The Jimi Hendrix of Turntablism

DJ Qbert

Although I’m unsure where and when this phrase came about, it has been used to refer to DJ Qbert on a number of occasions. DJ Qbert was born on October 7, 1969 as Richard Quitevis. He is often hailed as one of the most influential DJs of all time. An innovative and creative individual, DJ Qbert paved the way in using turntables as an elaborate musical instrument. One of the most notable accomplishments of Qbert would be that he invited the first musical annotation system for scratching, battling, and composing on vinyl. The experiences and success of DJ Qbert have had substantial impact on Filipino-American hip-hop culture making it an integral part of hip hop culture as a whole.

Career
Like any legend, he started his career in humble surroundings. In the 1980s, hip-hop culture began to evolve giving rise to what is now known as the turntablist. At the age of 15, DJ Qbert became involved in DJing and went on to compete in small DJ battles in his San Francisco community. He was recognized in the world-wide since 1985 but truly dominated the DJ scene in the early 90’s. During this time, DJs such as DJ Qbert made skratching into an art form, inventing new techniques and developing unique sounds that revolutionized hip hop culture. In 1990 he began a group called FM20 with Mix Master Mike and DJ Apollo. While doing a show in New York he was invited to the Rock Steady Crew. From there, DJ Qbert went on to compete in the 1992 Disco Mix Club World DJ Championships (DMC). His most notable crew was the Invisibl Skratch Piklz which he helped founded. They were the first to apply the concept that included the layering of drums, basslines, and scratch solos on top of each other. He also produced two solos Demolition Pumpkin Squeeze Musik in 1994 and Wave Twisters in 1998. Two of his more recent and continuing ventures are the Thud Rumble LTD and Qbert Skratch University.

Thud Rumble LTD. – Visit Site
An overview of Thud Rumble LTD. describes the company as a diversified media management company committed to showcasing and expanding the world of the skratch DJ. This company was founded by DJ Qbert and Yogafrog in 1996. Their dream was to push the “envelop of scratching as a science, an art, and an international culture.” It is said that this company is the key to transforming the world of Disc Jockey into a multibillion-dollar industry and is respected as one of the leading producers of independent works both in musical and other innovative processes.


Qbert Skratch University – Visit Site
This is a web-based video instruction site and community. Here you can pay $60 for 3 months. With this subscription you have access to a world-wide social network of DJs and receive DJ lessons from the renowned DJ Qbert himself.

DJ Qbert continues to play an active role in the DJ community today. As seen with his company, Thud Rumble LTd., and his online DJ Community, Qbert Skratch University. He has also influenced what is known as Pinay Hip Hop. Even today, the hip hop culture continues to flourish in Filipino and Filipino-American communities. With the growing international involvement, DJ Qbert is one of the role models Filipinos can look toward in this genre. His sites make it easier to gather knowledge and refine ones technique without any geographic barriers.

Other Trivia
Appeared in a number of documentaries and international films including:
Scratch
Battle Sounds
Hang the DJ
Modulations
Music Featured in video games Tony Hawk’s Underground and FreQuency

Awards
1991 Disco Mixing Club USA Champion
1992 Disco Mixing Club World Champion
1993 Disco Mixing Club World Champion
1994 Disco Mixing Club World Champion
1998 Disco Mixing Club DJ Hall of Fame award

-JP

Pacquiao aka "The Greatness"

Emmanuel Dapidran Pacquiao, also known as Manny “Pac-man” Pacquiao, is a professional boxer. He is the first man to win seven world boxing titles in seven different weight divisions: flyweight, junior featherweight, featherweight, junior lightweight, lightweight, junior welterweight, and welterweight. This pound-for-pound king is also the only boxer to win the lineal championship in four different weight classes. Furthermore, after his fifth win, he became the only Filipino and Asian boxer to win those five world titles in five different weight classes. He was also first Filipino fighter to win a lightweight world title. While his accomplishments have made his name known world-wide, they have served a double purpose: Pacquaio has given Filipinos a hero.

(Photo courtesy of zimbio.com, by: Ethan Miller/Getty Images North America)

He is a talented fighter who set the bar for other Asian boxers; it is amazing to see how his fame has given millions of Filipino-Americans something to cheer about. However, it has also hindered progress in other aspects of his life. Although famous, his celebrity status seems to lay only in the ring. His movies flop, his political endeavors were frowned upon, and his interviews lie with smaller scale American talk-shows. Devoted Pacquaio fans wish for him to only pursue his sports career because it is obviously something he can do well. It is almost like a parent-son relationship, in which the parent pushes the child towards the goals already set for him because it is “what is best.” In this case, “what is best” seems to be influenced by the fact that it also gives the Philippines publicity throughout the boxing world. Pacquiao is easily one of the best in the sport. It is a way for a proud parent to say, “Look at what I have created. Look at my kid. He is the best, and everyone should know it.” He has become someone to brag about, a role model, a hero, a way for Filipino Americans to tie themselves to their culture.

To understand why he is so idolized, one must not only understand Pacquiao's history, but his people's history as well. The fact that the Philippines has been colonized twice is an important fact to understanding the Philippines' past and present. Because of Spain, who burned documents and erased almost everything before their arrival, most of what can be uncovered begins with the Spanish colonization. The American colonization occurs after, followed by the Japanese occupation. This is a story that begins with three hostile take-overs. In addition, the Filipinos were not only betrayed by outsiders but under President Marcos, they suffered a dictatorship as well. With all this corruption and violence, it is no wonder that Filipinos look up to Manny Pacquaio. Here is a man who literally fought his way to the top. And while there are many who see this as an irony and do not condone the sport, the drastic difference in the use of violence should be noted. Whereas Americans ordered their military to shoot anyone over 10 years old, Pacquaio fights for honor. His lineal championship shows that he is not the type of person to pick on the weak. With seven titles, and numerous other accomplishments, this renowned boxer does more than prove his own worth; as a representative of the Philippines, he shows the potential of the entire country.

After winning his seventh title, Pacquaio states that it will be his last weight division. He ends, “It's history for me; and more importantly, a Filipino did it.”

Accomplishments

• Pacquiao was listed in Time Magazine as one of the world's most influential people for 2009
• He was also in Forbes Magazine's Celebrity 100 list as the world's sixth highest-paid athlete
• Pacquiao is the first Filipino athlete to appear on a postage stamp
• With 1.25 million buys, the Pacquiao v. Cotto fight was the most watched boxing event of 2009
• Pacquiao had also won the the title of Best Fighter in the 2009 ESPY Awards
• He is featured in boxing video games, such as the Fight Night Round 2 – Fight Night Round 4 series
  

(Photo courtesy of philstar.com)

Unsuccessful Attempts

• The film, Pacquiao:The Movie (2006), which was played by an actor, did not do well at the box office, grossing less than $100,000
• He lost the election of becoming the representative of South Cotabato by 37,000 votes
• Pacquiao tries to star in the action movie, Anak ng Kumander (2008), which does poorly
  

(Photo courtesy of pinoycentral.com)

Why We Still Love Him

(Photo courtesy of boxnews.com)