DJ Q-bert
Encyclopedia
Richard Quitevis, born October 7, 1969, in San Francisco, California
, known by his stage name DJ Qbert or Qbert , is a Filipino-American Turntablist and composer.
at the age of 15, although he got his first Fisher-Price
turntable as a toddler. He was influenced by the street performers and graffiti artists of the local hip hop community in the mid 1980s. It was at Balboa's school cafeteria that he went up against Mix Master Mike
. The two are good friends.
when playing a show, Crazy Legs saw them and invited them to join the Rock Steady Crew
. They accepted the offer to join the crew. Going by the name Rock Steady DJs they then proceeded to take the 1992 Disco Mix Club World DJ Championships
(DMC) world title. Qbert was also one of the founding members of the band Invisibl Skratch Piklz
. Although there were other turntablist crews before the Invisibl Skratch Piklz, the Skratch Piklz were the first to apply the band concept to turntablism
, layering drums, basslines, and scratch solos on top of each other.
QBert, along with other Skratch Piklz, created a series of videos entitled Turntable TV. Now out of print, the first 5 episodes were released on VHS and contained demonstrations, showcases, skits, and other DJ related content.
QBert's solo efforts include 1994's Demolition Pumpkin Squeeze Musik
, and 1998's Wave Twisters
. The latter album was created mainly with samplers and beat machines versus the turntable, and later turned into an animated feature of the same title. Wave Twisters
(2001
) the movie was somewhat unusual in that the animators and digital artists had to invent images and movements to the pre-recorded music, as opposed to the other way around.
More recently he has worked with Vestax to develop the QFO, an all-in-one scratching instrument. The QFO combines a turntable with a mixer's crossfader.http://www.vestax.com/v/products/players/qfo.html In 2006 he introduced the QBert turntable cartridge, a model put out by Ortofon.http://www.djdeals.com/ortofonOMQBERT.htm
In 2009 Qbert launched the Qbert Skratch University, an online school and community for DJ's.
. He has also appeared himself in DJ Hero 2
.
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, known by his stage name DJ Qbert or Qbert , is a Filipino-American Turntablist and composer.
Early life
Growing up in San Francisco's Excelsior District on Moscow Street, he graduated from Luther Burbank Middle School and in 1987 from Balboa High School. Qbert started playing with recordsGramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
at the age of 15, although he got his first Fisher-Price
Fisher-Price
Fisher-Price is a company that produces toys for infants and children, headquartered in East Aurora, New York. Fisher-Price has been a wholly owned subsidiary of Mattel since 1993.-History:...
turntable as a toddler. He was influenced by the street performers and graffiti artists of the local hip hop community in the mid 1980s. It was at Balboa's school cafeteria that he went up against Mix Master Mike
Mix Master Mike
Mix Master Mike is an American turntablist and contributing member of the Beastie Boys.-Life and career:Born Michael Schwartz in San Francisco, California, Mix Master Mike is of German and Filipino descent. He first came to prominence upon winning the 1992 New Music Seminar/Supermen Inc...
. The two are good friends.
Career
Qbert started his musical career in a group called FM20 with Mix Master Mike and DJ Apollo in 1990. In New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
when playing a show, Crazy Legs saw them and invited them to join the Rock Steady Crew
Rock Steady Crew
Rock Steady Crew is a b-boying crew and hip hop group that was established in the Bronx, New York City in 1977. The group was initially formed by b-boys named Jimmy D and Jojo. In subsequent years, Rock Steady Crew became a franchise name for groups in other locations. The Manhattan branch was...
. They accepted the offer to join the crew. Going by the name Rock Steady DJs they then proceeded to take the 1992 Disco Mix Club World DJ Championships
DMC World DJ Championships
DMC World DJ Championships is an annual DJ competition hosted by Disco Mix Club which began in 1986. The most recent instance of this competition will take place in New Orleans and in Denver TBA.-World DJ Champions:*1985 - Roger Johnson...
(DMC) world title. Qbert was also one of the founding members of the band Invisibl Skratch Piklz
Invisibl Skratch Piklz
The Invisibl Skratch Piklz were a group of Americans of Filipino Ancestry turntablists.The members of the group were originally hip-hop DJs, who were among the pioneers of the turntablism movement in the 1990s; turntablists create musical pieces by mixing samples from records, by using multiple...
. Although there were other turntablist crews before the Invisibl Skratch Piklz, the Skratch Piklz were the first to apply the band concept to turntablism
Turntablism
Turntablism is the art of manipulating sounds and creating music using phonograph turntables and a DJ mixer.The word 'turntablist' was coined in 1995 by DJ Babu to describe the difference between a DJ who just plays records, and one who performs by touching and moving the records, stylus and mixer...
, layering drums, basslines, and scratch solos on top of each other.
QBert, along with other Skratch Piklz, created a series of videos entitled Turntable TV. Now out of print, the first 5 episodes were released on VHS and contained demonstrations, showcases, skits, and other DJ related content.
QBert's solo efforts include 1994's Demolition Pumpkin Squeeze Musik
Demolition Pumpkin Squeeze Musik
Demolition Pumpkin Squeeze Musik is a mixtape by DJ Q-bert. It was released in 1994, one year before he invented the "crab scratch." The samples on this album come from bands , comic books , video games , and movies .-The Breaks:-External links:* , Fairfax Digital*...
, and 1998's Wave Twisters
Wave Twisters
Wave Twisters is a completely animated film, also known as the first turntablism-based musical. It is based on DJ Q-Bert's album of the same name....
. The latter album was created mainly with samplers and beat machines versus the turntable, and later turned into an animated feature of the same title. Wave Twisters
Wave Twisters
Wave Twisters is a completely animated film, also known as the first turntablism-based musical. It is based on DJ Q-Bert's album of the same name....
(2001
2001 in film
The year 2001 in film involved some significant events, including the first of the Harry Potter series and also the first of The Lord of the Rings trilogy...
) the movie was somewhat unusual in that the animators and digital artists had to invent images and movements to the pre-recorded music, as opposed to the other way around.
More recently he has worked with Vestax to develop the QFO, an all-in-one scratching instrument. The QFO combines a turntable with a mixer's crossfader.http://www.vestax.com/v/products/players/qfo.html In 2006 he introduced the QBert turntable cartridge, a model put out by Ortofon.http://www.djdeals.com/ortofonOMQBERT.htm
Personal Life
In a 2011 interview with the website WeBeVegan.org, Qbert stated that he is a vegan.Media appearances
His music was also featured in the video game Tony Hawk's UndergroundTony Hawk's Underground
Tony Hawk's Underground, abbreviated to THUG, is a skateboarding video game, available for the PlayStation 2, GameCube, Game Boy Advance, and Xbox platforms released in 2003. A PC version was released exclusively in Australia as a budget release in 2005. This version was ported by Beenox. In 2004,...
. He has also appeared himself in DJ Hero 2
DJ Hero 2
DJ Hero 2 is a rhythm video game and a sequel to DJ Hero, a spinoff of the Guitar Hero series. DJ Hero 2 uses a special turntable-controller, the same as introduced in DJ Hero, to simulate turntablism, the act of creating a new musical work from one or more previously recorded songs using record...
.
Awards and credentials
- America's Best DJ 2010
- DMC USA Champion 1991 (Solo)
- DMC World Champion 1992 - Rock Steady DJs (Qbert, Mixmaster Mike & Apollo)
- DMC World Champion 1993 - Dreamteam (Qbert & Mixmaster Mike)
- DMC World Champion 1994 - Dreamteam (Qbert & Mixmaster Mike) ***
- DMC Judge 2012 (what you heard?)
- DMC DJ Hall of Fame (along with Mix Master Mike)
- Featured in Hang the DJ by Marco & Mauro La Villa
- Cannes Film FestivalCannes Film FestivalThe Cannes International Film Festival , is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films of all genres including documentaries from around the world. Founded in 1946, it is among the world's most prestigious and publicized film festivals...
, France
- Cannes Film Festival
- Appears in the documentary film Modulations
- Sundance Festival, Utah
- Appears in the documentary ScratchScratch (film)Scratch is a documentary film, directed and edited by Doug Pray. The film 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 , to the invention of scratching and beat-juggling vinyl, to its more recent explosion as a...
- Sundance Festival, Utah
- Appears in his own animated/live action movie "Wave Twisters
External links
- Djqbert.com
- ThudRumble.com
- QbertSkratchUniversity.com
- Q-bert on IMDb
- Full Discography
- Video of Q-Bert Live Set in UK
Interviews
- Interview with DJ Times, 2001
- The Career Cookbook Interview with Qbert
- Radio Feature The Some Assembly RequiredSome Assembly RequiredSome Assembly Required is a sound collage radio program in the United States, produced in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is the first radio show known to focus exclusively on works of sample based music, and appropriation in audio art...
Interview with DJ Qbert (2008). - HHC Digital interview about his DMC legacy
- Conspiracy Worldwide Radio October 2010 Uncensored Interview
- Interview with We Be Vegan