Scratching has gone mainstream, infiltrating rock & pop music and providing soundtracks for everything from movies to television commercials to video games. Bomb Hip-Hop Records, the pioneering record label from San Francisco that produces the turntablist series Return of the DJ every two years is preparing to release Return of the DJ - Volume V on October 7th. In conjunction with the audio release Bomb is currently planning the first ever RETURN OF THE DJ TOUR.

scratching • turntablism • old school & classic hip-hop • rap
soul • funk • rock • breaks and much more... this tour has it all!

Below and you will find the artist lineup, information about the tour and artist bios, interviews and audio samples. All the dj's are great performers and do not disappoint. Every area has top notch turntablists/deejays that we will also have join us on stage for the event. We have structured this tour to be affordable for promoters/venues and fans because we're more about promoting the art of dj'ing, turntablism and good music. In addition to nightclub performances the dj's will also be available for special daytime in-stores as well as demos at skateparks and youth centers. The first stage of the tour begins around October 8th and will conclude around Nov. 1st. For more info contact usa@bombhiphop.com


The Return of the DJ Tour features:
QUEST (Live Human / B.P.S.H. / Space Travelers - San Francisco)
DJ T-ROCK (1200 Hobos - Los Angeles)
DJ SHORTFUSE (Vancouver, BC - Canada)
DAVE PAUL (Bomb Hip-Hop - San Francisco)
BILLY JAM (Hip Hop Slam - Oakland)
BAVU BLAKES as your host emcee (Austin, TX)

plus special guests to be announced


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Quest


Born in El Salvador, Quest moved to the San Francisco bay area in 1982. He started out as a bedroom dj in 1987 and quickly began performing as a mobile dj. In the early nineties the second stage of his career took place when he began competing, producing and independently releasing turntable music. Quest is also known as one of the founding members of one of the original scratch crews in the bay area (Bullet Proof Scratch Hamsters/Space Travelers). In 1992, at dj battle that was staged for the popular tv show Home Turf, Quest gave birth to the term "Hamster Style" which refers to the reverse set up of the turntables. Today the term remains popular and is recognized by djs worldwide. Quest and the BPSH produced "Hamster Breaks", the first record of its kind, designed specifically for scratch and battle djs. Since its release in 1993, hundreds of dj tool records have imitated the arrangement of this classic album. In late '96 Quest further expanded his musical horizons by teaming up with Albert Mathias (percussion) and Andrew Kushin (cotra bass) to form the experimental jazz/hip-hop group Live Human. In 2001 Quest won the SF Weeklys' "SF's Best Hip-Hop DJ" award and last year Quest teamed up with DJ Shadow for the song "Holy Calamity (bear witness II)" with Handsome Boy Modeling School (Tommy Boy).

DJ Quest has performed at various festivals in Europe, including the "Montreux Jazz Festival" in Switzerland, the "Roskilde" festival in Denmark, and "Transmusicales Music Fest." in Renn, France to name a few. Quest has also traveled throughout Japan, Australia, and the U.S. performing with Latyrx, Live Human, Space Travelers, and solo. In addition to workshops, guest apperances on live and internet radio shows Quest has collaborated on many recordings by numerous artist including Dan the Automator, DJ Shadow, Blackalicious, Rob Swift (X-ecutioners) and has appeared on many albums including ones by Peanut Butter Wolf, Blackalicious, Handsome Boy Modeling School, the Future Primitive Sound Collective's 12" (Black Hole) & Urban Revolutions comp, and the recent Variable Unit comp. to name a few. Quest who is featured in the Doug Pray directed documentary SCRATCH (palm pictures) is one of todays most talented and versatille turntable artist.

• click here to listen to an excerpt from DJ Quest's mix cd Mutation Mann

• click here to read an interview with Quest


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DJ T-Rock


Since 1988, hip-hop's golden era, DJ T-Rock (1200 Hobos) has built his foundation of turntable skills from the ground up. T-Rock is one of the most talented DJ's on the turntablist scene. He has been honing his craft for more than 15 years, mastering the turntable as an instrument. T-Rock is best known for his full length albums Who's Your Daddy (Bomb Hip-Hop) and Sikinthehed (Nu Gruv/Stereotype Records), as well as his appearances on Bomb's pioneering Return of the DJ compilations volumes 3 and 4. He has also produced songs for Deeper Concentration Volume 3 (OM Records) and Billy Jam's Scratch Attack (Hip Hop Slam) and most recently appears on new albums by the Warp Brothers (Warp Factor) and Mr. Dibbs (The 30th Song).

T-Rock has been featured in numerous international magazines including URB, DJ TIMES, XLR8R, Mass Appeal, and Elemental. In addition to his work as a scratch DJ and producer T-Rock is an accomplished mixing dj that can rock any house party or club venue. His classic record collection and quick mixing skills have enabled him to perform with such greats as Cut Chemist (Jurassic 5), Mix Master Mike (Beastie Boys), DJ Swamp (Beck), Afrika Bambaataa, Kurtis Mantronik, Z-Trip, The Xecutioners, DJ Craze, Babu (Dilated Peoples), Shortkut (Beat Junkies) and many others. T-Rock moved from Atlanta to Los Angeles in 2003 to work with the new hip-hop/rock hybrid band Graffiti Death Threat and dj for Virgin recording artist Amanda Perez. He's just released a new mix cd Hip-Hop Sundae and T-Rock has a new track that appears on the forthcoming Return of the DJ - Volume V.

• click here to listen to The Inkredible Turntablist by DJ T-Rock

• click here to listen to an excerpt from T-Rock's mix cd Hip-Hop Sundae


• click here to read an interview with DJ T-Rock

"T-Rock needs no MC's, no gimmicks, no outside producers whatsoever. Like Terminator X before him, T-Rock takes music to the edge of panic with his musical opus Sikinthehed. - RapReviews.com

"T-Rock's Sikinthehed is one those rare CDs that reflects hip hop's early days while still marching ahead to the future. There's no rapping, no bling-bling or tales of urban folklore or misogynistic boasting. Rather, Sikinthehed is mainly beats, samples and scratching that seems to have been done in a lab in outer space, not a basement here on earth." - Independent Weekly



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DJ Shortfuse


DJ Shortfuse
is a seasoned turntablist/DJ/producer hailing from Vancouver, B.C - Canada. His diverse skills and dexterity has been prevailent over the years, performing at shows all over Canada and the US. Shortfuse is reknowned for his party rocking and eclectic style (he's been known to flip 80's and rock classics with hip-hop and classic breakbeats). Bringing all genres of music to the stage this cat is no run of the mill dj. He's had music featured on such compilations as Bombs' Return of the DJ - Volume IV (his rock inspired tribute "Unpleasant Thoughts") and The Real Deal, Hip Hop Slams' Global Turntables as well as his own battle record on Bomb entitled Return of the DJ: Battle DJ Supplement. Shortfuse also appears on the forthcoming Return of the DJ - Volume V. He's also had music featured on several Treetop Snowboarding videos and his independent mix tape Sonic Violator moved over 700 copies independently. He's shared the stage with the likes of Z-Trip, Cash Money, Dilated Peoples, Swollen Members, Moka Only, Apollo (Invisibl Skratch Piklz), Dan The Automator (Gorillaz), Kool Keith, Planet Asia and The Allies. Be sure that Shortfuse always brings something different to his performances, definitely something not to be missed!

• click here to listen to Unpleasant Thoughts by DJ Shortfuse

• click here to listen to Chainsaw Massacre by DJ Shortfuse

• click here to listen to ROTDJ Radio by DJ Shortfuse

• click here to read an interview with DJ Shortfuse


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Dave Paul


Dave Paul
began his hip-hop career in 1985 as a mobile dj and then evolved into a prominent college radio dj & club dj in San Francisco. His fresh style of party rocking and extensive record collection has kept him booked over the years at various hip-hop events. In 1991 Dave Paul launched the now legendary company Bomb Hip-Hop. He has been featured in URB, CMJ, Undercover, XLR8R, Blast, appeared on the front cover of Billboard, and is featured in the movie SCRATCH. With the b-boy's revenge and the DJ's return, the one man army of Dave Paul is a true hero of the global independent scene, having unleashed upon the world the pioneering Return of the DJ series as well as a slew of artists and producers from the UK, Australia, Europe and the US. All with one thing in common - the true ethics of b-boyism. With an emphasis on the four elements of the hip-hop Dave Paul has created the archetypal independent company, encompassing everything from management to a mail order catalog, concert promotion to magazine, merchandise to a record label.

• click here to listen to an interview with Dave Paul on Brave New Waves/CBC Montreal

• click here to read an interview with Dave Paul

"David Paul and Bomb Hip-Hop have helped define one of the most exciting forms of music in the '90s: turntablism" - Pulse Magazine

"David Paul has been a trendsetter for 10 years, his projects have defined genres and jump-started now legendary careers" - SF Weekly


"Starting in 1991 as a 'zine and later evolving into a full-fledged record label, Bomb put San Francisco on the underground hip-hop map. The label was also one of the first to champion deejaying as an art form with it's groundbreaking Return of the DJ compilations." Stance Magazine



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Billy Jam


Billy Jam
(Hip-Hop Writer/Historian/Producer/DJ) has been holding it down in hip-hop for two full decades through his Oakland, CA based mixed media company Hip Hop Slam. And it's true: he really doesn't give a muhaf*ckin' damn! And it is that attitude of his that, over the years, has gotten him and his crew kicked off of various radio stations for things such as playing records with curses (including a Public Enemy LP) or being accused of having a dank'n'drank in the station studio. Since beginning his hip-hop career in 1984 (as a DJ on KALX) the Irish born Jam has been visibly active in showcasing and archiving hip-hop music and culture with an emphasis on both Bay Area rap/hip-hop and the global scratch DJ movement. This he has done as an accomplished journalist, DJ, radio/television producer, and record label owner/producer. As a writer he was the original Bay Area hip hop reporter for The Source magazine when it started out in the 80's. Other publications that he has written for (primarily about Bay Area rap and scratch music) include Bay Guardian, SF Weekly, Vibe, XXL, BOMB and Murder Dog. In 1997 he won the California Music Journalism Award for an investigative feature he penned for the San Francisco Chronicle newspaper on incarcerated rapper Rappin' 4-Tay. He has also contributed to a number of books including the Vibe History of Hip Hop and Ego Trip's Book Of Rap Lists. He is currently writing two books: one on DJ QBert and the Bay Area scratch DJ movement and another on incarcerated Sacramento rapper X-Raided. Through his Hip Hop Slam record label he has released compilations featuring the top artists in the turntablist genre: DJ Shadow, Q-Bert, D-Styles & Flare, Shortkut, Quest, Jester, Double Dee & Stenski, T-Rock, and Mixmaster Mike. Along with fellow Bay Area skratch record label owner, Dave Paul (Bomb), Billy Jam was also featured in the hip-hop documentary Scratch.

• click here to read an interview with Billy Jam


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Bavu Blakes


The tours' host emcee Bavu Blakes, dubbed "One of Texas' brightest new stars" by legendary rapper The D.O.C., is the ultimate wordsmith. The baritone-voiced emcee has been reading and writing since he was three years old and writing poetry since he was five. Bavu Blakes originally released his debut album Create & Hustle independently and sold 2,000 units on his own at live shows and record stores in Texas. Now Create & Hustle has been re-released nationally as a joint venture between Blakes' Word4Word Music and Bomb Hip-Hop Records, distributed by Caroline (home to strong independent hip-hop labels like Battle Axe, Ninja Tune, Def Jux and Stones Throw). Blakes has been a sure and steady opener for national headliners and touring acts since the late 1990's. He has performed with Snoop Dogg, De La Soul, Jurassic 5, The Roots, GURU, Blackalicious, Common, Blackeyed Peas, DJ Krush, Tha Liks, J-Live, Supernatural, Nate Dogg, Living Legends/Mystik Journeymen, Eyedea & Abilities, Jungle Brothers, Atmosphere, Anti-Pop Consortium, Company Flow, Black Sheep and many more. Clear Channel/Pace Concerts books Bavu Blakes regularly, and Bavu was recently featured in the Source Magazine.

• click here to listen to Only Your Life by Bavu Blakes

• click here to watch the music video "bah-VOO" by Bavu Blakes


• click here to read an interview with Bavu Blakes

"Unlike other MCs who get hung up on the past, leaving the context enlightened but relatively light, Bavu incorporates his knowledge while letting the listener know that he has his eyes, ears, and mind firmly focused to what's going on" - Austin Chronicle

"One of the brightest new stars in Texas" - The D.O.C.

"Definitely one of the hottest up and coming artists to date. It's REAL southern hip-hop, str8 with no chaser!" - Steve Nice, 104.5 FM "K104" Dallas



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About Bomb Hip-Hop & Return of the DJ
Over the past decade Bomb Hip-Hop's influence and contribution to the promotion of the four elements of hip-hop (dj, mc, breaking, graffiti) is undeniable. Bomb has evolved since it's humble beginnings in 1991 as a hip-hop publication to "one of the fifteen independent labels that matter" according to Rolling Stone magazine. Return of the DJ was the first ever all dj/all scratching album released in July of 1995. Volume II followed in 1997 and the series was ranked by Spin magazine as #25 in their "The 90 Greatest Albums of the 90's" (Sept. 1999 issue), receiving a higher rating than Gold & Platinum albums by Lauryn Hill, Pearl Jam, Tori Amos, PJ Harvey, Metallica, Green Day and Fatboy Slim. Volume III followed in 1999 and Volume IV in 2001. Cover art, music and artists from the Return of the DJ series are featured in the movie Scratch playing on the Sundance channel and available on DVD. The series has been featured in the pages of every major music publication (The Source, XXL, Urb etc.) and Return of the DJ is 1 of only 62 classic hip-hop albums featured in the new hip-hop album guide Classic Material (ECW Press). This 220 page paperback is a rich, diverse and intelligent collection of hip-hop & rap album reviews. Bomb's Return of the DJ is featured on pages 140 + 141. The Return of the DJ series and an interview with Bomb ceo David Paul is also featured in a recent issue of Blast magazine from Japan (July issue, 50 Cent cover, pages 124 + 125).

Bomb Hip-Hop has produced various Bay Area concerts and club nights from the early 90's to the present including the recent March 2003 "Bomb Hip-Hop Tour" in Europe. Some of the cutting edge hip-hop artists that have performed at Bomb events include; Kool Keith, Aceyalone, Invisibl Skratch Picklz (Q-Bert, Disk, Shortkut, Mixmaster Mike), Blackalicious, Jurassic 5, Beat Junkies (Rhettmatic, J Rocc, Babu, Melo D), Mystik Journeymen, Supernatural, Volume 10, Schoolly D, Akinyele featuring Rob Swift, Shakey featuring Rahzel the Human Beatbox, Ultramagmetic MCs, Pete Nice & Daddy Rich, Alkaholiks, Pharcyde, Masta Ace, Freestyle Fellowship, Nas, DJ Craze, Dan the Automator, DJ Swamp, Grandwizzard Theodore, DJ Shadow and House of Pain (with B-Real from Cypress Hill).


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"It definitely opened some doors and opened our minds. Up until the Return of the DJ album my goal was to dj for a popular rap group and be on stage with someone and be in videos and stuff like that. I never thought I'd end up having my own album and that I'd be able to exist as a musician without the presence of an emcee and Return of the DJ was the start of that" - Rob Swift from the movie SCRATCH




RETURN OF THE DJ - VOLUME I (cat. #BHH2002)

released in 1995
01 Death of Hip-Hop - Kool DJ E.Q.
02 Ghetto on the Cut - DJ Ghetto
03 Rob Get’s Busy - Rob Swift
04 The Bomb Drops - Jeep Beat Collective
05 Scratch Monopoly II - The Beat Junkies
06 Invasion of the Octopus People - Invisibl Skratch Picklz (Q-Bert, Disk, Shortkut)
07 U Can Get With Discs or U Can Get With D.A.T. - DJ Z-Trip
08 The Chronicles (i will always love h.e.r.) - Peanut Butter Wolf
09 Terrorwrist (beneath the under) - Mixmaster Mike
10 The Track - ASAP Productions (Yutaka, Honda, Aladdin)
11 Lesson 4 : The Radio - Cut Chemist
12 Suckas (sucka dj dis) - DJ Babu

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RETURN OF THE DJ - VOLUME II (cat. #BHH2003)

released in 1997
01 The Positive Step - Beyond There
02 B-Boy’s Revenge 96 Porkopolis Turntable Jazz - Mr. Dibbs/1200 Hobos
03 Change the Scratch - DJ Jeff
04 Vinyl Overdose - DJ Format
05 Who’s On The Turntables - LF Peee
06 Private Parts - Radar & Z-Trip
07 Call Me Goldfinger - Pepe Deluxe
08 Static’s Waltz - Kid Koala
09 Flat Chested - DJ Ruthless
10 Aerosoul - Tommy Tee
11 X-Men Style Beatz - Roc Raida
12 Hide Your Wrecords When We Come Through - Kool DJ E.Q.
13 Itchy Vinyl Session Part II: Babylon 5 - DJ JS-One & DJ Spinbad
14 Jimmie’s Jam - DJ Jimmie Jam
15 On Da Flex - DJ Godfather
16 Rockstar - Z-Trip

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RETURN OF THE DJ - VOLUME III (cat. #BHH2040)

released in 1999
01 All Points Bulletin (album disclaimer) - Mr. Dibbs
02 Return of the DJ - DJ Faust
03 Rockstar II - Z-Trip
04 The Return of Scratching - DJ Talkback
05 The Brothers Grim Sideshow - DJ Bombjack featuring Ben Grim
06 Mood Swing - Furious
07 Science Friction - DJ Shiro
08 Brain Confusion - Eddie Def & Extrakd
09 Shortee’s Return - Shortee
10 Unorthodox Turntabular Angles - Maniphest with Mr. Thing
11 Cold Cutz - Cold Cutz Crew (Spinbad / JS-One / Slynke)
12 Doo Doo On Yourself - DJ T-Rock
13 Deedz In Da Mix - Innernational
(Myk B / Trace / Clitch / Chico / Kair One / Rip One / Day)
14 Never Be the Same - DJ Design

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RETURN OF THE DJ - VOLUME IV (cat. #BHH2044)

released in 2001
01 Here 4 Years - DJ Storm
02 My Definition - DJ Static
03 Scroll of the Wrist Beam - Qbert
04 Lesson 89 - 89 Skratch Gangstaz (DJ Pone and Snayk Eyez)
05 World Domination 2001 - Happee & Dinoh
06 Dangerous - DJ JS-1 & DJ Spinbad
07 U.T.A. : 2 - DJ Maniphest featuring Mr. Thing
08 Unpleasant Thoughts - DJ Shortfuse
09 X Marks the Skratch - Slate
10 Buenos Dias Bitch - DJ Prolifix
11 Symphony 3000 - Top Rawmen
(featuring Yeroc, Nando, Nomad, Mike C and Jay Slim)
12 We Are The Ones - The Wristerons
13 Girlz Didn’t Give Me None - DJ T-Rock
14 Schwicky - The Animal Crackers
15 Music Evolution - E-Jay & Rocky-Rock

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RETURN OF THE DJ - VOLUME V (cat. #BHH2060)

coming October 7th, 2003

01 ROTDJ Radio - DJ Shortfuse
02 Disc Duel - DJ Hype & the Phaderheadz
03 Directors' Cut - '89 Skratch Gangstaz (DJ Pone & Snayk Eyez)
04 The Detonator - Ales One & DJ Teeko
05 1-8-7 - DJ Marvel
06 Recognize - The Fingerbangerz
07 Hate Me - DJ Astro
08 Destroy - Alien Army
09 Panic - Timestretch, Nerve and Trouble B
10 Quattro Respirato - Azzurro feat. Hashim B.
11 Catch Wreck - Jazz Addixx feat. DJ Ragz, DJ Boom and Mudd
12 The Old School Day Trip - DJ X-Rated
13 Aych 2 Oh - H.O.P.
14 Broccoli Wars - Noisy Stylus
15 I'm the Mutha F'in Man - DJ T-Rock
16 The Boys Dope! - Mista Ed
17 Ventilation - DJ JS1

http://www.bombhiphop.com