No one was happier at A-Trak bringing his "Short Cuts" series to Potato than DAD was. We remember watching A-Trak come up as a 15-year-old, winning DJ championships against top talent that were much older than he was. He's a true student of the art of DJing, and in charting his progress, you can see how his love for hip-hop and EDM have blended into one.
Through these videos, you too can see how A-Trak grew from a child DJ prodigy to the master craftsman. We've not only included some of his most well-known routines, but spur-of-the-moment scratch sessions and interesting experiments that A-Trak has embarked on throughout his journey. Celebrate the art of DJing with the mighty A-Trak.
DMC World 1997 Routine
Check out a 15-year-old A-Trak's DMC World Championship-winning routine. Youngest DJ to ever win!
2000 DMC World Team Performance (w/ DJ Craze)
This 2000 DMC World Team Championship-winning performance with DJ Craze was aimed directly at the UK's Scratch Perverts DJ crew. Check out what happens when they drop some jungle/drum & bass around the 4:14 mark.
"Get Ur Freak On" Routine
A-Trak starts off with a routine to De La Soul's "Ooh" (and ends with the magnificent guitar-solo routine), but the gem of this one is him flipping Missy Elliott's "Get Ur Freak On" (about 2:14 into the video). He really works with the jungle-esque percussion that Timbaland threw in that beat.
Opera House, Toronto 2002
While groups like the Invisibl Skratch Piklz found ways to create fully-scratched songs (by having each member scratch a different piece of each track), this is a great example of A-Trak building a song on his own, meticulously recording himself scratching the different layers of the track. Has to be seen to be understood.
"So Exciting" (in China)
This is nothing more than a great routine, finding different ways to dismantle on track. Additional points for the ladies in the front keeping it moving during this one.
"Robot Rock" Routine
Someone had to find a way to twist a huge Daft Punk single into a scratch routine, and A-Trak's career is all about moments like this. Taken from the Fool's Gold 5th Anniversary, watch two worlds collide.
"Go DJ" Routine
Fool's Gold Showcase (WMC 2009) (w/ DJ Craze)
"Money Makin'" Routine
In his first "Short Cuts" clip, watch A-Trak juggle "Money Makin'" (a track he made with Dillon Francis) while juggling his wardrobe.
"Ghosts N' Stuff" Routine
You thought Deadmau5 was safe? Nope! The juggle of beats (and wardrobe) continues in this clip as well.