DJ 8-Ball

26/10/2024

R.I.P DJ Clark Kent. If it weren't for the battles that you organized, it's possible my name would not be on the map. The few times we chit chatted you were so cool and a kind. Thank you for all you have done for DJ's and turntablists all over the world and the culture.

07/08/2024

Get well soon Jon!

A popular Bay Area DJ known worldwide for being a pioneer in the industry has suffered a life-altering stroke. The music community and fans around the globe are rallying behind DJ Shortkut.

31/07/2024

A lot of people don't know how close Shortkut and I were (and a sense still are) at the beginning of our DJ (battle) careers. Without going into too much detail (those are for another time) we were basically tied together for a while. The joke was, to find him, you had to page me.

So this hits me particularly hard as I know what it's like to live with a stroke survivor. The road to recovery and how it can change everyone's lives.

Godspeed on your recovery Jon. See you on stage sooner than you think!

Love and peace.

"Hey, what's up! I wanted to let you know that DJ Shortkut, who recently suffered a serious stroke, needs our help for his recovery. Any donation, no matter the size, can make a huge difference, so please click the link below to donate or share it if you can. Thanks!"

On behalf of our brother Jonathan Cruz, also known as DJ Shortkut, who recently suf… elle parial needs your support for SUPPORT Dj Shortkut's Recovery Journey

26/07/2024

Couple days late posting this as I wanted to post it on the anniversary of my NMS battle. Unfortunately had a crazy work week.

That said, you've all seen the jacket, the videos, the flyer and even the acceptance letter sent to me by Supermen Inc.

However I have never shown the other prize given to each one. I've just recently dug it out of a drawer with all the room moving and now have in a more, appropriate, place of honor.

So here is the Supermen Inc. ring given to us for winning the New Music Seminar. To the best of my knowledge, there are only three others in existence: DJ Supreme, Mixmaster Mike and DJ Noize. Each with the respective year they won engraved on it.

14/07/2024

Just sharing some non-DJ stuff ;-)

So what else do I do in my life. People (and other DJ's) sometimes ask a range of non DJ subjects in regards to "what else do you do." Very common and courteous question. Let's one get to know someone better outside of whatever view or relationship they have of the person. It's good to know these things.

There used to be an old joke saying the main things that DJ's have in common (other than DJ'ing) were:
1) martial arts (check)
2) anime/comics (check)
3) video games (check)

Well, outside of my full time work, dogs, martial arts, various genre TV shows/movies I am a big gamer. Fighting games to be more exact. I've been playing Tekken since 1995 and have competed in local tournaments whenever I got the chance (was really heavy during Tekke Tag 1 and Tekken 4 era). I did drop off regularly going to tournaments during the Tag2, T5, T6 and T7 era, but with Tekken 8 here and me now having time and access to local tournaments, it's on again!

Losers quarter finals match between me and Fist of Fury. To be fair, FoF is def a high level player (I think he might even have been a former Madhouse champ)...

01/07/2024

I've had the for about a month now but maybe got 2-3 days of test tone routine practice. Here is my review!

I test out my two best known test tone routines on the Pioneer DDJ-REV7. I've only had the controller for a month and after initial setup and accessory procu...

20/06/2024

Sooooo this happened a couple weeks back. 😁
Yes I know it's been out for a minit but life was/is happening to me and had to make some decisions on items to sell.
Gonna do a whole unboxing video and will most definitely be trying out my test tone routines (and juggles). Will post a video and comments within a month after setup and picking up some accessories (table, slip rings etc.)
Stay tuned!

18/06/2024

Edit: after confirming with other DJ's that was there that night. In actuality, it was DJ Quest that won the turntablist battle! Apologies to him for not having the correct info at the time as it was at the end of the day!

Wow. 31 years ago today my mobile crew (Sound In Motion) was in a DJ battle featured around the bay.

It was actually the finale to a series of battles. The smaller ones were held monthly at the sponsor's (Dynamic Sounds) store an featured turntablism battles (I took 3rd in one of them). The winners of each of the mini battles would then battle it out on stage at this event.
But in addition to turtablism, this battle would also bring back the old 15minute show case battle which my crew was a part of.

We ended up winning that night. And winner of the turntablists battle was none other than D-Styles .

In the months that followed there was some small talk amongst the community and fans somewhat questioning our win. The two funniest/best ones I caught word of was:
1) "8-Ball wasn't supposed to skratch. That was supposed to be a mixing only battle."
There was no such rule. And is not skratching a part of mixing anywayz?

2) "Sound In Motion recruited DJ 8-Ball 5minutes before the event."
Suuuuuure, not only have I been with SIM since 1990, I was also able to rehearse and learn a 15minute TEAM routine within the time of my "recruitment" and showtime. 🤣🤣🤣

15 minute set that me and my crew Sound In Motion did at the 1993 Battlezone Showcase battle in San Jose, California.

18/04/2024

Rob Swift knows what's up!

Online DJ School and Community by DJ Rob Swift

15/04/2024

Skill issue I'm sure.

15/04/2024

Serious question to DJs. Specifically the post Serato or digital ones: What would you do if the BPM would not display? And you couldn't see the wavelengths? Can you still mix?

I ask this in light of some other "DJ's" performance at a big event. The software analyzing tracks and doubling the BPM should NOT be an issue.

It's not a crime to refer to the BPM given to you by software. Nor is it a crime (to me) to use SYNC. And you don't HAVE to edit/time the beatgrids. But in my opinion, they are for reference only and are just tools. They are not always the absolute formula. Your hearing is the first and foremost way you should beatmatch. "Trust but verify" if you will.

I've cued up matching BPM songs in Serato before, and then quickly realized after LISTENING, "This ain't gonna work. The software is wrong on this." And then quickly find a song that does match.

Of course this skill came from pre-digital days but it shouldn't be a skill lost to those post digital. In the end, you still want a good sounding mix and not a trainwreck which is more likely to happen when you put blind faith in a software that doesn't always detect the nuiances or changes in the BPM of a song.

This, in my opinion, is also a skill that is REQUIRED to have the honor of calling oneself a (mixing) DJ.

Before the question: "What is a DJ if he can't skratch?" is actually the question: "What is a DJ if he can't mix?"
Answer: a radio personality, iPod player, Spotify playlist etc. I think you get the point.

With digital DJing as it is now, you don't even have to worry about needle skipping anymore. So there is no excuse for not knowing how to beat match if you are calling yourself a DJ.

Edit: And as we say in the fighting game community when you can't perform a BASIC action: SKILL ISSUE

02/03/2024

Old Vestax add with "me" in it circa 1994. Totally forgot about this one.

20/01/2024

Happy National DJ Day!
Go Niners!

18/11/2023

Q-bert once referred to me on a video interview as "...this guy comes out, and he has a whole book of test tones..."
While, at the time, I don't know if it qualifies as a "book" per se but, I just did a little inventory down memory lane. What test tones have I performed IN PUBLIC and when/where was it debuted. I believe my count is at 22.
If there is a particular one you want to know when and where I first showed it, comment here.
Hopefully I can put up a video detailing all but till then, ask away!

13/11/2023

More footage of me testing out the Pioneer Cross 12's pitch range for test tone skatches:

11/11/2023

More video from the SKRATCHPAD social this past weekend after the DMC World finals.

10/11/2023

Finally got a chance to try out the Pioneer Rev-7 controller while at the SKRATCHPAD social during DMC weekend. Really liking it! - Photo by Jeff Straw
Also, gotta rep the 49ERS with the t-shirt!

05/11/2023

Trying out the test tone range in the new Pioneer Cross 12!