X-ecutioners Ready ‘Scratchology’

Rob Swift, Roc Raida, and Total Eclipse, also known as The X-ecutioners, have mixed the latest Sequence Mixtape Session, Scratchology. The album features such DJ pioneers as DJ Jazzy Jay, DJ Cash Money, Pete Rock, DJ Premier and Grandmaster Flash. "The purpose of this mixtape is to educate people about the history of scratching and […]

Rob Swift, Roc Raida, and Total Eclipse, also

known as The X-ecutioners, have mixed the latest Sequence Mixtape Session, Scratchology.

The album features such DJ pioneers as DJ Jazzy

Jay, DJ Cash Money, Pete Rock, DJ Premier and Grandmaster Flash.

"The purpose of this mixtape is to educate

people about the history of scratching and the scratch songs that have influenced

us," explain The X-ecutioners. "It is by no means a comprehensive

compilation, as there are many songs and artists vital to the history of scratching

that are not included on this CD. However, it is a great introduction to scratching,

its evolution, and the progression of Hip Hop from its origin to the present

day."

The X-ecutioners said that the CD is being dedicated

to the late Jam Master Jay, who helped bring turntablism to the a wide ranging

audience.

Scratchology features 18 songs and is

scheduled to hit stores April 8th.

Below is the track listing with comments from

The X-excutioners.

1. Intro – What Is A Scratch? – The X-ecutioners

2. The Adventures Of Grandmaster Flash On The

Wheels Of Steel

(w/ Jazzy Jay Intro) – Grandmaster Flash And The Furious Five

"The first scratch-oriented song ever recorded. Here, Grandmaster Flash

gives us a taste of what he was famous for — blending different styles of music

together through scratching. "The Adventures…" is a good example

of what DJs like Flash would do at the neighborhood parks of New York City during

the early stages of Hip Hop culture." – Rob Swift

3. Military Cut (Scratch Mix) (w/ Grand Mixer

DXT Intro)

Grand Wizard Theodore

"Composed by Grand Wizard Theodore, the inventor of the scratch. The story

goes that he was in the bedroom practicing when his mom stormed in and told

him to turn it down. He stopped the record with his hand and heard himself moving

the record back and forth in the headphones. When his mom left the room he realized

what he was doing and that he could incorporate it with his blend. We hear him

doing ‘baby scratches’ here — so-called ­ because they were the first scratches

ever created." – Rob Swift

4. Rock It (Grand Mixer DXT Intro) – Herbie Hancock

f/ Grand Mixer DXT

"The song that bridged jazz and scratching and introduced scratching to

a new audience. The definitive scratch record of its era. Its popularity and

complexity helped set the tone for a new generation of DJs." – Rob Swift

5. Like This (Full & Fresh) – Mixmaster Gee

& The Turntable Orchestra

"An underground gem. A lot of people don’t even know this record exists.

Mixmaster Gee introduced back scratches (making the sound that you are manipulating

go in reverse) on this song. He also rhymes on it, which set the trend for songs

that actually talked about the DJ and how nice he was (see DJ Jazzy Jeff and

Fresh Prince, Cash Money and Marvelous Marv) He also describes the tools he’s

using, ‘two turntables and a mixer in my hand.’ And the credits read ‘Mixmaster

Gee and the Turntable Orchestra’ another first. A DJ using musical terminology

to describe scratching." – Rob Swift

6. 2-3 Break (w/ Dr. Butcher Intro) – Rob Swift

f/ DJ Klever & DJ Melo-D

"A tribute to the early era of scratch music. The original ‘2-3 Break’

by Chuck Chillout was in many ways the final scratch song of that era. It utilized

all of the different styles and approaches of the time and combined them into

one. This updated version is a tribute to the era of Grand Wizard Theodore,

Chuck Chillout and all the early greats. DJ Klever and DJ Melo-D are featured

here." – Rob Swift

7. Ugly People Be Quiet – DJ Cash Money &

Marvelous Marvin

"The first song I heard totally assembled around a DJ. The MC was rhyming

about Cash Money and hyping up his dope scratches. Cash was the only DJ to hold

the New Music Seminar and the DMC titles together — the two most prestigious

competitions of that time. He made me want to be a DJ." – Total Eclipse

8. Product Of The Environment (Remix) – 3rd Bass

"One of the purest Hip Hop songs I heard back then. The energy between

the two MCs and DJ Richie Rich is incredible. Rich and Scratch from the Supermen

were big influences on me before I got down with The X-ecutioners." – Total

Eclipse

9. One For The Treble – Davy DMX

"Along with Pete Rock and DJ Premier, Davy DMX really made it clear to

me that a dope DJ is one who can cut, produce dope beats and rock a party at

the same time. Davy D also incorporated live instruments. His use of a guitar

player here predicts the live music fusion many turntablists, including The

X-ecutioners, use today." – Total Eclipse

10. Shut Em Down (Pete Rock Mix) – Public Enemy

"Pete Rock introduced styles of scratching that I had never heard before.

The gallop (or ‘open fader’) scratch he does at the end of this song blew my

mind when I first heard it. Pete Rock’s influence on NY area DJs began with

‘In Control,¹ the radio show he did with Marley Marl on WBLS in the early

90’s." – Total Eclipse

11. DJ Premier In Deep Concentration – Gang Starr

"One of the first cuts that made me want to make DJ songs. The way Premier

cuts different phrases to create a mood really inspired me. At the time this

song came out, the importance of the DJ was fading and there weren’t many DJ-oriented

songs, so for Premier to make a song like this at that time was a very powerful

statement. He took a stand for DJs" – Total Eclipse

12. Interlude – The X-ecutioners

13. Dilated Junkies – Dilated Peoples f/ The

Beat Junkies (Babu, J-Rocc, Rhettmatic & Melo-D)

"Babu is one of the best examples of how a modern day DJ can function within

the context of a Hip Hop group. On top of that, he’s got one of the dopest DJ

crews ever, as this track will show." – Roc Raida

Editors note:(The Beat Junkies, along with The X-ecutioners and the Invisibl

Piklz, helped establish the present era of DJing, which began in the early 90’s)

14. Interlude – The X-ecutioners

15. Felonius Funk – D-Styles f/ Melo-D, Babu

& DJ Qbert

"A dope-ass turntable track from a guy who’s not only a technical genius,

but soulful as s### too! Also a member of the ISP, D-Styles is one of the DJs

who is helping to take the art to the next level." – Roc Raida

16. Premier’s X-ecution – The X-ecutioners f/

DJ Premier

"What can I say? It was an honor to work with one of the all-time greats.

Premier is a legend — nuff said! We were taking other peoples phrases and turning

them into lyrics about ourselves" – Roc Raida

17. I’ll Kick Ya Ass – Roc Raida

"A track from my EP with Wayne O on Fatbeats – just me f###### around on

a hard-as-hell beat." – Roc Raida

18. Razorblade Alcohol Slide – DJ Qbert &

D-Styles

"During the 90’s, the ISP crew helped elevate and popularize scratch styles.

The majority of today’s popular scratches can be heard on this record. The DJ

world looked to the Piklz to see what new scratches would be invented next.

They also should be credited with being the first DJs to educate the public

on actual technique through video tapes, how-to seminars, etc." – Roc Raida