Lost in Hip Hop’s recent love affair with the over-blinged, under-talented rappers are the exciting stories behind the evolution of the DJ, hip hop’s last remaining pure element.  While CDs and most recently iPods threatened to erradicate the skill behind the art of the DJ, pride and artistic purity, (for now) has won out.

Though sleek MacBooks now replace the classic milk crates of vinyl, the professional still “spins.”  Whether you’re a scratch dj, a master of the blends, or beat break monger, technological advancements have only enhanced your creativity.  No ProTools, AutoTune, AutoTone or MonoTone can allow any Tom, Dick or Harry to walk off the street instantly put a TRUE DJ’s gig on the line.  It takes talent and practice.

Although some software in a box won’t make you a DJ, DJ Qbert hopes that his new online program will teach students the art of the disc jockey.

Skratch University, the new online education center for the art of scratch DJ’ing and turntablism is “a comprehensive video curriculum online, from the most basic skratching techniques to the advanced “battle tactics” that made him the 3-time DMC Champion. QSU members use ArtistWorks’ proprietary VMS (Video/Media Management System) to send DJ Qbert a video of their practice session that he reviews and then posts a response video on the site. The Student Video and Qbert’s response are uniquely paired on QSU as “Master Classes” for the entire community to learn from.”

Apareantly the class will have some pretty cool guest “professors” who will share their techniques and knowledge with the students.  Pretty cool stuff.  Check it out now at QbertSkratchUniversity.com.

ProHipHop via Woooha