turntablism
noun
turn·ta·blism
ˈtərn-ˌtā-bə-ˌli-zəm 
variants
or less commonly turntabling
: the creative alteration of recorded music and especially music from phonograph records through physical or digital manipulation (such as mixing and scratching)
In the 1970s, turntablism—the art of using turntables to manipulate sound and create new music—started to develop. It was the "father of hip hop culture" DJ Kool Herc who first made use of turntablism …—
John Sacco
John SaccoFollowing the innovations of DJ Kool Herc, Grandmaster Flash would take the art of turntablism to the next level, developing many of the techniques that would serve as the backbone for the formation of hip hop.—Troy L. Smith
Troy L. SmithShe [DJ M. Singe] proves that innovative turntablism requires an extensive musical knowledge, quick reflexes and an ear sensitive not just to pitch and rhythm but also to textures, colors and moods.—Robin D. G. Kelley
Robin D. G. KelleyTurntabling … can look like a basic act—taking a record, putting the needle down and sliding it back and forth with one's fingertips. But for the wizards, it's an art form, involving spontaneous sound mixing and advanced techniques like quick, rhythmic scratches …—Malak Harb
Malak Harb
turntablist
noun
plural turntablists
Legendary turntablist Richard Quitevis broke onto the scene during the 1990s, and his scratching skills landed him the spotlight …
—Leslie Ventura
Leslie Ventura
Examples of turntablism in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In essence, the earliest rap was turntablism; the merry-go-round—a technique, created by DJ Kool Herc, of clipping the rhythm breaks in soul records—led to sampling, the art of repurposing a portion of a recording to create a new one.
—Sheldon Pearce, The New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2025
The group, which formed in 1983, achieved near-immediate fame thanks in part to Mizell’s innovative turntablism.
—Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 26 Jan. 2024
The godfather of turntablism, the Edison of cutting, the leader of the Furious Five.
—Chris Kelly, Washington Post, 2 Nov. 2023
The group was praised for its use of turntablism, break-beat deejaying, choreographed stage routines, and lyricism.
—Paul Grein, Billboard, 22 Dec. 2020
The art of sampling was now complicated by intellectual property laws and there was less cutting and scratching, which meant that turntablism was, in certain ways, becoming a less crucial, or at the very least a less prominent, part of the sonic footprint of the culture.
—Longreads, 27 Apr. 2020
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Sheldon Pearce, The New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2025
The group, which formed in 1983, achieved near-immediate fame thanks in part to Mizell’s innovative turntablism.
—Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 26 Jan. 2024
The godfather of turntablism, the Edison of cutting, the leader of the Furious Five.
—Chris Kelly, Washington Post, 2 Nov. 2023
The group was praised for its use of turntablism, break-beat deejaying, choreographed stage routines, and lyricism.
—Paul Grein, Billboard, 22 Dec. 2020
The art of sampling was now complicated by intellectual property laws and there was less cutting and scratching, which meant that turntablism was, in certain ways, becoming a less crucial, or at the very least a less prominent, part of the sonic footprint of the culture.
—Longreads, 27 Apr. 2020
Cite this Entry
“Turntablism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/turntablism. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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