Scratch Johnson
Dj Scratch Johnson
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The first of many.Band/artist history
DJ Drastic With the turntablist scene homogenizing itself with scores of similar sounding DJ's, the chances of finding a turntablist with a truly unique sound act is becoming increasingly slim. Enter an enigma from the relatively untapped hip-hop market that is Columbus, Ohio: DJ Drastic. Although hes performed at numerous national battles, Drastic has been in the Columbus Underground scene for over 10 years. Drastics love for Hip Hop and Djing came to him as young as 8 years old when he heard an old school mix tape. At the age of 15 his first performances were at the 1992 Community festival and The Short Stop Teen Center Djing mix tapes. Throughout the next year Drastic Djed his first block party while beginning his many years of beat digging. In 1994, while working at the Groove Shack record store, Drastic learned how to mix and blend records and entered his first DJ Battle at Groove Shack. This led him to become the house DJ for Groove Shacks open mic night. He also taught DJ classes at Ohio State University. Drastic returned to DJ his second party at the Short Stop Teen Center, while Djing other house parties, weddings and high school mixers, proms and dances. During 1995 Drastic kept busy by Djing open mic nights and becoming the musical producer at the Live and Direct Hip Hop show at the Groove Shack. DJ Drastics talents inspired him to enter his first BHB DJ Battle at the 1995 Hip Hop Expo in Columbus, Ohio. At seventeen, he revisited the Community Festival for the second time to DJ. Throughout this time Drastic still continued to perfect every aspect of Djing from beat juggling and scratching to tricks and mix tapes. In 1996 Drastics life of Hip Hop and Djing carried him to perform in Columbus hottest night clubs including Skankland as the house DJ /w DJ Phaze; Strutters night club and the Soul kitchen w/ Merion Deez. As his popularity grew he performed at numerous parties at the Smith Place along with the Hip Hop Showcase at the King Arts Complex. Rounding The Year out he performed with his close friend, DJ Fahrenheit, at the final Short Stop Teen Center party. DJ Drastic took 2nd place in the 1997 Hip Hop expo DJ Battle and Club Dance Mix Off. He continued to be the house DJ at Skankland along with becoming a DJ at the Aztec lounge.Other show performances include the End Racism Rally at OSU, promotions for the Capa Arts Council and Short Stop Employee along with frequent DJ performances for Roots Records. He completed and released his first mix tape (Body Rockin B Boy Beats) w/ DJ Fahrenheit (lethal DOS crew). After working hard and entering more battles, Drastic eventually won new equipment, which heightened his skills. This was proven in 1998 when he finally became Sound Ideas Music Store and BHB Hip Hop Expo DJ Battle Champion. Drastic took his unique and amazing skills outside of Columbus to Cincinnati for the Scribble Jam DJ Battle to place second. He also represented Columbus in the All American Cities tour Mobil, Alabama along with taking second place at the Ohio University DJ Battle. Drastic continued to win competitions throughout 98 including, Wooster DJ battle Champion and Classic Columbus DJ Battle (Drastic and Lozone vs. Epic and Bombay). Although he had an over whelming competition schedule, Drastic still found time to be house DJ for Smiling Rhino with DJ Trueskills, joined 3rd Finger Record Pool and released the anticipated second mixed tape "Flavor Injector" Vol 1. Finally, he started DJ crew "Vibration Society"(DJ Phaze, Superman Top Notch, DJ Lo, and Drastic) and worked at the OSU radio WKBUX for an exhibition set. DJ Drastic placed 3rd in his first ever DMC (Cincinnati) appearance, knowing hell return in the future to take the Championship. Still performing as house DJ for Smiling Rhino, he made appearances at Bernies Distillery and Djed New Years 1999 at one of Columbus favorite hip-hop spots Club Mekka. Continuing to improve his turntablism, he entered and won the Columbus vs. Cleveland DJ battle at club Red Zone and took the title of DJ Battle Champion at Annies in Cincinnati. He hosted DJ workshops at Drastic studios before beginning a five-city tour including New York, Philly, New Jersey, and D.C. and Maryland. In 2000 Drastic started Real Nice Recordings with Codyno Art Group and started producing music. Drastics release party was held at the Hey Hey bar in German Village for his first and second mixed CD entitled DJ Drastic Real Nice Vol. 1 and The Vinyl Bboys the Pinnacle)w/ DJ Trueskills . For the second time he became the BHB Hip Hop Expo DJ Battle Champion. Drastic tirelessly continued to DJ parties for the Short North Ballroom, while winning the Animal Krackers DJ Battle in Cincinnati. The Second CD Release Party was held at BB McClains in Canton Ohio.Drastic still working on the OSU radio show KBUX was inducted into Weightless Recordings (Greenhouse, Effect, Illogic, and Blueprint) and Djed the Def Jam Block Party at Club Liberties. 2001 brought a change of scene for Drastics DJ skills as he Djed various rave parties including Tilt, Tilt 2, Ascend, Chronic Christmas a Cleveland rave. Again he defended his title at the BHB Hip Hop Expo proving hes Columbus Best. Drastic continued to travel doing venues such as the Avenue Hip Hop party at club FM, Rocksteady Anniversary w/ Greenhouse Effect in New York and Exhibition at Club Millennium. Even as he continues producing his first album Flava Injector, Drastic reigned as BHB Hip Hop Expo Champion in 2002. Still feeling his love for Hip Hop he performed at the Playaz Ball in Canton Ohio at BB Mclaine night club, Art Exhibition at Shorn Penn. w/ Codyno Art Group, Greenhouse Effect show at the Agora Ballroom in Cleveland along with various shows with Spy vs. Spy, a rock/metal band and with Sugarpill a Funk/Rock band. Drastic headlined in Lake Tahoe, Nevada night club and in San Francisco for the Burningman's International Decompression Party bringing in an impressive 20,000 for attendance. Rounding out the year DJ Drastic opened for Kool Keith back in Columbus at Little Brothers. For 2003 Drastic is continuing to produce such artists as Lakeem, Marki, Destiny, DVS Alias, and Julia OKeefe. Drastic continues to DJ Hip Hop venues such as the upcoming Compfest 2003 and More than Music 2003. Drastic also performs regularly at the RNR venue the Hey Hey where his artists perform and was a special guest for DJ Phazes 25th anniversary party. Recently, Drastic competed in the Kool Mix and Guitar Center Finals.Have you performed in front of an audience?Yes I do play out live. It is one of my favorite parts of music. and all of them are special in some way.
Your musical influences
all music in some way.What equipment do you use?
VinylAnything else?
also check me out on www.myspace.com/djdrastic
columbus, OH
USA
ID
104575
Contact
Sorry, this artist currently doesn't accept email messages.
Comments (3)
Dj Drastic bombing tha world upside down.. Hell yeah...!
All tha songs are real sh***.. I liked much, them all..!!
Keep it classic.!!
Peace!
Mf-
WADDUPP, KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. I GOT SOUND KITS AND OTHER BEAT MAKIN TOOLS FOR SALE ON MY PAGE, CHECK EM OUT WHEN YOU GET A CHANCE TO, PEACE.
Dam so far with all this soundclick garbage i find this DRASTIC bombn obviously this is some real production ... goodluck
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