The Scratch Tour

Billed as an all-star DJ spectacular, the Scratch Tour lives up to the hype and then some. The X-ecutioners is a four-man wax-spinning machine whose commitment to roots rap is apparent in its furious sound. Q-Bert's résumé is easily as lengthy as his record collection, but it was his 1998 turntable concept album Wave Twisters that cemented his status as a master of the ones and twos. Longtime associate Mixmaster Mike has ties to the Beastie Boys, including a slot manning the steel wheels during the trio's Hello Nasty tour. Capping the bill is an appearance from Jazzy Jay, who pioneered the art of turntablism as a member of Soulsonic Force. How Lawrence, Kansas, landed a slot on a tour that's playing only major cities is anyone's guess, but its inclusion indicates that the college town's burgeoning hip-hop scene is gaining recognition from the rap nation at large.