Ever since I've been exposed to DJing I've been dragged into the world of "sessioning". Most of you music appreciators would say, "Sessioning? DJs can jam?" As history goes, as soon as DJs are introduced to the world of turntablism brought to you by the DJing art of Hip Hop. Sessioning was a very popular activity among DJs because it is fun, competitive, and mainly it is a way to compare notes in improving skills for turntablists. However many DJs today are either united through the Scratch Academy of NYC or the Skratch University of Thud Rumble online. In my opinion saddens me that I must pay money to an art that used to only requires the equipment and time to learn this skill. The price to buy all the equipment today is already an ugly fee, let alone paying more money to learn it. It's great when you have money but there comes a time when Hip Hop started from being poor and saving up money only to get the cheapest gear from pawn shops. Back then it was all parties, sessions & battles. What happened to them?
But going back to my main point why Hip Hop DJs are selfish, there are many reasons but mainly because in Hip Hop there is a different form of ego similar to MCs or rap artists. The pride of an MC shows in their lyrical contents, which is a more direct approach, but DJs cannot directly tell the tales of their struggles. Therefore DJs' pride are shown in their skills and the music they choose to play. In a general understanding, DJs aren't normally designated to play music with another, in fact - an individual alone by the music appreciator's standard should not even have more than 1 turntable! Here's an early example:
Hahahaha, that was fun. Such jokes aside, we should always consider that while battles and parties are ever important, sessioning is also another important activity of DJing, because it creates new tracks and it sharpens our ever itchings skills. But sessions can be in different fashions, be it the Qbert's Octagonal scratch session or DJ Moppy's Cut on Kutz sessions (http://www.ustream.tv/channel/cutz-on-cuts) it is all part of an individual's contribution. However with the mentality of DJing today, when you mention the words "DJ" your audience are most likely have an image of DJs in radio stations or mobile DJs that work for entertainment companies. Right or wrong, those (again by example) only act as individuals. This only contributes more to the death of sessioning because nobody wants to have fun piecing tracks together. You can only go far by yourself in the art of hip hop, but when you piece another style to the art - it's like magic! Or it can sound like shit and be frustrated about it, but THAT is all part of the journey in DJ sessioning.
I've been very fortunate to have public battle experiences in my early exposure in DJing, more than anything I crave for more battles to fill the bloodthrist, but as my cousin or any one in NJ says "Being a DJ in NJ is a slow death..." I intent to prove that statement wrong, so any of you readers want to battle, or know of some one who would like to battle or session. LET ME KNOW. Let us take part in this activity together and alone no longer!
Next on The Secret To Co-op In The Art of DJing
Pt.2 to be continued...
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