DJ Element is one of the older guys that makes you mad that he's still so sharp on the turntables. The Phoenix, Arizona native recently celebrated DJing for 20 years with a new routine but today we want to highlight a routine he put out soon after that. During those 20 years, he's traveled around the world to perform with acts like James Brown, A Tribe Called Quest, Rakim, and more. You may have heard his cuts on MTV, Red Bull, and NBC, or at a B-Boy battle like the Rock The Bells X Freestyle Session. He's also racked up his fair share of medals by winning the Culture Shock tournament and the B-Boy Summit Lifetime Achievement Award.
You can study this routine from DJ Element as a good technical skills drill or something to perfect for your next showcase. Either way, it won't be easy to keep up. DJ Element doesn't get busy until about 30 seconds in but when he does, he's unrelenting. For the most part, he keeps his scratches up to tempo with the military drum line with impressive accuracy. He uses various parts of the vinyl and his hands to create little variations of his scratches. He also adjusts the pitch constantly on the turntable to make sure his scratches get the best desired fit and key with the drum line. You can tell that this routine not only took careful practice but also memorization of the intricate drum line used as the backdrop.
Stay up to date with DJ Element on his Facebook, Youtube, Twitter, and Instagram. And you can watch his other routine below to mark his 20 year career.