On DJ Screw
HarveyCanal
"a distraction from my main thesis." 13,234 Posts
http://www.cbrap.com/?p=6451
Just noticed Noz's lil write up on DJ Screw from a coupla weeks ago, and you know I have to react some way.
The first statement of the piece is fairly troublesome to me. For someone that ultimately carries such a fair assessment of Screw and his infuence, I don't quite understand the point of the piece opening as such.
Almost seems like you are trying to get in on the Screw phenomenon without fully subscribing to it, as if you feel the whole thing is too dirty to actually lay any claim to it. And possibly that's just the circumstane of you being youngish in relation to Screw and not from Texas and more into Soulja Boy and Lil B and such instead of good ole no frills, classic gangsta rap...but again, you obviously know enough about Screw, and you say that you appreciate his music, so why say you "don't get" him???
And these questions aren't being presented to dis you, Noz. It's just that if you want to appreciate Screw, please go right ahead and appreciate him with no qualifiers to the contrary. You don't have to sip syrup to be a Screw head. In fact, when Screw first started out, smoking fry was actually the preferred method of beyond-fucked-uppedness happening down in Houston. But again, you don't need drugs at all to be into Screw tapes.
And as far as Screw being such an amazing selector...very true, you hit the nail on the head. But it should be known that part of the reason why Screw became such a community figurehead was that he was, unlike so many others, catering to an aesthetic that the people down here demanded. Pimp C stating, "I'm hitting 16 swicthes like Dre, cause where I'm from that's what everybody play" summarizes pretty well what it sounded like in Texas circa '92.
As others shot for a more rounded perception of and taste in hip-hop at large, a large majority of folks down here weren't trying to hear anything but the grimiest of gangsta rap. Enter DJ Screw, who made the grimy sound even more grimy. So of course dudes ate it up with a spoon.
Something I really think should stand out about Screw today is that he was doing his tapes pre-Serato. I still wonder at times how he slowed songs down beyond the -8 on his turntables' pitch control. And for as many tapes as Screw released, he was a workaholik and a half. And to hear him cut up records in a live setting...hold up, mayne!
Now a full decade beyond his passing, I'm wondering what others on here think about Screw and his music. And again, Noz, please see this post as me trying to extend the discussion rather than as some sort of affront to you...because if anything, I thank you for initiating the discussion.
Just noticed Noz's lil write up on DJ Screw from a coupla weeks ago, and you know I have to react some way.
The first statement of the piece is fairly troublesome to me. For someone that ultimately carries such a fair assessment of Screw and his infuence, I don't quite understand the point of the piece opening as such.
Almost seems like you are trying to get in on the Screw phenomenon without fully subscribing to it, as if you feel the whole thing is too dirty to actually lay any claim to it. And possibly that's just the circumstane of you being youngish in relation to Screw and not from Texas and more into Soulja Boy and Lil B and such instead of good ole no frills, classic gangsta rap...but again, you obviously know enough about Screw, and you say that you appreciate his music, so why say you "don't get" him???
And these questions aren't being presented to dis you, Noz. It's just that if you want to appreciate Screw, please go right ahead and appreciate him with no qualifiers to the contrary. You don't have to sip syrup to be a Screw head. In fact, when Screw first started out, smoking fry was actually the preferred method of beyond-fucked-uppedness happening down in Houston. But again, you don't need drugs at all to be into Screw tapes.
And as far as Screw being such an amazing selector...very true, you hit the nail on the head. But it should be known that part of the reason why Screw became such a community figurehead was that he was, unlike so many others, catering to an aesthetic that the people down here demanded. Pimp C stating, "I'm hitting 16 swicthes like Dre, cause where I'm from that's what everybody play" summarizes pretty well what it sounded like in Texas circa '92.
As others shot for a more rounded perception of and taste in hip-hop at large, a large majority of folks down here weren't trying to hear anything but the grimiest of gangsta rap. Enter DJ Screw, who made the grimy sound even more grimy. So of course dudes ate it up with a spoon.
Something I really think should stand out about Screw today is that he was doing his tapes pre-Serato. I still wonder at times how he slowed songs down beyond the -8 on his turntables' pitch control. And for as many tapes as Screw released, he was a workaholik and a half. And to hear him cut up records in a live setting...hold up, mayne!
Now a full decade beyond his passing, I'm wondering what others on here think about Screw and his music. And again, Noz, please see this post as me trying to extend the discussion rather than as some sort of affront to you...because if anything, I thank you for initiating the discussion.
Comments
Wasn't it because he was hip to that trick where you doubled the pitch ratio on a Technics 1200 by adjusting the controls under the platter? You could slow records down to -16% rather than the standard -8% by just removing the small screw that regulated the pitch. I always understood that was how he got his name. During the 90s, I knew of a few techno DJs who would sometimes mod their decks so they could pitch shit up to as much as +16%, like Dave Angel and Trevor Rockliffe, but Screw was the first dude I ever heard of who would slow his shit right down.
That sounds like it must be right about the how.
But I've heard differing stories on how he got his name...one involving him scraping a screw across records he thought were wack...and another involving a screw being used to modify tape speed on a jambox.
But yes, thanks for your response.
If anything, it reads as a respectful lament for only having caught on towards the end. I can certainly understand that, and I don't think it takes anything away from the appreciation.
What an 'achievement'. His influence seems greatly exaggerated to me.
Its a regional thing that gets a little dap here and there but in the larger scale of things - seems few give a shit about screw and his musical 'accomplishments'. Imo its a weird niche sound with a cult following thats excruciatingly boring to listen to.
Yeah, despite Noz clearly redeeming himself as the piece goes one...I still wanted to pose the question.
Plus, are we looking at Screw music itself...which certainly can be appreciated without any of the context, yesterday or today...or is the point actually that the context is needed to fully undertand?
Again, I'm saying, if you like the music, please ride for it all the way. I never hear people saying...I can't quite get the Beatles because I wasn't one of those screaming teenyboppers running down the street after them circa '64.
What a very small, sad, lonely box that you must live in.
I think there are more shades of grey (tapes) here than you're allowing for. I know I don't have to tell you that Screw runs deep; you've gotta be careful about denying him any kind of complex relationship with his listeners--it needn't be just love or hate.
Yeah, I guess like I used to do with Project Blowed...I over-account for all the blind hate that comes Screw's way, by trying to police those who actually like him but possibly not in such an absolute manner as I or others I know do.
Thanks for putting that in perspective for me. But then again, "I don't get Screw" is quite a strong statement to be making when you are simultaneously saying you like his music.
STONES THROW FAN CLUB PRESIDENT REVEALED
You need to re-evaluate the game. Im not giving you attention. Seriously.
I love this. JT sounds like Lewis Taylor on that first verse.
What a load of Crap. Musical Innovation :lol:
Awwww - did my feelings hurt your feelings? call the effing
Oh, and Seriously - FUCK dj Screw, Kanye West, Drake, Weezy, 50, Tupac, Eminem, Jay Z, Wakkaflakka, Fergie, Will-I-am, His purpleness AND the bitch ass horse they rode into town on.
b/w
I agree. It's just unnecessary, and sort of a way of saying that "I get that I don't get it so I get it more than people who think they get it."
He was certainly no High & Mighty
Demographic category of the year.
bw
danny, does your wife know you love to 'kick my balls in your mouth like soccer?'
riding hard for kanye = :nagl:
This sounds straight out of google translate
Nah, man, it's just, like, you know...an extended metaphor. Like, his tongue is like a foot, and he's kicking his testicles with his tongue-foot 'cause he doesn't like him, but it's still, you know, like, gay.
b/w
Realist shit you ever wrote.
I know, right?
The dude has been doing some reflecting!
Sadly, I don't think this dude even has Euroman status as an excuse for his cluelessness.