From the back cover: "this is the definitive story of DJing and how the DJ became the central force in the evolution of music, creating everything from hip hop, reggae and disco to house, jungle and garage." Well....for starters, the only categories I like in the aforementioned are garage (the Little Steven Van Zandt variety) and reggae. I can't stand rap, hip hop, EDM, techno, house and the only DJ's I really know and like are the old guys from CHUM-AM in Toronto, John Peel and Little Steven. That is the old definition of DJ, I realize. The first four chapters sound at least palatable: 1) Beginnings - Radio: Make-Believe Ballroom, 2) Beginnings: Clubs - Night Train, 3) Northern Soul and 4) Reggae. Next, we get Disco, then everything (for me) falls apart at Hip Hop Roots and beyond. I remember watching Henry Rollins do a complete slam of the cult of the DJ, and I really liked what he said. Today's DJ's just take other people's music, mash it up and spit it back out at you. How does that make you so fabulous? You didn't write the stuff! As Henry said, "You can take Sam Cooke's sweat" (and make something different and crappy and walk around like you're God with your briefcase full of records). I grew up on The Beatles, Kinks, Motown, Stax, The Band, Dylan and the Rolling Stones, so you know where I'm coming from. As for the gushing comments on the back cover: how can the DEE JAY be the "central force in the evolution of music" when they don't WRITE ANY!

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Dear Finder of this book: What you have in your hands, is a free, "travelling" book registered on Bookcrossing.com. (Plus a handmade bookmark.) What is Bookcrossing? It is just like geo-caching but for books. Please go to the Bookcrossing website (on the label) and make a brief journal entry, so we know you've found the book. Then, when you're done with it, set it free again and help its journey continue. Bookcrossing is anonymous and yes - absolutely free. There are over 1 million registered Bookcrossers around the world, and our aim is "to make the whole world a library". Keep the handmade bookmark if you like! (To be added to our Little Free Library.)