Release date: April 19, 2005

It's not easy being a DJ. The talents aren't as easy to see as a guitarist or vocalist. However, DJ Z-Trip is well known among fans and peers.

He's the only DJ to be asked by Linkin Park, Cypress Hill, DJ Shadow and Dave Matthews to join them on the road; the only DJ to be among the first new-schoolers to incorporate rock alongside funk beats, soul riffs and hip-hop breaks.

His debut album, "Shifting Gears," combines his turntable talents with old- and new-school vocalists.

From the first track, "Listen to the DJ" featuring Soup of Jurrasic 5 to "Shock and Awe" featuring Chuck D of Public Enemy, Z-Trip travels from a classic hip-hop sound to a new-school rock and soul.

"Walking Dead" featuring Linkin Park's Chester Bennington can be heard on radio stations around the nation.

In his bio, Z-Trip says, "I wanted to touch upon every possible reference point that's led me to where I am at this point in time. I used their voices to tell my story."

Other guests on the album include Whipper Whip, Lyrics Born, Luke Sick, Supernatural and Busdriver.

The album comes off as a greatest hits album of hip-hop's old and new.

Some highlights include Busdriver freestyling over Jethro Tull's "Teacher"; and "Breakfast Club," a track featuring Muirs and Supernatural spitting about Saturday morning cartoons and cereals.

It has a handful of tracks that are purely intstrumental, but the majority of tracks feature vocalists that take the listener on a trip through the years of DJ'ing.

Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at April 17, 2005 12:04 PM