Scratch [2001]

"Scratch" is a feature-length documentary film that explores the world of the hip-hop DJ. From the birth of hip-hop, when pioneering DJ's began extending breaks on their party records (which helped inspire break dancing and rap), to the invention of scratching and "beat-juggling" vinyl, to its recent explosion in the form of a genuine musical movement called "turntablism," it's a story of unknown underdogs and serious turntable virtuosos who have radically changed the way we hear, play and create music. Scratch features some of the world's best DJ's, whether they're famous for solo scratching, competing in international DJ battles, producing records, playing for rap artists, or just rocking parties with the most insane records ever dug up. The film features dynamic performances and interviews with DJ's Q-bert, Rob Swift and the X-ecutioners, Steve Dee, Cut Chemist and NuMark (of Jurassic 5), DJ Craze, The Bullet Proof Scratch Hamsters, The Beat Junkies (including Babu of Dilated Peoples), Z-trip, DJ Premier (Gang Starr), DJ Swamp (Beck), MixMasterMike (Beastie Boys), and many others, along with "old-school" innovators Jazzy Jay and GrandWizard Theodore (who is widely acknowledged as having invented the idea of scratching vinyl in the first place).