DVD Review: Scratch (A-)

Scratch (2001)
Directed by Doug Pray
Starring DJ Qbert, Afrika Bambaataa, DJ Shadow and MixMaster Mike
MPAA: R
Grade: A-

Review by Scott Standish

Its great to see a filmmaker document the ascension of the "dj as artist" in popular culture. It is an amazing phenomenon and the artists and fans of the dj art form take it quite seriously. So its refreshing to see director Doug Pray approach this subject with a respect for the past as well as open ears towards the future. At the very least, it is fantastic to see the legendary old school djs finally get their stories documented for future artists to remember.

The art of the dj has changed radically in the last twenty years, from radio djs simply playing records back to back, to club dj's mixing, manipulating and extending records via "cross-fading", to what we see today: djs agressively using the turntable to scratch a record, effectively turning it into its own instrument with its own unique sound. Scratch picks up the history of the dj at the point where hip hop culture really exploded - in the streets of New York, where djs such as Kool Herc, Afrika Bambaataa and others first started playing block parties. From these beginnings, djs became backing musicians for rap artists, and eventually (as dj's began to perfect scratch techniques) they would become their own recording artists.

For those that have no clue what the whole fuss is about, watching these scratch djs or "turntablists" as they sometimes called should prove to be a revelation. All the legendary djs are featured here (Grandmaster DXT from Herbie Hancock's band, Bambaataa and many more) and they get to tell their stories in their own words. The future of turntablism is left up in the air, as many of the artists admit that the San Francisco school of djs, led by DJ Qbert and the Invisible Skratch Pickles, has taken the scratching sound almost as far as it can go. Several artists predict that the turntable needs to return to the age where it co-existed with the rapper, without competing for attention within each song.

I would have liked to have heard from some djs of other styles of music (house, disco, etc.) to put it in context of the industry itself. Also, Grandmaster Flash is shown at work, but he is not interviewed in the film itself, a glaring omission. But, other than that, this is about as perfect as you can get.

Produced by the Hughes Brothers, directors of Dead Presidents and From Hell, this is a documentary with both its heart and soul in the right place. Its respect for the genre is honorable, making Scratch an excellent documentary.

Buy Scratch On DVD From Amazon.com