it seems when i read the forum that some people don't really know dj culture.
And then judge it with nonsense or just bad "cliche"...
which is strange for people who want to have the latest plugin or Vst in their computer...
So, without going into too much detail,and with no pretention, let's recap the main points of DJ culture:

how it all began...

It seems that it all started with Jamaican sound systems.
It was the first place where we played records back-to-back, trying to ensure there was no silence between the two records.
it was also the first place where speakers were built that allowed records to be played at a very high volume in order to get people dancing and do “justice” to the sound of the records, that was the first place where the mixing desk was used to isolate some frenquencies, especially the " Bass ."
At that time the Dj was called a "selector", the B-side of the record were intrumental ( later dub version), which allowed singers to come and sing ( the toasting) and improvise on the records.
some say it's the root of Hip-Hop.
click on the pics...

In the early 1970s, hip-hop was born in New York, drawing on the codes of Jamaican sound systems with an american culture, James Brown's records, The Last Poets, etc. were initially the soundtrack of this movement.
The scratch technique was born at that moment.
better than words, watch & listen:

or:

or

then in late 70's the Disco was born in New-York, Studio 54.
This sound, with electronic pioneer like kraftwerk, jm Jarre, ect are the basment of house & techno culture.

in the 80's "house" was born in Chicago,
the dj using some technique from hip-hop (pitch,pass-pass, etc) to mix together 2 records or more at the same time, when the 2 records where mixing together, you have a new record....and like the jamaican, the sound system has to be huge...
the record that were played could be funk, could be kraftwerk, ect...
the goal was to dance all night long.

At the same time, samplers and drum machines became affordable.
Emu ensoniq, tr808-909...
Some DJs then produced & write their own tracks, which they played in their sets.

From there, dozens of styles and scenes emerged:
Acid house, techno, trance, drum& bass and so on...
From detroit to Manchester, from Berlin to London,Paris....

Drum & bass mix;

minimal house live act:

Deep house style mix:

techno style mix:

So is a dj is a musician ?

I'll let you answer that, but DJs and electronic music are clearly part of modern music culture, just like pop,rock.
And like in every style you could have great artists,and bad artists...

So a DJ isn't just a guy clapping his hands in front of an audience who are watching him through their mobile-phones.

like pop music isn't just a teenger masturbating on Samanta Fox record cover...


In Hope you understand my poor english....

 

I would assume that you underestimate "forum users," else (i think), there might be "a few" who don't overestimate the topic even though they are musicians. One doesn't exclude the other. Otherwise, I assume they will learn it somehow. Perhaps with a book likr this:

as i own in German and highly recommend it, it covers everything

Since the topic seems to be of interest to you, I have an anecdote: as a boy, I wrote a letter to Bristol and received a very funny one in return! It was from Roger Johnson (RIP), and you don't necessarily need to know who he is unless you're interested in the topic (the reason was by the way his Dimple D's Sucker DJ transition who blow at the time all away, another popular DJ (Ben liebrand)do similar short time later in his legendary yearmix "Grandmix"! *btw still today* ) ... and now the BEST *lol* I do it also, not long time ago see here:

 

Last edited: Dec 16, 2025 at 12:21 AM

@Illa-g4ng:
Everyone is a DJ until you put them in front of either Craze or Qbert…

1996 ITF World Finals: DJ Craze Vs Total Eclipse

Dj Craze - Tablism.

Dj Craze - Live At DMC World Finals (2019)

Q-Bert VS. Craze /TTV vol.3/

DJ CRAZE 1998 I.T.F. WORLD FINALS

1995/1996 USA DMC Finals : DJ Swamp



The World Famous Beat Junkies (some modern sets)

1997 World ITF DJ Finals - Beat Juggling Final - DJ Babu vs Rholi Rho

LIVE! AT THE LAB w/ Rhettmatic - DJ Set at Turntable Lab NYC

EP.1 DJ Melo-D - Vinyl Set of Funk, Soul, Jazz, Hip Hop & More

 

One like it other ones not, here is a Hero of mine today by expession that thread wit pure turntableism (i love it):SEE HERE

 

Last edited: Dec 16, 2025 at 12:39 AM

The sentiment to educate is admirable, but have you considered that some of the opinions here on topics like hip hop, DJ'ing, sampling, using samples, computer only composing, edm and so on, are not from ignorance, they're from choice. It's mostly some types of traditional instrument playing musicians who will never accept other forms of creative expression as being as valid as theirs or even valid at all. There are other factors at play for the hate, bias, gatekeeping and hierarchy, but if I go into it I'd get banned.

DJ culture is as nuanced as any other, so there are legitimate criticisms to be made of certain elements. Hopefully your thread exposes some who have genuinely never encountered this side of things, but from what I've seen in the discussions here, a lot of the negative opinions are definitely intentional.

 

Yeah, just had epiphany followed with bunch of flashbacks, it's mostly them acting like complete condescending elitist's about everything, while in the same time being perfectly mid in their own field of expertise sniffing their own farts... and those that really stand out are mostly really humble and open minded, probably that's why they are staying on top and in the game for so long, always learning, adapting and easy to work with and be around.

 

I don't know much about culture, but I can answer the first question "what is a dj" with a little help from my trusted Oxford English Dictionary that I won at a flea market glory hole contest :

DJ : A person whose existence can magically transform erectile dysfunction into discussions about their musical capabilities.

 

The likes of David Guetta and those guys definitely give a bad name to many DJs. While sure, the whole "wave your hands in the air" EDM thing is played out, there is so much more to the craft. Id like to see any of the people here who have a "misunderstanding" of djing try and beat match before dismissing djing as some talentless hack thing. Shit, even with CDJs it can be tricky (i mean not really with hot cues, loop points and SYNC lmao), but vinyl?! get out of here.

Its not just beat matching too. Harmonic mixing, EQ-ing, tempo adjustments while staying in sync, knowing how to move in between songs and how to tell a story with music, etc etc. All while the pressure is on to keep a room full of people entertained.

Theres also live / hybrid sets. Which are becoming more common, but thats an entirely different subject, although i still consider many of those artist as djs.

Being a good dj requires a deep understanding of music, and like @Melodic Reality stated, its a craft that many are constantly evolving, trying new techniques and experiments with sound. While of course, people are entitled to their opinions, I think its silly and close minded to completely write something off just because you may not understand it.

 

Prophetic, but not yet an absolute consensus, especially among musicians...

❝High time we made a stand
And shook up the views of the common man
And the love train rides from coast to coast
DJ's the man we love the most ❞

The DJ's role goes beyond technique, 'cos is performative and curatorial... it's more about the interaction with the audience. The art lies in the intention, in being tuned in (up-to-date), in the skill of manipulating their equipment, and in the impact it generates: they transform existing recordings into a new, collective, and ephemeral experience (perhaps the DJ was one of the pioneers of the concept of collective and highly ephemeral installation: Djs rhythmically manipulate equipment and beats, utilizing loops and mixes to hybridize musical genres and styles, creating a continuous live performance).

It's all the fault of that brilliantly executed massification strategy of mass culture, you know, the master plan to turn thinking individuals who might organize collectively into a gloriously dumb horde of solitary and entertained zombies, endlessly scrolling... even so, let's try to sow the seeds of love, please.

 

Last edited: Dec 16, 2025 at 12:06 PM

It's important to educate people who may not know. Good on you.

Keep in mind the adversity from some people who grew up when Discotheque's first came in is part of that attitude that is negative. The DJ's played as loud as possible when they were doubled on a rotation with live bands and didn't care if their music was way louder than the bands or whether they finished their sets on time or not. So they lost respect then and I suppose getting it back will take some time.
Keep in mind that to get respect, you also have to give respect.

There is no elitist statements in any of the above only what I know to be true. Being brutally honest, using the music of someone else that you have not created in a mix, playlist, sampled or anything similar makes the person an editor, not a musician. DJ's have their place in the industry, so do musicians, rappers and everything that falls under the word 'music'. Anyone can be musical and still not be a musician.

 

DJing is a job with a future, although AI might eventually replace it.
The important thing is that you can listen and respond to the wishes and needs of your audience. Stay away from drugs!

How To DJ For Beginners | Alison Wonderland (Episode 1)

How to Become a DJ: 10 Tips to Start DJing in 2025
https://dittomusic.com/en/blog/how-to-become-a-dj-10-tips-for-independent-producers

 

you're right...
and critiscism is always good and when it's argumented.it can help...
but criticism without argument & just cliché...humm...

music is about taste & culture...

And some people are just fine with their culture...

No problem with that, until people don't vomit on on the culture & the creation from the other...

My jazz piano is better than you're hard rock guitar..
my hard rock guitar is better than you're synthé & so on...

In every style you have fantastic artist, fantastic records & crap records & artist with poor expression...
But there's nothing bad to be curious and to enlarge you're culture, music is a journey....

 

about the art of sampling...
Dj Shadow ...

 

there's a book , " temporary autonomous zone ",by H. Bey, the theory can be apply on some techno party...

 

This is a little overstated. This was the beginning of what was Jamaican Soundclashes, and dubplate culture. But this all happened basically in parallel with other places and there is no solid line between "start dates" of anything. People used to not keep score about this stuff, they just did what they wanted to do.

This isn't hiphop turntablism, but this has to be one of the craziest sets i've ever watched a Youtube video of and it can get its own post:

Jeff Mills - "Exhibitionist Mix" ( Full version)

 

A nice musical journey ....

 

Last edited: Dec 16, 2025 at 1:00 PM

Anyone can be a DJ, even if you're playing records for your guests at your
own birthday party somewhere on this planet, you're still the DJ....!

Anyone can be a DJ, even if you're playing records for your guests at your own birthday party somewhere on this planet, you're still the DJ! This whole cult-like adoration of people who've achieved a little bit of fame has taken on a religious character. Everyone who makes music is important, regardless of whether they're rich or poor, yellow or green!

 

i dig that guy so much...
i've got the luck to hear his dj set & jazz project in live a dozen of times...
he could play techno @ 140 bpm as good as jazz, he's just brillant...
Completly different style here:

 

No elitist statements above, immediately followed by an elitist statement haha. I'll bite...

The act of selection, timing, and contextual placement of sound IS a musical act. Especially as it meaningfully shapes the outcome, and creates something new.

A DJ who only presses play? Sure, you're right, not a musician. But a DJ who crafts harmonic continuity, controls phrasing, manipulates dynamics and tempo, and builds narrative and tension across time is exercising musicianship, even if the materials used originate elsewhere. Musicianship lies in intentional musical decision making, not authorship purity.

“anyone can be musical and still not be a musician” sure, but its not so black and white. Its not just whether the sounds were originally created, but also whether the person demonstrates repeatable, skilled, creative command over musical structure. Many DJs do. Some don't. The same is true of guitarists, rappers, pianist, producers, whatever. If i never played an instrument, and tomorrow decided to go buy a guitar, play it and make some noise, does that automatically make me a musician?

to sum it up, authorship = composer. Performance and structural control across time = musician. DJs who meet that bar are musicians.

 

It's not elitist. I have been doing it for decades. I've witnessed what I spoke. So no. Your DJ comment - "Anyone can be musical and still not be a musician". Get them to do it with just a pencil and manuscript or just a piano or guitar. what they can't? No, not elitist.
As for buying a guitar, no it doesn't make someone a musician, some people have them as decorations...but if you spend the time and learn it, yes it does. Your comment Skilled command over a musical structure" - I've seen 14 year olds on their computer do that with samples, purely because it sounded good to them and as it turned out it was.
We aren't going to agree so I'll leave it there. Elitist? No, but qualified? Yes, to the highest possible level in both performance and paper.


Authorship = Composer??? Great you have justified an advertising agent giving some authored lyrics or words to an A.I and claiming musical composership. DJ's who use other people's music and other people's samples, sorry, thief, not musician. The law now protects them as sure as it now protects Spotify for keeping 99% of streaming royalties when they didn't do one thing musically to create it. mashing someone else's work is stealing not musicianship full-stop. Anyone can learn to do that. It's actually called "Arranging" NOT composition. if they wrote or created every sample themselves, absolutely I would agree that the author is the composer.

Here in black and white:
https://www.clrn.org/what-does-composer-mean-in-music/

 

Last edited: Dec 16, 2025 at 9:53 PM