DJ Qbert

DJ Q-Bert (b. Richard Quitevis) first emerged in the
underground turntablist scene as a member of San
Francisco's Invisibl Skratch Piklz (with D-Styles, Yogafrog,
MixMaster Mike, and Shortkut). Along with other Bay Area
groups like the X-Men and the World Famous Beat Junkies,
the Piklz were determined to re-establish the DJs place in rap
music. Looking backward into rap's past and forward into its
future, Q-Bert and the Skratch Piklz championed a move
away from the empty showmanship DJing had become
toward the essential elements of technique and
musicianship. Q-Bert in particular embarked on a mission
outside the rap community, to dispel misconceptions about
the DJs art through teaching and preaching the gospel of the
turntable.
Q-Bert's DJ skills were recognized as early as 1985. In 1994,
he released his mix tape Demolition Pumpkin Squeeze
Musik, a 60-minute non-stop scratch and break beat
extravaganza which increased his profile (the tape made the
Wire magazines essential Turntablism Primer list in January
1999). Wider recognition came with the birth of the Invisibl
Skratch Piklz in 1995. The all-DJ group quickly established
itself as an unstoppable live force at underground shows and
DJ Competitions. They reigned supreme at the Disco Mixing
Club (DMC) World Championship, taking its title three years
in a row. They were so dominant at the event that they were asked to abstain from further competitions.
Q-Bert then took a spot on the judge's panel. The Invisibl Skratch Piklz toured the globe throughout the
latter part of the 1990s. Various members took their craft outside of the live arena and into middle
schools, high schools, and universities (and onto the Turntable TV videos) where they gave seminars
and tutorials on DJ history and technique.
In 1996, Q-Bert leant his deft scratch-work to Dr. Octagon's classic Dr. Octagonecologyst album. As a
Skratch Pikl, he contributed to The Invisibl Skratch Piklz Vs. The Klamz Uv Deth (an enhanced CD
released in 1997), Bomb Hip Hop's Return of the DJ, Vol. 1 (the menacing Invasion of the Octopus
People), numerous break beat compilations (Dirtstyle) and the Shiggar Fraggar Show series. Q-Bert's
conventional solo debut came in 1998 with the (first?) turntable concept album Wave Twisters.
Q-Bert has become a sort of ambassador for the turntable. He has gained great respect both for his
spectacular skills (including numerous scratch inventions) and for his work to help the turntable
community. Along with Mix Master Mike, he was inducted into the DMC DJ Hall of Fame in 1998. As a
group, the Invisibl Skratch Piklz made A. Magazine's 100 Most Influential Asian American's list in 1999.
That same year, the group called it quits in an amicable break-up. Q-Bert kept busy, lecturing at
Scratchcon 2000 and launching Wave Twisters the movie (an animated feature film based on the album).
~ Nathan Bush, All Music Guide