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DJ Qbert
Biography
DJ Q-Bert (b. Richard Quitevis) first emerged in the underground turntablist scene as a member of San Francisco's Invisibl Skratch Piklz (with D-Styles, Yogafrog, MixMaster Mike, and Shortkut). Along with other Bay Area groups like the X-Men and the World Famous Beat Junkies, the Piklz were determined to re-establish the DJs place in rap music. Looking backward into rap's past and forward into its future, Q-Bert and the Skratch Piklz championed a move away from the empty showmanship DJing had become toward the essential elements of technique and musicianship. Q-Bert in particular embarked on a mission outside the rap community, to dispel misconceptions about the DJs art through teaching and preaching the gospel of the turntable.

Q-Bert's DJ skills were recognized as early as 1985. In 1994, he released his mix tape Demolition Pumpkin Squeeze Musik, a 60-minute nonstop scratch and breakbeat extravaganza which increased his profile (the tape made the Wire magazines essential Turntablism Primer list in January 1999). Wider recognition came with the birth of the Invisibl Skratch Piklz in 1995. The all-DJ group quickly established itself as an unstoppable live force at underground shows and DJ Competitions.
Selected Discography