Turntablism is the art of manipulating sounds and creating new music, sound effects, mixes and other creative sounds and beats, typically by using two or more turntables and a cross fader-equipped DJ mixer. The mixer is plugged into a PA system and/or broadcasting equipment so that a wider audience can hear the turntablist's music. Turntablists typically manipulate records on a turntable by moving the record with their hand to cue the stylus to exact points on a record, and by touching or moving the platter or record to stop, slow down, speed up or, spin the record backwards, or moving the turntable platter back and forth, all while using a DJ mixer's crossfader control and the mixer's gain and equalization controls to adjust the sound and level of each turntable. Turntablists typically use two or more turntables and headphones to cue up desired start points on different records.
Jeffrey Allen Townes, known professionally as DJ Jazzy Jeff, is an American DJ and producer. He was one half of the hip hop duo DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince, along with rapper-turned-actor and fellow Philadelphia native Will Smith. He is credited, along with DJs Spinbad and Cash Money, with popularizing the transformer scratch.
Douglas Davis, known professionally as Doug E. Fresh, is a Barbadian-born American rapper, record producer, and beatboxer, also known as the "Human Beat Box". The pioneer of 20th-century American beatboxing, Fresh is able to accurately imitate drum machines and various special effects using only his mouth, lips, gums, throat, tongue and a microphone.
Quik Is The Name is the debut studio album by American hip hop artist and producer DJ Quik, released by Profile Records on January 15, 1991. The album was produced by DJ Quik and his executive producers Courtney Branch and Tracy Kendrick. The recording sessions took place in 1990 at Westlake Recording Studios in Los Angeles, California, with a production budget of $30,000.
The Regime is an American hip hop collective and supergroup created by Yukmouth in 1997, and originally included fellow rappers Tech N9ne, Phats Bossi, Madmax, Poppa LQ, Dizzle Don and Govnormatic. Not long after the original formation, Gonzoe of rap group Kausion and Lil Ke also joined. The group is signed to Yukmouth's Smoke-A-Lot Records, and share that label's dragon logo.
Tyree Cinque Simmons, known professionally as DJ Drama, is an American disc jockey (DJ), record executive and music promoter. He initially gained recognition as the DJ for Atlanta-based rapper T.I., and continued to gain prominence hosting mixtapes for other hip hop artists. His trademark Gangsta Grillz series is present on releases of which he has compiled; it has been popularized by artists including Lil Wayne, Tyler the Creator, Snoop Dogg, Yo Gotti, YoungBoy Never Broke Again, Fabolous, Jeezy, Meek Mill, and Gucci Mane, among others. Alongside record producer and fellow Philadelphia native Don Cannon, he co-founded the record label Generation Now in 2015, an imprint of Atlantic Records which has signed artists including Lil Uzi Vert and Jack Harlow.
Charles Mitchell, known professionally as Mitchy Slick, is an American rapper from Southeast San Diego, California. He is a member of the rap supergroup Strong Arm Steady, along with rappers Phil Da Agony and Krondon. He performs solo with three albums released in addition to many collaborations. Mitchell is the CEO of Wrongkind Records.
Jovan Smith, better known by his stage name J. Stalin, is an American rapper from the Cypress Village housing projects in West Oakland. In 2007, he signed to Zoo Entertainment Production Company run by artist Mekanix, who described his style as a variant of hyphy known as "Go".
Strong Arm Steady, often referred to as SAS, is a hip hop group in California's underground hip hop scene. As of December 2009, the act consists of members Phil Da Agony, Krondon, of Los Angeles, and Mitchy Slick of San Diego, California. Originally an amorphous collective of at least eight, formed as an alternative to the gang-focused productions of West Coast hip hop's then-dominant Death Row Records, SAS pared down to four members for recording in the studio and performing live, with Xzibit as the frontman. Since he left the group in 2006, the three remaining members have been a stable trio.
Tear Gas is the fourth studio album by American rapper The Jacka. It was released on June 16, 2009 through The Artist Records/SMC Recordings. Recording sessions took place at 17 Hertz Studios in Hayward and at Skyblaze Studios in Emeryville. Production was handled by M.G. The Producer, RobLo, Bedrock, Traxamillion, Cellski, Jeffro, Joe Millionaire, Kareem K, Lee Bannon, Lee Majors, Stagmata and The Inkredibles, with The Jacka serving as executive producer. It features guest appearances from Ampichino, Andre Nickatina, AP.9, Cellski, Cormega, Devin the Dude, Dubb 20, E-40, Freeway, J. Stalin, Jynx, Krondon, Masspike Miles, Matt Blaque, Mistah F.A.B., Mitchy Slick, Paul Wall, Phil da Agony, Planet Asia, Rydah J. Klyde, Sky Balla and Zion I. The album debuted at number 93 on the US Billboard 200, with 5,800 copies sold in its first week of release. In 2022, Rolling Stone included the album at #196 on their list of The 200 Greatest Hip-Hop Albums Of All Time.
Jae Synth is an American music video director, music producer and disc jockey from Sacramento, California
James "Husalah" Ratliff, is an American rapper from Pittsburg, California. He began his career with the Pittsburg group the Mob Figaz, whose first album, C-Bo's Mob Figaz, was released in 1999. Like his late close friend The Jacka, Husalah is a Muslim, and frequently references Islam in his lyrics. He has released three solo studio albums, as well as numerous group projects.
Lorenzo King, best known by his stage name Renz Julian, is an American rapper, producer, and founder of Field of Dreamz Ent. Formerly known as Playa Renz, the Bay Area native originates from the cities of Oakland, Antioch, and San Jose, California. He is currently signed to Field of Dreamz Ent./Empire Distribution. He is known for his singles Clap, Clap featuring Clyde Carson, produced by Traxamillion, and Pop n' Lock remix featuring Twista, and E-40. Tom Slick, formerly of Collipark Music, produced the song. King also played college football at St. Mary's College of California, then professional arena football for the Rapid City Flying Aces of the now defunct NIFL.
Miracle & Nightmare on 10th Street is a double-disc collaboration album between American rapper J. Stalin and producer DJ Fresh, released on 16 July 2013. Both the Miracle and Nightmare discs were originally released as two separate albums. It peaked at #61 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and at #28 on the Heatseekers Albums chart. Miracle & Nightmare on 10th Street is DJ Fresh's first charting album to date and is also one of J. Stalin's most successful to date. It features a guest appearance from Freddie Gibbs. Music videos have been filmed for "Torta" featuring Lil Retro, "Dopegame" featuring L'Jay and "P.O.L.O. ".
Good to Be Home is a studio album by American hip hop recording artist Blu. The album was released on May 19, 2014, by New World Color and Nature Sounds. Good to Be Home features guest appearances from Fashawn, Casey Veggies, Prodigy, Mitchy Slick, Phil Da Agony, Pac Div, Imani, The Visionaries, Oh No, The Alchemist, Evidence, Planet Asia, and Krondon among others. It was produced in its entirety by Bombay.
Lady ILE, is an American rapper and emcee based in Los Angeles. She released her debut EP 1st Impression in 2011, and in 2014 released "Still Turnt Up," a collaborative single with DJ Fresh. She has also collaborated as a primary artist, composer, or vocalist with artists such as Droop E, Cousin Fik, Prince Lefty, J Stalin, King Bam Bubbi, Sleyv, Stevie Joe, Planet Asia, & The Jacka. Power 106 has her songs "So Wrong" and "Awesome" in their rotation, and according to the station, "Her versatile, eclectic style has variety from soulful hip hop to mob music to what you want to hear in a club."
Armani Depaul, also known as Flav, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and director. Based in the Bay Area in Northern California, he operates the independent label Beach Boi Music.
JD Era is a Canadian rapper and lyricist. He has worked with artists such as Nas, Gza, Kardinal Offishall, The Clipse, and has also cut several tracks with longtime friend Drake. In 2008 he won Best Rap at the Toronto Independent Music Awards, and also won the TAG Records’ Survival of The Freshest competition. He has also released a number of mixtapes and singles, and in the Juno Awards of 2013 his album No Handouts was nominated for Rap Recording of the Year.
Micah Omega Crosby, is an American rapper, producer, and songwriter from Modesto, California. By 2012 Omega Crosby was releasing his own singles and music videos, and his first mixtape, Urban Muzik Vol.1, came out in early 2013. Currently signed to Empire Distribution, he has collaborated with hip hop artists such as Clyde Carson, Adrian Marcel, Mayne Mannish and Chingy. He has also completed production for members of the group The Team. He was nominated for Best Hip Hop Artist in late October 2015 for the Modesto Area Music Awards. In 2015 he released a mixtape titled "Modesto". A digital exclusive mixtape called "2016" was released January 1, 2016 by Bay Area based company Thizzler and Swisha House CEO, DJ Michael "5000" Watts. On January 20, 2016 he released his first independent album titled "Kalifornia".
Highway Robbery is a 2014 collaborative album by rappers Freeway of State Property and The Jacka of the Mob Figaz. It was released on September 16, 2014. The album was preceded by a mixtape entitled Write My Wrongs, released on October 14, 2013, which served as a prequel to the album.
