DJ Babu, a pioneering figure in the world of DJing and hip-hop culture, will join the faculty of the Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University with this fall's launch of the conservatory's new Bachelor of Music in hip-hop, the first performance-based degree program of its kind in the country.
Babu rose to prominence as a member of the esteemed Beat Junkies crew in the late 1990s, showcasing his exceptional turntablism skills and innovative approach to DJing. He clinched multiple prestigious titles, including the Vestax World Championships and International Turntablist Federation competitions, and made waves in the DJing community with his groundbreaking "Blind Alley" routine, a seminal moment that redefined the art of beat juggling. Operating under the alias "The Turntablist," DJ Babu produced the influential battle record Super Duck Breaks in 1996, which became a cornerstone in the turntablism genre.
Beyond his solo endeavors, DJ Babu is a part of the iconic hip-hop group Dilated Peoples alongside Evidence and Rakaa. Together, they released numerous acclaimed albums and singles, establishing themselves as one of the most respected acts in the industry.
Led by composer, producer, beatmaker, pianist, and professor Wendel Patrick, inaugural faculty of the Peabody Conservatory's Bachelor of Music in hip-hop include Grammy Award-winning rapper, songwriter, and record producer Lupe Fiasco as a distinguished visiting artist; and beatboxer and multidisciplinary producer Max Bent. The new program will combine the resources and strengths of Peabody's industry-leading Music, Technology, and Media programs with the Conservatory's long history of innovation and excellence in performance training. The Hip Hop curriculum centers on the skills of rapping, beatboxing, turntablism, and producing, alongside classes on the cultural history and evolution of hip-hop style, technique, and technology.
Posted in Arts+Culture
