Schooly D (right) and his son Rashaad. Photo by Adam Wallcavage

zoom Professor Schooly D Schoolly D never wanted to be a rapper. When he started out in 1979, he was hoping to be a DJ. But everyone wanted to get behind the turntables back then - that's where the glory was. So, he decided to rap a bit while waiting for his turn. Fifteen years later, everyone knows him as Philadelphia's original gangsta, but he still loves to spin the wheels of steel. Lately, Schoolly's been scoring movie soundtracks, touring Europe, recording with his new band, the U.S. Funk Mob, and teaching his 5-year-old son Rashaad how to work the vinyl. Now that DJs are turning into international superstars and Beck is exalting the hip-hop artform in song, isn't it about time to learn the basics from Professor Schoolly D? Shopping List First thing you're going to need is two Technics 1200 turntables. "They're quick and they're durable," says Schoolly. "They actually make a better DJ and you never have to worry if the needle is going to catch." They also have a direct-drive motor which makes stopping and starting a breeze. Bear in mind that Technics 1200s aren't cheap (they will run you anywhere from $450 to $600), but they're worth the investment if you're serious. Don't skimp when it comes to cartridges, either. Ortifons (for about $100) are the way to go. "They're pricey," he admits, "but you don't need to replace them nearly as much as cheap ones, and more importantly, they don't mess up your records." When it comes to a mixer for alternating between the turntables, look for fast faders and see if you can take them out and replace them. A lot of times they're the first thing to break, and when they do, you might want to upgrade them for speed. An inexpensive Gemini mixer should suit you just fine (for about $150). You'll want separate bass and treble controls on each channel as well as cross and vertical faders. Don't forget to get a mixer with a microphone "in" jack if you want to chat up the crowd while you're spinning. You'll probably want some padded headphones. A decent pair will be about $60 - Schoolly likes Sonys with bass boost. Finally, a flashlight to make sure you're pulling the right platter out of the crate in those dark clubs. Find That Perfect Beat Now that you've got all the right equipment, you'll need to start sifting through your records for breakbeats and hooks. Breakbeats are the instrumental sections you can mix into other tracks. Hooks are instrumental or vocal catchphrases you can drop into other tunes ("Whoop, there it is!" anyone?). There's no such thing as the perfect loop or catchphrase, it's all a matter of taste. Schoolly seeks out congas: "They just make people dance," he says. Once you get a good loop, put an arrow on the label pointing to where it begins, then you always know how to find in a smoky club. Breakbeat Binge Where do you look for those great beats and breaks? You can start by hunting down old albums by Parliament-Funkadelic, Isaac Hayes, Marvin Gaye and, of course, James Brown. The hard part is finding grooves that haven't already been worked to death by now. Instrumental James Brown albums are always a great find as well as lesser-known groups produced by George Clinton in the '70s (such as the Brides of Funkenstein). If you do stumble upon a rare track that no one else you know has, black out the label so other DJs don't seek out the same record and cop your licks. You should also establish a relationship with the people who work at your favorite record store. If they get to know your taste, they'll start putting things aside to help expand your record collection in unexpected directions. Mix and Match If you want to be rapper friendly, you can loop a section by buying two copies of the same record and playing the same bit over and over, alternating between the turntables. Blending records together is matter of feel and lining up the beats. "Listen to the snares and match them up," explains the master rapper. "A lot of people make the mistake of listening to the kick drum, but the snare is a lot easier to work with." Itchin' to Scratch When it comes to scratching, that infamous "ticka-ticka" sound is made by going back and forth over a sharp snare drum. Usually the best ones - free of extraneous instruments - are found at the beginning of the sections where the band breaks it down. Bass drums are great for that "wuha-wuha" effect. Homework Schoolly says a great way for any DJ to get his chops is by blending together two of the same record. "A lot of people think that's so easy, but doing it well isn't." It's also a good idea to study other DJs. Check out upstairs at the Palmer Social Club, downstairs at Shampoo and Monday nights at Silk City. Get scratching! - Neil Gladstone