Ableton Forum

Who is the best dj and why?
Many people says Shasa is the best dj because he mix in key.

That would be hard to say since there are SO many good DJs and they all have very different styles. Some would argue that to be a real DJ, you have to spin wax. Others would say its all about the music. Others would say that real DJs scratch (turntablism)...


MY favorite:
Breaks: Tipper. or the Stantons. Or the Breakfastas
Mashup: Diplo. or Z-Trip
Hiphop: Shadow. or Diplo. or Kraddy. or Tipper. or DJ Premier.
Turntablism: Q-Bert. or MM Mike. or ...

you get the idea

I think it would be easier to say who is the worst or most over-rated.

Marco Carola is the BEST DJ

then

Dan
Donald
Carl Cox
Dave Clarke
Misstress Barbara
Christian Varela
Ben Sim <-- he's really really really good

that's it I didn't know other people DJ'd

* Edit - Christopher Lawrence <-- a total beat down

Krafty Kuts
DJ Yoda
Jazzy Jeff

Tayo
Freq Nasty
Adam Freeland

Roni Size (is some kind of genius)
LTJ Bukem
Adam F

Time to dig through the CDs again.......

DJ VAKIS wrote:Who is the best dj and why?
Many people says Shasa is the best dj because he mix in key.

Sasha has been considered a great DJ not so much because of technical ability, but more because of his presence. In fact, he will tell you that he became popular as a DJ long before he could even pull off a mix. His technical skills improved over the years, but when he started he has admitted he was a mess. He thought the pitch control was a volume.

He has always been a strong personality behind the decks. People in the crowd feed off him in a way that few DJs have ever replicated. It is difficult to explain. He just has "IT". That unknown quality certain people have that draws the attention of others. Charisma, maybe? Like how some actors are just born with stage presence... only some DJs have it.

I think John Digweed is a far better DJ in the technical sense. But he is very reserved behind the decks. All focus. Never moves his head to the music. You can't hardly get a smile out of him. All business. He's like the complete opposite of Sasha. Sasha jumps up and down, points his finger in the air.... really get animated.

Ricardo Villalobos.

DJ Jazzy Jeff! When you see and hear him you'll know why!

Patch wrote:Krafty Kuts
DJ Yoda
Jazzy Jeff

Tayo
Freq Nasty
Adam Freeland

Roni Size (is some kind of genius)
LTJ Bukem
Adam F

Time to dig through the CDs again.......

Damn right!

Yoda and Greenpeace's Radio One mix is INCREDIBLE.

Asking who is the best DJ can be compared to asking who is the best garbage collector or floor sweeper - it's a simple job that anybody can do, and it's pretty tough to be "better" than the next guy when the bar for talent is set so laughably low.

The difference between a 14 year old mix DJ who practices in his / her bedroom and the "great" Sasha is a whopping 0%. I taught my mom to mix in 4 hours, and she was in her late 60's at that time.

What a pathetic joke all this DJ business is.

Except for turntablists. They've got talent. If that's what you're talking about (though I doubt it), then I nominate Kid Koala. He's not as fast or technical as MMM or Q-Bert, but he's a better composer and his performances and recordings have broad, intellectually and emotionally stimulating themes that he extends through out his sets.

Christopher Stone
Martin Block
Alan Freed
Wolfman Jack
John Peel

M. Bréqs wrote:Asking who is the best DJ can be compared to asking who is the best garbage collector or floor sweeper - it's a simple job that anybody can do, and it's pretty tough to be "better" than the next guy when the bar for talent is set so laughably low.

The difference between a 14 year old mix DJ who practices in his / her bedroom and the "great" Sasha is a whopping 0%. I taught my mom to mix in 4 hours, and she was in her late 60's at that time.

What a pathetic joke all this DJ business is.

Except for turntablists. They've got talent. If that's what you're talking about (though I doubt it), then I nominate Kid Koala. He's not as fast or technical as MMM or Q-Bert, but he's a better composer and his performances and recordings have broad, intellectually and emotionally stimulating themes that he extends through out his sets.

I agree with this. Except you can have two qualities that may make you a better DJ:

1) (MOST important) - Be an exceptional self-promoter, and have a healthy ego.

2) Have decent musical taste and track selection for your genre.

Best DJ's what? Piece of equipment?

ProducerDJ wrote:DJ Jazzy Jeff! When you see and hear him you'll know why!

Actually I second that - not saying he's the best dj in the world but he's hella fun and really good at what he does

You can teach a monkey to mix or scratch, with the latter it's purely persistance and lack of social life. I think what makes a good DJ is track selection, something which cannot be taught easily. The best DJ's I ever heard were no namers. In fact the question of this topic is moot because it can never be answered. But whilst we're on the subject, I'd claim Richie Hawtin, DJ Rush, Bongra, Hellfish, Surgeon and Vexd to be better than most, techically and in terms of the over all sound they produce whilst on the decks/laptop etc. Also, I should probably say Speedy J doing his own stuff Live is probably one of the most mind blowing spectacles that any self-respecting technohead should witness.

aaah, the eternal DJ vs. producer arguments start again...

:: grabs popcorn ::

:: ...and wonders if acoustic instrumentalists look down on computer-based producers as much as producers look down on DJs ::