Scratch

In the beginning, there was the DJ: Grand Wizard Theodore scratching the vinyl or Afrika Bambaataa organizing dancers and artists in the Bronx. Director and editor Doug Pray, who last chronicled the Seattle grunge scene in Hype!, correctly assumes that most people associate hip-hop primarily with the MCs, ignoring the true musicians behind the scenes. Tracing the evolution of the genre from its New York underground roots in the early 1970s through the DJ battles of the 1980s and up to the resurgence of turntablists a decade ago, Scratch combines interviews with legends like GrandMixer GXT (whose collaboration with Herbie Hancock on “Rockit” links hip-hop to jazz and funk), Mix Master Mike, and DJ Premier, with live concert footage. Don't think scratching is a musical skill? Watch the speed of DJ Qbert's hands when he's spinning. Scratch also places DJ culture in its multicultural context--the featured artists are black, white, Asian, and Latino--and situates it within the major hip-hop arts, which also include graffiti and breakdancing. Highly recommended. Editor's Choice. [Note: the double-disc DVD features a number of excellent extras, including a great multi-angle lesson in scratching from DJ Qbert.] (D. Fienberg)