Scratch Review

Scratch
A visual bible of mixing and scratching, from Grand Wizard Theodore's first attempts at rubbing a record with a needle, through Grand Mixer DXT's influential input on Herbie Hancock's Rockit.

by Alan Morrison |
Published on
Release Date:

30 Aug 2002

Running Time:

91 minutes

Certificate:

15

Original Title:

Scratch

As documentaries go, this history of the hip-hop DJ isn't quite Dogtown with turntables. Like its skateboarding counterpart, Scratch includes rare archive footage and interviews with a Who's Who of trailblazers and stars.

But even though it makes an effort to define all the key terms (by the end you'll know your beat jugglers from your diggers), the uninitiated are going to feel stranded on the edge of the party.

But for fans, this is a visual bible of mixing and scratching, from Grand Wizard Theodore's first attempts at rubbing a record with a needle, through Grand Mixer DXT's influential input on Herbie Hancock's Rockit, to the modern-day vinyl junkies who have turned DJ-ing into a performance art.

Embracing the entire hip-hop culture - including rappers, graffiti artists and dancers - Scratch pulsates to an urban beat.

Slightly incomprehensible for the uninitiated, for the hip-hop junkie this is a slice of heaven.
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