DJ Q-Bert scratches way to top

It was studying fighters in the ring that made him want to become a fighter on the turntables.

"I remember watching some documentaries about boxers, and they would just wake up and train all day," says DJ Q-Bert (aka Richard Quitevis). "It was all about boxing -- eating, sleeping and dreaming about boxing. I was like, 'Wow, I want to be a boxer on the turntables.' So I would just practice all day and sweat and eat the right foods to become faster."

He'd become among the fastest.

As a member of one of the first celebrated, tried-and-true DJ crews the Invisibl Skratch Piklz, Q-Bert would play a significant role in the spread of turntablism, beginning more than two decades ago.

Since then, the 40-year-old San Francisco-based DJ has become well-regarded for his hip-hop-based, highly technical and physical performances, leading some to dub him the Jimi Hendrix of the turntables.

It has culminated in Q-Bert recently taking top honors in the "America's Best DJ" competition for 2010, where the winner is determined by online voting from fans at americasbestdj.net/bestdj/.

The award presentation ceremony, which is open to the public, takes place at 9 p.m. Saturday at ghostbar at the Palms.

Later that night, Q-Bert will be playing the closing party for the event, where his frenetic style will be on display.

"It's all about being in the zone, letting your spirit go." Quitevis says of his live performances. "Who cares what you look like? What matters is the actual sound coming out of the instrument. The feeling, the emotion and all the energy flowing out of you -- stuff that you can't even see, but you can feel it."

Quitevis is no stranger to topping DJ competitions.

He first won the DMC USA Championships close to 20 years ago and was also much heralded for his work with Mix Master Mike at the DMCs in the early '90s.

But these days when it comes to winning awards for his DJ work, Quitevis is more about opening eyes than ears.

"I like these things for educational purposes," Quitevis says, "to show people that DJs are musicians, expose the scratching arts to people who don't know what's going on and let people know that it's alive and well in the underground scene.

"It's to let people know that there's an alternative to other musical instruments," he continues. "And scratching is one of them."

Contact reporter Jason Bracelin at jbracelin@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0476.