hip hop DJ
Beat mixer performer
A hip hop DJ is a musician who uses turntables and mixers as instruments, manipulating vinyl records to create beats, rhythms, and textures for hip hop music.
Beyond simply playing records, the hip hop DJ scratches, blends, and samples, often performing live alongside MCs or producing tracks in the studio.
The role emerged in 1970s New York as one of hip hop's foundational elements: Grandmaster Flash pioneered techniques still used by hip hop DJs today.
- turntableRotating music player
- scratchSuperficial wound or mark
- mixerCombines ingredients or people
- vinylSynthetic resin plastic
- beatsPulses or defeats
samples · crossfader · decks · spinning · breakbeat · beat drop · crate · digging · microphone · headphones · club · remix · freestyle · block party · sound system · boombox · live set · wax
- radio jobsradio announcer, DJ, radio personality, disc jockey, radio host
- DJsclub DJ, mobile DJ, party DJ, resident DJ, wedding DJ
hip hop DJorchestral conductor
One who directs musicians
acoustic guitarist · symphony orchestra · concert pianist · opera singer · folk singer