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DJ QBert - "Wave Twisters"  Galactic Butt Hair

 Turntablism

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DJ Q-Bert's been up in this hip hop scene for a hot minute, known to many as the turntable alchemist weaving his unique skratch spells. Originator of many styles that are oft-copied but rarely well-duplicated. "Retired" from the Disco Mixing Championships (DMC) alongside long time friend Mixmaster Mike (also from the same crew: the Invisibl Skratch Piklz) and given the role of judges after making this competition almost meaningless with his inimitible skratch styles that has littered the swath he cut through in his battling days. Now the guru of turntablism, he is widely acknowledged as the finest exponent of skratching and it shows in this album.

But what can we expect from a DJ ? Most people think of the DJ as the guy manning the wheels of steel and blending the music for the radio audience or the club hoppers, and be wary, for this is not that sort of album. Yeah, there are banging beats (many courtesy of Mixmaster Mike) but this is a concept album. A full length Japanese anime cartoon is to be released and this is the soundtrack for that. The whole premise of this tale is of an entire civilization residing in innerspace, and the only form of communication is through the sounds of skratching, according to the Piklz. Whether this will consist of huge oversized insects decked out with turntables is unlikely, but this album does indeed sound like a futuristic tale, just witness the changing moods.

Luckily this album is not just a pure skratch fest and does exactly what Q-Bert set out to do. His unique (some may say crazy) ideas are probably the basis for his genius behind the 1s and 2s, so don't be surprised by the sound fest that greets you. There is even a commercial for Fresh Breath Mouthwash!!! We get guest spots from a champion in Vin Rock on "Cosmic Assassins" and DJ Flare demos his sonic flare on "6 Fingered Fury", really getting busy on the sample. The whole theme of the cartoon is represented throughout, check tracks like "Cosmic Assassins" with some banging bass that cats will love to pump outta their trunk, while "Electric Eye Beam Abduction" portrays the title in an eerie fashion. Q-Bert's wacky sense of humour is inbued all the way, from the "I am the Red Worm" to the final cut, turning the knob on the "Turntable TV" to the featured film on the Waxxx-rated channel, "Aphrodisiskratch".

It is hard to pick out the best moments on this album, because for me this was so refreshing and I loved it all the way through. Q, the man who brought the ill flare skratches to light, the man now known as the worlds best shows that a full album can be made. It will definitely keep your attention, but I fear that not as many people may get the opportunity to hear his wax juggling. This album is released on his own imprint, Galactic Butt Hair Records, and of course I am sure Q-Bert was the one to name this label. This most definitely does not follow the current trends in hip hop, but is definitely a great example of hip hop at its best. Check it out and be amazed. - Roni


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