Turntablism – Grandmaster Flash

Omniscience by Herbert Freeman

By building on techniques he had observed used by party DJs and developing crucial innovations of his own, Joseph Saddler aka Grandmaster Flash, became the first person to take the DJ set-up of two turntables and a mixer and use it as a musical instrument.  His stylings were pivotal to the development of hip-hop.

This video clip is from Wild Style, the original hip-hop movie from 1983.  This movie features many of the pioneers of the four pillars of hip-hop;  DJ-ing, rapping, graffiti, and break dancing.