find
probably under ten the most obscure record and break-
by True 54 crates, and the reason for that is ing it. Some producers have kept
Words & Photos
Athe survival of a species some similarities between skaters I just stopped buying records, 'cause I that mentality like Premier and
depends on its ability to evolve
and adapt to changes in its envi-
ronment. In the early '90s, the
DJ in hip-hop was a dying breed.
CDs were threatening to drive
records into extinction, and rap-
pers no longer wanted to share
the spotlight. But a new strain of
DJ-known as the turntablist-has
emerged to reclaim their rightful
place at the top of the hip-hop
food chain. I recently talked to
Rob Swift of the X-ecutioners
about his contributions to the
art and his crew's groundbreak-
ing new album, X-pressions.
and turntablists. Yeah. The skate- felt that the direction hip-hop was
board wasn't designed for people to going in wasn't suiting my needs as a
do the things that a lot of these skaters DJ. I've done parties before, that's how
are doing; it was to get from point A to I started, but I was always into finding
point B without having to buy a bike. records that were easy for me to cut
Same with a turntable; it was designed off of. Records like Public Enemy's,
for people to play music, and now early LL Kool J's and Run-DMC's were
we're creating our own music out of it. all made for DJs like myself. But in the
Do you prefer the term "turntab- early '90s, it started changing, and
list" or "DJ"? "Turntablist" defines records started to sound boring. They
what I do a lot more accurately, weren't as energetic; they didn't have
because DJs, for the most part, only many peaks where you can scratch a
play records at social functions in certain portion of it and just feel that
order for people to dance. I mean, energy. If you look at my record col-
some DJs can scratch, but their forte lection, it's older shit, and the up-to-
usually is blending music together date records that I do have are sent to
and doing mixes; whereas a me from different labels, so my collec-
turntablist does stuff that's a tion isn't that expensive. I've started
lot more complex such as tak to collect more jazz, if anything,
ing records and remixing them 'cause those type of records help
manually, actually playing the me out with my scratching, just lis-
turntable as if it were an instru- tening to horn player's riffs. I try to
ment. What's your favorite picture myself as that horn player
record of all-time? It would on the turntable. Do you look for
have to be Nobody Beats The Biz, obscure stuff? Yeah. That's what hip-
because for one, it's energetic hop was about back in the day. If you
and sounds as though it was went to a party, and Afrika Bambaata
made for a DJ to cut. Marley or someone like that was playing, one
Large Professor; they're always
looping up some ill break that you
never heard before. But now it's
mostly about getting paid to break a
record. Tell us about the album.
It's universal; it was made so that
people who just enjoy music in
general can appreciate it. It's an
album in which the nucleus of it is
the turntable. But what we did was
we didn't give you a one-dimen-
sional album. When people find out
the X-ecutioners aka the X-Men are
gonna do an album, they think,
"Okay, it's just gonna be a lot of
turntable stuff and routines and
beat juggling," but it's more than
that. I'm into MCing and produc-
tion just as much. I did notice you
produced most of the cuts. Right.
All the aspects of hip-hop influence
me, so what I wanted to do was show
people, "Yes, we are turntablists and
are gonna expose that on this album,
but we're also gonna expose the other
sides of our personalities as far as
music is concerned." There's a little
bit of spoken word, a little bit of
just graduated col-
lege last year, or
turntablism. Cause
you never know who
you're talking to;
they could be the
next ill DJ who's
rhyming, even a little bit of singing. What are some differences
What is the X-Men's contribution between turntablists on the East
to turntablism? Obviously you've as opposed to the West? On the
made your name in the history East Coast, the style here is basically
books, but what exactly is it beat juggling with an emphasis on
going to say you did? What is your record selection. We like to use up-to-
claim to fame as a crew? I really date hip-hop songs, for example, and
believe that we're the ones who have we try and be well-rounded. We like slash somebody's throat, and Raida's just gonna revolutionize the whole
taken the art of beat juggling to new to emphasize on stage all the the same way. He could be business- art. So, just that and having a
levels; people have learned what it is aspects of DJing such as beat jug- minded at times, but really all he strong faith in God. The reason I'm
they're supposed to do as beat jug- gling, scratching, body tricks, and wants to do is just be on stage, rip- here doing what I'm doing is
glers from our example. It came first being really visual with our routine. ping up the turntables. Mista Sinista because of God. A lot of people
in 1990 with Steve B, who introduced On the West Coast, a lot of the is Beast, 'cause Sinista, when it tend to forget that sometimes when
it to the world, and people enjoyed turntablists don't necessarily use up- comes to sitting down with him and they start becoming successful.
hearing it, but they didn't know what to-date records. Like they'll put on talking, he'll talk to you about almost They start to believe it's solely
it was he was doing exactly. Then "It's Time" and "Planet Rock" and anything, 'cause he's knowledgable them who made it all happen, but
people like me and Roc Raida and just scratch over it. Some of them do about a lot of things. But then when It's actually a higher power. What
Mista Sinista and Total Eclipse came beat juggle, but their forte usually is it comes to fighting, Beast ain't no does the future hold for the X-
and showed people how it was just being able to scratch and
done. We're the ones responsible for sound really musical on one pushover, either, and that's the asked me thirteen years ago when I
actually revolutionizing the art. turntable, and they may not manipu- same with Sinista. He'll get on the art
started DJing if I was gonna do an
What about Rob Swift's claim to late two turntables as much as East turntable and just rip you apart. album that revolves around DJing,
fame? People are gonna remember Coast DJs do. Can you define hip- And Total Eclipse is Gambit. Eclipse I'd laugh at you. And look at us
me as a mental DJ. Mental as in ill hop? For me, the definition
of hip-
is the newest member and the most now. We're doing interviews, and
or intelligent? Both. I consider hop revolves around self-expres- mysterious out of the crew. A lot of I'm doing showcases as a turntab-
myself, as far as intelligence is con- sion, being able to express yourself people don't know much about him, list, not as somebody's DJ. It's at
cerned, almost like a turntablist schol- in an honest way whether musical- but he be representin' when it comes the point now where turntablists
ar, 'cause my influence on the turnta- ly or in the manner you dress
s and to getting on the turntables. Same are starting to gain more respe
along
ecutioners? It's endless. If you
bles
s expands a lot further than just talk. If you had to compare for Gambit. When it comes to chal- so who's to say that in the year
what I do on stage. I write a column yourselves to the comic book X- lenging an enemy, he's always stay- 2000 we won't be at the Grammys
for On The Go magazine on the topic of Men, who would you be? I'd be ing with the rest of his crew, getting nominated for an award?
DJing and am a contributor on the Cyclops because he's the one who busy. Do you have a motto that Turntablism is growing, and as
new Battle Sounds movie by John the rest of the members look to you live by? I just try and be a more people begin to do it, it's
Carluccio. And I also get mental on when it comes to decision-making. good person. I know everyone has gonna become a lot more complex
the turntable. A lot of turntablists, He bears the most responsibility, and their flaws and makes mistakes, but as far as technicality is concerned.
their whole goal is to try and look I feel that way a lot of the times. Roc I try and treat people as my equal People will devise new ways of
really energetic, but I like to make you Raida is Wolverine, cause all no matter how much I feel I've approaching it, and it's just gonna
ask yourself, "How did he do that?" Wolverine wants to do is fight, just accomplished-whether in school, I keep building.
THE OBLIVIONS
from Elvis Country, The
Taking bits and
Hoblivions formed after the pieces from R&B,
demise of an R&B band called the
Compulsive Gamblers. Greg and
Jack then nabbed Eric, and the rest
fest
is history-although, according to
Eric. "We just fake it." Exaggerated
modesty, as far as I'm concerned,
especially considering the impact of
their live shows.
OMED
Words & Photo
by Wez Lundry
blues, soul, punk
and Tennessee tradition, their
shows are not to be confused
shows are not
with jock-infested mosh pit
"punk concerts." Rather, they are
psychotic lapses into bourbon-
drenched spiritual revivals.
As they switch instru-
ments, you half expect a
snake handler to come out with rattlers overhead. Instead,
Greg will switch his left-handed guitar for Eric's right-
handed upside down bass. Or they'll bust into a gospel
tune. One thing is certain, however, you won't be let
down by their performance.
They've got plenty of records out that reflect what they
listen to: newer old-style blues like T-Model Ford
and RL Burnside, as well as punk trash like the
Cheater Slicks and the Bassholes. With their lat-
est,...Play 9 Songs With Mr Quintron, they've
enlisted the assistance of instinctive organ player
extraordinaire, Mr Quintron. As Eric explains it.
"We saw him playing in New Orleans. He's this
weird mad scientist who plays while his wife does a
show with exploding puppets. He seemed like the kind
of spontaneous guy we wanted to do the record with
And the choice was perfect....Play 9 Songs... is a
paint-peeler of originals mixed with a couple blues
tunes and some gospel favorites that'll raise the
raise
hair on the back
e back of your neck and
and bring you to
your knees to testify. This just proves you
don't need a million dollar budget and
six weeks in the studio to churn out the
dynamite shit. But, having a freaky
New Orleans street organist
sure does help.
5,6,7,8's
Words & Photo by
Andrew Harris
ey, bomb with the twist!" screams
"Hoshiko Puma, piercing my ear
drums as she and the rest of the 5,6,7,8's
break into their very late-night set at some
bar in LA. After years of listening to tapes
made from friends and buying every 12, 10 and
7 inch I could find, I'm finally standing in the front row watching
this all-woman super-rock trio from Tokyo, Japan. By the end of the
first song, I've forgotten about all the shitty rockabilly and second-
rate surf bands that unfortunately played before them that night.
The 5,6,7,8's are unstoppable, kicking their high-heeled shoes into
the air and playing music that makes you want to scream and rip
your hair out. The silly, spiked-hair bro-brahs who came to see
the surf bands just don't know what to make of the damsels from
the Far East, and the grease from the rockabilly wannabe's hair-
dos is starting to mess their silk bowling shirts. As for myself, I
feel like one of those teeny-bopping adolescent girls we've all
seen in old Beatles concert films-jumping, screaming, and
holding my hands firmly against my head to keep my brain
from exploding. The 5,6,7,8's roar through their songs,
abruptly waking up all those that dozed off during the
earlier acts. Their equipment is old, and their sound is
raw, but these three chicks are well-refined. They
aren't just punkers or greaser mommas, but
more like a combination of both. It's just like
those clever Japanese to go and do some-
thing like this; they've taken good, ol'
American rock 'n' roll and made it better
than we can do it ourselves. You can call me a
traitor and say that I got yellow fever if you
like, but the next time you see me, I'll be sit-
ting in my Toyota, eating some sashimi, and
listening to the 5,6,7,8's on my Sony radio.