By Wayne Curtis
Richard Quitevis — better known among his fans as DJ Qbert — is an undisputed master of the turntables. A 41-year-old Filipino-American who grew up in San Francisco, Qbert early on discovered a love and talent for crafting dramatic new sounds and beats using a pair of turntables, a cross-fader and some vinyl records.
Qbert — who's been called the Jimi Hendrix of turntablists and was featured in the 2001 documentary "Scratch" — was named Disco Mix Club national champion in 1991, and was the world champion from 1992 to 1994. His debut solo album, "Wave Twisters" (1998), brought him wide attention. Enthusiastic crowds flocked to clubs where he was spinning to absorb all the energy he released, and he in turn was empowered by the energy of the crowds. Today, he's schooling a new generation by launching Qbert Skratch University online, a place for aspiring DJs to boost their skills in front of the turntables.
Fresh Perspectives: What fuels your creativity?
DJ Qbert: When I was just a kid I realized one day we all have some type of power — whether from God or from the universe. It's some talent we possess, and it's different for everyone. So I thought, "If I keep practicing and never stop, I can keep harnessing that power for the rest of my life."
Did you ever think you'd be doing this a quarter-century after you started?
Actually, yes! I used to watch this break dancer when I was a kid, and he just kept getting better and better. I'd be like, "Whoa! Look at that new move!" And then one day the guy stopped dancing, and I was like, "What? Why'd he stop?" And I wondered, "What would happen if he never stopped?" So when I was a kid, I thought, "OK, I'm never going to stop scratching." The road to success — there's no end to it, you're just always doing it. If you're a musician or any type of artist, you just keep getting better.
Do you get as much out of scratching as you put into it?
Scratching is still an untapped world. There's an energy out there — it's there when you listen to the music in your soul. And that music will never die, because it's always fresh. You're making something that's new that hasn't come out yet. Scratching is still very underground, and it's still an acquired taste. You won't get it until you really listen to it. And then it's like, "Oh … I get it."
You're thriving in a culture that celebrates youth. Do you draw energy from the next generation of turntablists?
There are so many different ages in the scene! There are all these kids scratching now, and it's amazing. It's a musical instrument that will never die. It's forever. I think it's beautiful. And when I scratch, I still feel 18 and cutting it up — it doesn't feel like I'm aging. It's almost as if time has stopped. You can pretty much stop time if you're always in this creative flow.
You've been credited with crafting a notation system for scratching. How did that come about?
This guy from "Battle Sounds" [documentary filmmaker John Carluccio, who directed the film] and DJ A-Trak both created systems of notating scratching, and I just put them together and added my own little twist. I couldn't say I invented them, but I took their basics and added new twists and turns to it.
What empowers you?
Be open-minded and experimental, and you'll never run out of ideas. Everything is an inspiration — if you keep your mind open. The universe is always throwing ideas at you, and it's up to you to take those and create something to make others happy. It's just a matter of noticing it.
Richard Quitevis — better known among his fans as DJ Qbert — is an undisputed master of the turntables. A 41-year-old Filipino-American who grew up in San Francisco, Qbert early on discovered a love and talent for crafting dramatic new sounds and beats using a pair of turntables, a cross-fader and some vinyl records.
Qbert — who's been called the Jimi Hendrix of turntablists and was featured in the 2001 documentary "Scratch" — was named Disco Mix Club national champion in 1991, and was the world champion from 1992 to 1994. His debut solo album, "Wave Twisters" (1998), brought him wide attention. Enthusiastic crowds flocked to clubs where he was spinning to absorb all the energy he released, and he in turn was empowered by the energy of the crowds. Today, he's schooling a new generation by launching Qbert Skratch University online, a place for aspiring DJs to boost their skills in front of the turntables.
Fresh Perspectives: What fuels your creativity?
DJ Qbert: When I was just a kid I realized one day we all have some type of power — whether from God or from the universe. It's some talent we possess, and it's different for everyone. So I thought, "If I keep practicing and never stop, I can keep harnessing that power for the rest of my life."
Did you ever think you'd be doing this a quarter-century after you started?
Actually, yes! I used to watch this break dancer when I was a kid, and he just kept getting better and better. I'd be like, "Whoa! Look at that new move!" And then one day the guy stopped dancing, and I was like, "What? Why'd he stop?" And I wondered, "What would happen if he never stopped?" So when I was a kid, I thought, "OK, I'm never going to stop scratching." The road to success — there's no end to it, you're just always doing it. If you're a musician or any type of artist, you just keep getting better.
Do you get as much out of scratching as you put into it?
Scratching is still an untapped world. There's an energy out there — it's there when you listen to the music in your soul. And that music will never die, because it's always fresh. You're making something that's new that hasn't come out yet. Scratching is still very underground, and it's still an acquired taste. You won't get it until you really listen to it. And then it's like, "Oh … I get it."
You're thriving in a culture that celebrates youth. Do you draw energy from the next generation of turntablists?
There are so many different ages in the scene! There are all these kids scratching now, and it's amazing. It's a musical instrument that will never die. It's forever. I think it's beautiful. And when I scratch, I still feel 18 and cutting it up — it doesn't feel like I'm aging. It's almost as if time has stopped. You can pretty much stop time if you're always in this creative flow.
You've been credited with crafting a notation system for scratching. How did that come about?
This guy from "Battle Sounds" [documentary filmmaker John Carluccio, who directed the film] and DJ A-Trak both created systems of notating scratching, and I just put them together and added my own little twist. I couldn't say I invented them, but I took their basics and added new twists and turns to it.
What empowers you?
Be open-minded and experimental, and you'll never run out of ideas. Everything is an inspiration — if you keep your mind open. The universe is always throwing ideas at you, and it's up to you to take those and create something to make others happy. It's just a matter of noticing it.
