Q is for DJ Qbert (Invisibl Skratch Piklz), A-Z of Filipino Cultural Exports
B. 1969 / DJ QBert was officially awarded the title America’s Best DJ in 2010. With a well-documented and successful DJ career, he is considered as one, if not “The Greatest DJ Of All Time”. DJ Qbert was one of the founding members of Filipino DJ Troupe Invisibl Skratch Piklz, from the east cost of America. The award winning group of individual DJs were instrumental in the development of the turntable genre and also influential in the sub genre of Pinoy Hip Hop – the outcome of bringing hip hop ‘back home’ to the Philippines.
DJ YODA ON WHY QBERT IS THE GREATEST DJ OF ALL TIME:
“Why is Qbert the best? It comes down to one thing: scratching. Ask anyone involved in rhythmic manipulation of records and they’ll tell you the same thing: no one is coming close or has ever come close to Qbert. My first exposure was through his mixtapes when I was learning to scratch aged about fifteen. He’d put film samples on top of classic B-boy breaks and cartoon samples and scratch up random spoken word stuff. Without that I wouldn’t be doing what I do now. The cool thing is his whole focus has been on developing the art form of turntablism. Qbert’s out there keeping it real and passing on that knowledge and creativity to a younger generation through his online scratch academy, which is really important.”
Dj Shadow & Qbert Mix – listen here
Qbert talks about his approach to collecting records here
#OFW more than a country of good looking, half-wit, opportunistic terrorists
