Author: Larry Howard - Page 6
on Jul 5, 2025
The Role of DJs in 1980s Hip-Hop: Turntables as Instruments
In the 1980s, DJs transformed turntables from playback devices into powerful musical instruments, inventing scratching, beat juggling, and turntablism that became the foundation of hip-hop. Grandmaster Flash, Jam Master Jay, and others built the genre’s sound with vinyl, two turntables, and pure skill.
on Feb 26, 2025
The Studio Musicians Behind 1990s R&B and Neo-Soul Classics
The 1990s neo-soul movement brought live instrumentation back to R&B, led by legendary studio musicians like Questlove, Pino Palladino, and James Poyser. Their work on albums by D'Angelo, Erykah Badu, and Maxwell redefined soul music with raw, human grooves.