Monumental Moments in DJ History

From vinyl to mp3, check out how DJing has evolved.

The Beginning - In 1969, American club DJ Francis Grasso popularized beatmatching, the technique of creating seamless transitions between records with matching beats or tempos. He also developed slip-cueing. (Photo:  Bruno Vincent/Getty Images)

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The Beginning - In 1969, American club DJ Francis Grasso popularized beatmatching, the technique of creating seamless transitions between records with matching beats or tempos. He also developed slip-cueing. (Photo:  Bruno Vincent/Getty Images)

DJ Kool Herc - DJ Kool Herc is understood to be the father of hip hop. That's quite a title, but it's one that's well-deserved, as the Jamaican-born, Bronx-raised legend created break beats, which would serve as a launching pad for the music and culture. (Photo: WENN.com)

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DJ Kool Herc - In 1973, the Jamaican-born DJ developed a technique of mixing back and forth between two identical records to extend the rhythmic instrumental segment, or break. (Photo: WENN.com)

Technics - In 1974, Technics released the first SL-1200 turntable, which evolved into the SL-1200 MK2 in 1979. As of the mid-2000s, it remains the industry standard for deejaying.  (Photo: Courtesy Panasonic)

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Technics - In 1974, Technics released the first SL-1200 turntable, which evolved into the SL-1200 MK2 in 1979. As of the mid-2000s, it remains the industry standard for deejaying.  (Photo: Courtesy Panasonic)

44. DJ Scratch - DJ Scratch, who was mentored by Jam Master Jay, went from acclaimed battle turntablist to the official spinner for EPMD. His precise cuts helped take the legendary LI duo's classics to the next level. Later on, Scratch moved on to production, crafting hits for Busta Rhymes, LL Cool J and more.  (Photo: Johnny Nunez/WireImage.com)

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DJ Scratch - In 1988, he won the New Music Seminar Battle for World Supremacy DJ Championship and joined the Run DMC "Run's House World Tour." When the tour ended, Scratch became the official DJ for EPMD. After deejaying across the world for years, he became the first winner of Master of the Mix. (Photo: Johnny Nunez/WireImage.com)

DJ Jazzy Jeff - In 1989, DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince became the first artist and DJ to win a Grammy for their song, "Parents Just Don't Understand."    (Photo: Al Pereira/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

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DJ Jazzy Jeff - In 1989, DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince became the first artist and DJ to win a Grammy for their song, "Parents Just Don't Understand."    (Photo: Al Pereira/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

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DJ Kid Capri - In 1992, the world received its first taste of the art of deejaying on television with Russel Simmons' wildy popular show, "Def Comedy Jam," and Kid Capri was the show's first DJ.   (Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images)

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DJ Kid Capri - In 1992, the world received its first taste of the art of deejaying on television with Russel Simmons' wildy popular show, "Def Comedy Jam," and Kid Capri was the show's first DJ.   (Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images)

Funkmaster Flex (@funkmasterflex) - For popular radio DJ Funkmaster Flex, work never ends. Sometimes, though, he is just on chill mode.TWEET: "Wow! Been here all day!! I have done no work today!! Really enjoying it!! Wahhhhh!!!" (Photo: Henry Dziekan/Retna Digital)

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Funkmaster Flex - In 1995, Flex released his first major label mixtape, The Mixtape, Vol. 1: 60 minutes of Funk, on Loud Records. It was the first of its kind to be released by a major record label.  (Photo: RD / Henry Dziekan / Retna Digital)

34. DJ Jazzy Joyce - Hot 97 mainstay Jazzy Joyce has been breaking down doors for female DJs since the early '80s, when she recorded her hit "It's My Beat" with Sweet Tee.  (Photo: Profile Records)

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DJ Jazzy Joyce - Female DJ recognition. In 2005, Jazzy Joyce becomes the first female to join Funkmaster Flex's Big Dawg Pitbulls DJ crew. (Photo: Courtesy Profile Records)

Scratch Live! - Scratch Live, simply known as "Serato" within the DJ and music scene, allows the manipulation and playback of digital audio files (mp3, wav, aiff, ogg and non-DRM aac) using traditional vinyl turntables or CD players via special timecode vinyl records or CDs. As of 2004, DJs no longer had to carry around crates of records in order to rock a party. All of their jams are now stored on their laptop. (Photo: Courtesy Serato.com)

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Scratch Live! - Scratch Live, simply known as "Serato" within the DJ and music scene, allows the manipulation and playback of digital audio files (mp3, wav, aiff, ogg and non-DRM aac) using traditional vinyl turntables or CD players via special timecode vinyl records or CDs. As of 2004, DJs no longer had to carry around crates of records in order to rock a party. All of their jams are now stored on their laptop. (Photo: Courtesy Serato.com)

Philly Stand Up\r - Questlove deejays at the event, DJ Questlove: A Celebration of Two Philadelphia Classics, at the Mitchell & Ness Flagship Store in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo: Gilbert Carrasquillo/Getty Images)

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DJ ?uestlove - In 2008, ?uestlove, along with Rich Medina, DJ Jazzy Jeff and the late DJ AM, were honored by the mayor of Philadelphia in a ceremony proclaiming September 24th "DJ Day" in the city of Brotherly Love.   (Photo: Gilbert Carrasquillo/Getty Images)

DJ Hero - Now you can be a DJ too. In 2009, FreeStyleGames released the Guitar Hero video game spin-off. To score points, the player must press buttons to activate accented beats, adjust their crossfade between the two songs, and "scratch" the turntable on the game's custom controller in time to marks that scroll on the screen to score points and perform well for the virtual crowd.  (Photo: Courtesy FreeStyle Games)

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DJ Hero - Now you can be a DJ too. In 2009, FreeStyleGames released the Guitar Hero video game spin-off. To score points, the player must press buttons to activate accented beats, adjust their crossfade between the two songs, and "scratch" the turntable on the game's custom controller in time to marks that scroll on the screen to score points and perform well for the virtual crowd.  (Photo: Courtesy FreeStyle Games)