The Genealogy of "Beat Juggling"

When it comes to "Beat Juggling", lineage matters and plagiarism is wrong.

I recently came across a video on social media featuring a young up and coming DJ who straight bit a routine from an OG battle DJ. Not cool! The video was accompanied with just about every hashtag a DJ would include in his or her post but failed to credit the original author of the routine that was copied. Not cool! I personally have been on the receiving end of plagiarizers with regards to my own work as a DJ on multiple occasions. Not cool! Although the OG battle DJ referenced above may not even know his creativity has been stolen (not cool!), I felt compelled to whip up this latest post in hopes to discourage DJs from ever doin' something as disingenuous as copying another DJs routine (down to the songs the authors use) and allowing to be publicly praised or applauded for being competent at something they're obviously not competent at.

While I'm at it, I'd like to also note the following. "Beat Juggling" is no longer a secret. Thanks to teachers of this style of DJing, the mysticism behind "Beat Juggling" no longer exists. However, teaching someone any of the foundational "Beat Juggle" patterns or #rootmovements as I call them, without properly knowing the history behind who invented whatever move(s) being instructed is egregious in my opinion. "Beat Juggling" is a complex art that traces back 4 decades and capitalizing on a style with such rich history without bothering to educate yourself about the people who laid the groundwork for what you're getting paid to teach others is not cool!

And so, whether you're a biter or a "teacher" of this art but know not the true science and scientist behind "Beat Juggling", I took the time to list for YOU what I personally deem the #rootmovements of "Beat Juggling".

The Genealogy of "Beat Juggling"
1. "Backspin" - Grand Master Flash
2. "Breakdown Pattern" - Lightening Rich
3. "Backspin" with 1/8 & 1/16 fill combos - Cash Money
4. "Backspin" with 1/8 & 1/16 note linear fills (Copy Cat) - Cut Master Swift
5. "Offset Backspin" - DJ Aladdin
6. "Backspin" with 1/16 note triplet fllls - Steve Dee
7. "Snare Pattern" - Steve Dee
8. "Rock The Bells Pattern" - Steve Dee
9. "Straight Swing Pattern" - Rob Swift
10. "Inverted Swing Pattern" - Rob Swift
11. "Broken Swing Pattern" - Rob Swift
12. "Chase Pattern" (Strobing) - Shortkut
13. "Chase Pattern" with 1/8 note fill combo - Shortkut
14. "Rolling Fills" - Total Eclipse

#brolicarmy #turntabletuesday #biting #plagiarism