1200

The Technics SL 1200 is regarded as the best turntable for DJ'ing. The reason for this is its very, very high torque. If you hit the start/stop button, the platter will reach top speed within a 1/4th revolution. Not many turntables can match that

Battle

To compete, usually freestyle rapping or Dj´ing, sometimes breakdancing or graffiti.

Baby Scratch

The simplest of scratches, the baby scratch is performed without the use of the crossfader by simple moving the record back and forth. A simple example would be one forward stroke, and one backward stroke (or vice versa) in sequence.

Back to back

When two dj´s take turns putting on records.

Beatdigger

A person, often dj, who spends huge amounts of time finding rare or unknown records.

Beat juggling

Beat juggling is the act of manipulating individual drum beats in order to make a composition, using two turn tables and a mixer. This can involve pauses, scratching, breaks and delays. It could be seen as fingertip sampling, and the turntable and mixer combination could be seen as an instrument from which sounds are made, from the sounds of other instruments (samples).

Beatmatching

Beatmatching is a mixing technique employed by DJs. While originally it involved counting the tempo with a metronome and finding a record with the same tempo, today it involves changing the speed at which a recording is played back so that its tempo matches that of the song currently playing. In this way, the DJ can either simultaneously play two songs of different original tempos without their beats clashing or "galloping" or can more smoothly transition between two songs. The tempo of the recording can be changed through the use of specialized playback mechanisms. In the case of vinyl records, for example, the turntable would have a separate control for determining the relative speed (typically listed in percent increments) faster or slower the record can be played back. Similar specialized playback devices exist for most recorded media. Changing the speed the record is playing is called pitching.

Bootleg

This term originated with smugglers and thieves who would hide things in the leg of their boots. It evolved to mean a pirated version of something. Some liberal bands such as the Grateful Dead, and more recently Phish and Pearl Jam allow fans to record their concerts, and distibute these recordings freely as long as they are not sold. Fans refer to such recordings as "bootlegs", even though they are legal. Also Bootleg remixes of tracks have been appearing for quite a while now. These remixes most often appear on white label records so that the originator can not be tracked.

BPM

Abbreviation for beats per minute. A measuring unit for determining the speed of different tracks, usually between 60 And 140. Some mixers have beatcounters that automatically counts the beats per minute thus helping the dj to beatmatch.

Bubble Scratch

First demonstrated by DJ Noize, this technique is achieved by moving the record back and forth while at the same time turning the EQ knob back and forth from minimum to maximum to get a sort of  wah-wah pedal sounding scratch effect. This move is easier to perform on a Technics SHDJ1200 than on a Vestax 05/06 Pro since the SHDJ1200's EQ adjustment is different.

Chillout

Laid back music style often electronic.

Chirp Scratch

The chirp scratch, perhaps most utilized in the style of DJ Jazzy Jeff, is performed by fading the sound out with the crossfader as you push the record forward and fading the sound back in with the crossfader as you pull the record back. Done slowly the effect might not be too impressive, but done quickly and accurately, a chirp sounding scratch is the effect. While the concept is easy to understand, chirps are one of the hardest scratches to perfect with great speed and consistency

Crab Scratch

The crab scratch was invented by DJ Qbert as a variation on DJ Excel's "twiddle." It seems that the two met up in Japan for the Vestax DJ competition in 1995 and Excel was asking Qbert how to flare. When he showed Qbert how he thought the flare was done he was actually doing the twiddle instead by using his thumb as a spring and "twiddling" the fader with 2 fingers. After this meeting, Qbert took the idea back to San Francisco with him and after showing the scratch to DJ Disk, he ended up creating a move that utilized all 3 to 4 fingers and thus the crab was born.

Cross fader

Fading switch to select the left or right turntable. Without it, scratching wouldn't sound too good.

Forward and Backward Scratches

Forward and backward scratches are also fairly simple scratches but unlike the baby scratch they are performed using the fader to cut the sound in and out. As an example, to perform 2 forward scratches you would just do two baby scratches with your record hand using your fader hand to cut the sound in when you move the record forward both times and out while you're pulling the record back both times so that all you hear are the 2 forward strokes. To do backward scratches you would do the same thing, but cut the backward strokes in and the forward strokes out.

Flare Scratch

Discovered/invented by DJ Flare and further developed most famously by DJ Qbert, this scratch is much like the transform in some ways, only instead of starting with the sound that you are cutting up off, you start with the sound on and concentrate on cutting the sound into pieces by bouncing the fader off of the cut out side of the fader slot to make the sound cut out and then back in a split second. Each time you bounce the fader off of the side of the fader slot it makes a distinct clicking noise. For this reason, flares are named according to clicks. A simple one click forward flare would be a forward scratch starting with the sound on as you bounce/click the fader against the side once extremely quickly in the middle of the forward stroke creating two distinct sounds in one stroke of your record hand and ending with the fader open. In the same manner, 2 clicks, 3 clicks, and even more clicks (if you're fast enough) can be performed to do different types of flares. The discovery and development of the flare scratch was instrumental in elevating this art form to the level of speed and technical scratching that we're so used to seeing today.

Freestyle

Freestyling is when an MC flows with lyrics right of the top of his or her head. It is inpromptu and spontaneous and only the most creative rhymers can do it well. It is also a kind of competition between MC's because you have to be good to bust a good freestyle. It helps to keep MCs on their toes too, because it is like practice.

G-funk

Gangsta funk. Examples: Snoop Doggy Dogg, Warren G & Nate Dog.

Hip-hop

In Jamaican ska era, 60's, a DJ would spin and cut the wax and a MC would sing or shout or dub poetry over it. That's the roots of hiphop which were brought to New York City by Kool DJ Herc, but hip-hop or rap was created in New York City .

Hook

A hook, used in load of songs, is an aspect of popular or commercial music that "grabs" people and makes it easy to like or remember the song. For example, the riff from "Son of a Preacher Man" used in Cypress Hill's "Hits from the Bong" [1993] is an example of a hook.

House

Music style often accredited to Frankie Knuckles of Chicago . Sprung out of the Hip-hop scene in the 80´s and first hit the gay scene and later mainstream.

In the house

Present, here. " Compton 's in tha house" -- N.W.A. (Compton's in tha house [1990]) Originally taken from theatre jargon, where a theatre is divided between the stage and the house, where the audience sits.

Mashup

Remix of several tracks put together to form a new track. These tracks are often released as bootlegs. ie. illegally.

MC

Probably Jamaican, in which case it comes from the TV game shows, Master of Ceremonies (although the term existed before TV). It was the only person at a gathering that was allowed to use the microphone. Could also stand for Microphone Controller, Mic Checka. "The term, MC, stand for Master of Ceremonies" --- A Tribe Called Quest (Midnight Marauders [1993]).

Medina

Second most holy city of Islam ; Nickname for Brooklyn .

Needle drop

No diggety

No doubt, no question.

Orbit Scratch

An orbit is most generally any scratch move performed both forward then backward or backward then forward in sequence. Usually when someone is referring to an orbit, however, they are most likely talking about flare orbits. For example, A 1 click forward flare and a 1 click backward flare in quick succession (altogether creating 4 very quick distinct sounds) would be a 1 click orbit. A 2 click forward flare and a 2 click backward flare in quick succession (altogether creating 6 very distinct sounds) would be a 2 click orbit, etc. Orbits can be performed once as a single orbit move, or sequenced to produce a cyclical neverending type of orbit sound. DJ Disk is primarily the one credited as the first person to discover/incorporate flare orbits into his scratching.

O.P.P.

1) Other people's pussy.
2) Other people's penis.
3) Other people's property.

Used in Naughty by Nature´s O.P.P

P-funk

Music of the George Clinton time period. Parliament Funkadelic was a group in that era and it included such artists as George Clinton and Bootsy Collins.

Phasing

Francis Grasso is credited with originating phasing as a DJ technique, playing two copies of the same record from the same point at the same time so as to create a phase effect.

Phrasing

When DJing, phrasing refers to the timing of a DJ's mixes with respect to song structure. Song transitions are lined up to prevent any of the main melodic or rhythmic elements of either song from clashing inappropriately. This smooths the transition between songs, allowing the mix to appear as more of a cohesive whole then as two separate songs.

Pitch control

A control allowing speed changes of the record within a certain range, usually 6% or 8% but up to 100%.

Posse

A group of people you hang out with. This doesn't necessarily mean a gang.

Rare grooves

Hard to find records, often old soul, funk and jazz. Can sometimes refer to records that have been remade into popular songs. Ex. Ready or not by the fugees was originally made by the Delfonics.

Scratching

Scratching is a DJ or turntablist technique originated by Grand Wizard Theodore, an early hip hop DJ from New York . A simple scratch is performed by moving a vinyl record back and forth with your hand while it is playing on a turntable , creating a distinctive sound that has come to be an almost universally recognized aspect of hip hop music. Theodore developed scratching from DJ Grandmaster Flash, who describes scratching as, " nothing but the back- cueing that you hear in your ear before you push it [the recorded sound] out to the crowd." Kool Herc was also an important early figure.

There are many different types of scratch, including tear, flare, orbit, twiddle, crab, tweak , chirp, and scribble scratches. The names can indicate the scratch's sound, required hand motions and equipment set up, or the name of the DJ who developed it. Recently, DJs and turntablists have begun developing systems of notation for use in learning different scratches and writing compositions. The practice is not yet widespread.

Sounds that are frequently scratched include but are not limited to drum beats, horn stabs, spoken word samples , and lines from other songs. Any sound recorded to vinyl can be used, though a new generation of CD players providing a turntable-like interface has recently reached the market, allowing DJs to scratch not only material that was never released on vinyl, but also field recordings and samples from television and movies that have been burned to CD-R . Some DJs and anonymous collectors release 12-inch singles called battle records that include trademark, novel or hard-to-find scratch fodder.

Slip-cueing

Slip cueing is a DJ technique originated by Francis Grasso that consists of "holding a record still with his thumb and forefinger while a protective slipmat and the steel platter of the turntable revolved underneath. He then released the vinyl at the exact right moment he wanted to come in with the new song, creating a sudden segue from the previous track, similar in the beats-per-minute range and orchestration."

Scribble Scratch

A scribble is performed by tensing up the forearm muscles and moving the record back and forth with very small shaky sounding increments. The result is best described as a vibrating "scribbly" sounding effect.

Slipmat

A slipmat is a circular piece of slippery cloth or synthetic materials, designed to allow disc jockeys to turn or stop vinyl records on record players , or to scratch . See: Slip-cueing

Wheels of steel

Turntables. "My DJ Code Money on the wheels of steel" -- Schoolly D. (Gucci time).

Word is bond

Saying this means that what you are saying is absolutely correct, and you do not have to put up money to prove it, you just say it. The term originates from the financial markets where historically traders would tell each other "my word is bond", i.e. my word is good enough, you don't need it in writing.

Tear Scratch

The tear is much like a baby scratch in that you do not need the fader to perform it, but unlike a baby scratch, when you pull the record back you pause your hand for a split second in the middle of the stroke. The result is one forward sound and two distinct backward sounds. This scratch can also be performed by doing the opposite and placing the pause on the forward stroke instead. A basic tear is usually performed with the crossfader open the entire time, but it can also be combined with other scratches such as flares for example by doing tears with you're record hand and cutting the sound in and out with your fader hand.

Turntablism

The art of manipulating/restructuring previously existing phonograph recordings to produce new, musically creative combinations of sounds using turntables and a mixer.

Transform Scratch

Most famously associated with DJ Cash Money who is credited with coining the term "transform" or "transformer" scratch, this scratch is achieved by moving a sound with your record hand while repeatedly tapping the fader to cut the sound in and out in sequence with your fader hand as the sound plays. A transform scratch should begin with the sound off tapping the fader once you want the effect/sound to start. Imagine the crossfader as a button, and your thumb as the spring (or vice versa if you scratch hamster style). What you would be doing is tapping the button repeatedly as the sound plays giving a stuttering or tremolo type effect.

Tweak Scratch

The tweak scratch is a scratch perhaps made most famous by Invisbl Skratch Piklz member Mixmaster Mike. To perform a tweak scratch, you turn the motor off on your turntable and move the platter and record back and forth manually with your fingers and thumb in whatever pattern you desire. The fader may be used to do transform sounding tweaks, but the fader doesn't have to be used at all for this move if you choose not to use it. This scratch is best performed on long tone type samples, but can be applied to any sound. The result varies, but usually is a somewhat jerky sounding scratch. Because the turntable is turned off, each time your finger hits the record in a certain direction, it continues to go in that direction, but slows down as it does instead of returning to a constant speed after each time it is released as it does when the motor is on.

Twiddle Scratch

The Twiddle scratch is the precursor to the crab and it's introduction is most commonly attributed to DJ Excel of the UK . Quite basically, the twiddle is a crab scratch using two fingers instead of 3 or 4 to repeatedly "twiddle" the fader.

References and other resources:

The winner of DMC Worldchampionships 2004 (video)

Urban dictionary

Jahsonic