New DJ Video Games DJ Hero and Scratch The Ultimate DJ

DJ AM Lives on in DJ Hero Video Game set to Come out Oct 27th 2009


Recently deceased DJ AM is featured as a playable character in DJ Hero

Two new video games are coming out just in time for the 2009 Christmas Season, "Scratch the ultimate DJ" & "DJ Hero" (from the makers of the world famous Guitar Hero series) Scratch features a more realistic DJ control interface that acts more like a real turntable, but DJ hero has the franchise already established and has brand name DJs featured including DJ Jazzy Jeff, Daft Punk, DJ Shadow, Grandmaster Flash and even the recently deceased mashup superstar DJ, DJ AM R.I.P.

If everyone who wielded a gaming guitar could actually pick an axe as nimbly as they press those buttons, we'd have a whole lot of future Jimis on our hands. But because not everyone aspires to be a rock god, the trend of rhythm games is evolving. And while DJ-inspired video games are not expected to supplant the Guitar Hero/Rock Band craze any time soon - in fact new titles like Guitar Hero 5, Guitar Hero: Van Halen, and The Beatles: Rock Band, are on their way - they are likely to bring in a new audience to the music video game genre. Here are two that are among those expected to be found under many a Christmas tree and menorah this upcoming holiday season for those who long to sit behind the decks, but lack the killer vinyl collection:

Scratch: The Ultimate DJ: While this game relies on a turntable-inspired controller, called the "Scratch Deck," no one ever actually drops a needle to hit a beat. Just like with the first wave of rhythm games, gamers press buttons, but they also need to simultaneously work a crossfader and touch-sensitive turntable wheel to earn points. Virtual DJs move up the ranks as they score, getting their start at house parties and moving on up to the soundstages of mega clubs. The soundtrack, with more than 60 tracks from artists such as Nelly, Kanye West, and Black Eyed Peas, is sure to appeal to Top 40 listeners, while the behind-the-scenes cast of game producer Quincy Jones and music consultant Mixmaster Mike will give the game some cred among beatheads and DJs.

The game also features a more realistic controller so real DJs might like this one better even though the graphics and DJ characters arent quite as astounding as the screenshots we've seen so far for DJ Hero.

Scratch is scheduled to be released during the fourth quarter, date TBD.





DJ Hero : The hip-hop brother of the title that defined one of the biggest gaming sensations in years, Guitar Hero. DJ Hero, just like Scratch, employs a simulated turntable. The wireless deck features three "stream" buttons (like those found on Guitar Hero's device), a crossfader, an effects dial, and a "Euphoria" button (supposedly similar to Guitar Hero's Star Power), with the object of the game being similar to that of Guitar Hero. Players press buttons to match notes floating across the screen, while also scratching and fading in time to other onscreen symbols. It sounds like a potential carpal tunnel hazard to us, but we know there will be legions willing to take that risk. Including artists such as Daft Punk, Jay-Z, and David Bowie, the playlist of more than 100 songs seems like it could be a bit superior to Scratch's, but only time will tell who wins this DJ battle (of the games).
DJ Hero is scheduled to hit stores on October 27, 2009.



DJ Jazzy Jeff Shows off his Scratches on DJ Hero


Grand Master Flash Takes it back to The Oldschool on DJ hero


Daft Punk Debuts in their first Video Game on DJ Hero

DJ Jazzy Jeff Forced Off Stage in Kansas City Racist District

Jazzy Jeff forced off stage by the Kansas City Racist District, oops I mean "Entertainment District".


Legendary party-rocker DJ Jazzy Jeff was kicked off stage during a Kansas City stop on the Bacardi B-Live tour on June 6, due to a racist establishment, the Kansas City Star alleges. According to the paper, "The black community has been in arms about perceived racism at the entertainment district, a place their tax money helped fund." The Jazzy Jeff incident clearly does not help matters for the city.

Apparently, Jeff was instructed by a Power & Light (entertainment) district official to play Top 40 hits. He was several songs into a set of pop records that included songs by Jay-Z, Rihanna and Biz Markie, when his performance was cut short due to an issue with the style of music he was spinning. "My road manager walked up to me and said they were having problems with the music I was playing," Jeff told the paper. "They said I had to kick Skillz off the stage, change the format of the music I was playing or quit. They said if I continued playing they had 30 cops ready to come escort me offstage. So I stopped."

Venues should understand that when they hire a specific national DJ for a venue that they are hiring that DJ for their particular style and crowd draw, you hire the DJ for how he or she plays not to tell them what to play. As a venue you can tell local DJs to play this way or that way, knowing that if they don't you can always get another one, but even then the DJ should be able to decide if or when to break format for a few songs etc... but when it's a national act you have hired the DJ to perform what they are known for or what they deem approriate to perform.

Jazzy Jeff, who is arguably one of the world's best party DJs, though he's best known for his affiliation with the Fresh Prince, now known as Will Smith, and for inventing a seminal scratching technique called "transforming," collected the first hip hop Grammy award and spins close to 300 nights a year. This was his first time DJing in Kansas City.

Jon Stephens, an official from the Power & Light district, where the performance took place, contended that the issue was Jeff's volume rather than his selections. "Obviously we have a desire to book a diversity of acts," Stephens said. "We booked Jazzy Jeff on a Saturday night, the biggest night of the week in the district. We were excited to have him there. It's unfortunate that his sound and management people had problems adhering to the sound and audio rules."
This is highly unlikely since there are always sound production experts working the sound board at larger events like this, that ultimately control the overall sound system. If Jazzy Jeff kept raising the volume past the levels the sound man could always bring the overall sound down to the recommended levels until Jazzy jeff would not be able to raise the volume any higher due to him peaking out on his own sound mixer. So this is an obvious bogus statement made to hide the real issue for the whole incident... a racist view of music and a fear of losing a venue because of racially driven district policies.

Jeff says they explicitly took issue with music he played and complained about his hype man, Skillz, before threatening to forcibly escort him off stage."They said they didn't like Skillz' posture. They said he made gang-like signs and grabbed at his genitals," Jeff stated. "I play rock, funk, soul, pop, hip-hop, reggae. I don't play for a certain genre, race or gender. I play for music lovers... I didn't understand what element they were talking about. I looked out in the crowd and it was multicultural, but about 75 percent white. Everyone was having a great time. I wondered what was so offensive. I never had a race issue. I didn't know how to feel. I was playing [Biz Markie's] 'Just a Friend.' Is that offensive? What element? It's uncomfortable when you feel unwanted." Jeff stated that he intends to return to Kansas City to play for the fans who missed out on seeing him perform.