Five Classic "Rock the Bells" Battle Routines

The five greatest routines featuring the all-time battle classic "Rock the Bells" by LL Cool J, featuring Cash Money, Aladdin, Jazzy Jeff, Q-Bert, and Plazticman.

[@gunchief0811]

CASH MONEY KILLED IT! baddest routine shown here.. his routine was dope!

[@djrayg1]

Bryan Calhoun i can’t believe my fuckin eyes bruh.. i’m speechless

[@kdub2229]

Cash always k!lls it . Might be the DOPEST DJ 2 ever touch a turntable .

[@kneeknocker1967]

No laptop cheats... Just pure skill on the turntables and mixer.. Cash money stole the show here...

[@MrCSettles312]

Two of Philly’s Phinest - DJ Cash Money and The Magnificent DJ Jazzy Jeff!!!

[@pihaat]

Both taught by GrandWzard Rasheen!

[@ircreg8639]

One could say THE two Phinest! pbs.twimg.com/media/EWfjTL7XQAIjka5.jpg:large

[@takodashabbael8794]

​@@pihaatnope

[@UBZUKki]

Brilliant...... When The man put the hood over plastikmans head, and he STILL rocked the routine on time........fuckin dope...

[@maccagrabme]

Could probably see something as no mistakes.

[@lachlanfraser3147]

To date Jazzy Jeff has the best routine with his new spinning backwards he uses in his shows he's the Cleanest

[@gaffle-411]

Man... that WHOLE Aladdin routine has a place in my heart. One of the greatest DJ battle sets of all time!

[@marcosvanoresearcher]

I saw DJ Cash Money do it live in Brazil in 1989...

[@MIXPRO68]

THE ALADDIN ONE STILL RANKS NUMBER 1 TO ME-THATS WHEN ALADDIN MADE HIS PRESENCE FELT IN THE DJ WORLD-AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@terrytees]

Aladdin has a unique feel, his trademark scratch is funky as it gets, the low profile LP is still a classic.

[@jerometurner3317]

Aladdin brought the Cali NYC style to full circle.

[@jerometurner3317]

Call em Cash 💸 💰 but his name is Jerome. My name sake is the dopest.

[@truckervance]

I know your comment is a year old but Aladdin's used the philly Transformer style. He merely imitated DJ Jazzy Jeff and cash Money's 1983-1984 routine. Someone posted those old philly tapes when Cash and Jeff performed as the Twins of Spin. There's no way Aladdin is number one when he copied a philly technique pioneered and recorded nearly 10 years before Aladdin 'used' it.

[@jerometurner3317]

DJ Aladdin album with WC was classic. With dope cuts performed by DJ Aladdin.

[@jonathanbailey1597]

Man!!! Back when turntablism was sparkling!!! That is a great selection!! Made my afternoon!

[@dagroovebros4560]

Great selection! All are incredible routines! Every room dj in the world had two copies of Rock The Bells. IMHO Cash changed the game using the transform as a musical instrument (yes, and Jazzy Jeff) and QBert took it to another dimension. Thanks for your videos Michael.

[@djshaunreed8215]

DJ Cash Money was definitely the cleanest and better scratch patterns! Faster scratching isn't always better!

[@garymeacham7353]

totally agree,this is a art form

[@johngarrett9418]

I dont care what anyone says the dj who was blindfolded with the mask he did the fool on them turntables

[@lol69_52]

I always loved itf, especially the isp vs x-ecutioners battle in 96, I wish more people would talk about itf

[@royjones3306]

I give love & respect to them ALL. Every 1 of them were inspiring.

[@vernonjohnson997]

DJ jazzy jeff has a brand new rock the bells routine and it is seriously the absolute greatest rock the bells routine ever,,,,no dj can touch the iconic legend in DJ jazzy jeff

[@matsuwd-emethdaath4002]

Yea..its 2nd to none litetally

[@vernonjohnson997]

@@matsuwd-emethdaath4002 you are seriously absolutely right bro

[@matsuwd-emethdaath4002]

@@vernonjohnson997 i truly loved it as it was a fine work of art created that much better...Ol Skool rules 😆!

[@vernonjohnson997]

@@matsuwd-emethdaath4002 😀😀😀

[@maccagrabme]

Link?

[@I_mantus]

It's good to see some of these videos. LL's Rock The Bells was one of the illest joints to juggle and cut. My favourite one was Roc Raida's (which wasn't on this list) but still a dope list.

[@parishutcherson3663]

DJ Plasticman simply KILLED the turntables literally blindfolded. Should have #1 if you ask me.

[@amadeusmphoto]

All of these were insane! QBert was absolutely nuts, but not very musical - showing the technical mastery of a monster | Cash Money was pretty nuts, the pitch bending and juggling was crazy

[@maccagrabme]

Cash Money the funkiest DJ alive.

[@ATL13n]

I remember seeing one of Jazzy Jeff in rehearsals a guy recorded on his phone a few years back. It was so clean and while I was able to grab the audio, the video was taken down from KZbin. These were all good, but what I heard that day was the best. Thanks for posting the classics, back when djs had to use vinyls!

[@maccagrabme]

Any chance of uploading the audio?

[@ATL13n]

@@maccagrabme most definitely.

[@ATL13n]

@@maccagrabme just loaded on my channel. My first time loading something, so hopefully it works.

[@maccagrabme]

@@ATL13n Many thanks, will have a better listen tomorrow but sounds amazing, very precise and clean.

[@DjcHuCkNiCe1]

Haven't started yet, but I've seen them all. Just wanted to say, I'm 53 and was DJ'ing in Brooklyn when this Plazticman routine happened. Trust me, dude was ahead of his time. New school will say he's sloppy but probably never DJ'ed analog. Every DJ was talking about this kid back then. Wonder what ever happened to him?

[@stopandjustthinkforasecond8363]

that cash money is ;fire;

[@captinweestain526]

Cash Money for me. Perfected it on his showcase in '99

[@nemecio912nr]

I've seen Q do that 1201 times and still I'm astonished . 🤯

[@DJXLP07]

Alladin with the needle drop from back in the day is fire 🔥

[@DeeJayBUNDY]

DJ ALADDIN FROM COMPTON WAS THE REAL TRUE 1989 WORLD DMC SEMINAR CHAMPION! TRAINED BY THE KING OF SCRATCH DJ JOE COOLEY.

[@MichaelShum]

i always preferred miz's philly style

[@RicardoGonzalez-jb6xz]

DJ portorro in tha. Mix. Que Tom a. What Question. Elisa Cruz Gonzalez. Amen God Bless you 👍 Emisora Nuevo Amenancer love it.

[@normalhispanicdude]

Q-Bert the most technical, and Cash the most musical

[@martinblackwell8253]

DJ Ta-Shi performed a Rock The Bells at the recent 2018 DMC in Tokyo and it was ALL TIME.

[@blkenuf8943]

Whoa! I have always loved what Alladin does with Rock the Bells but that Qbert joint.........maaaaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnnnnnn.................

[@dj0bliss0]

Me & E rode our bikes to this!! RIP King Exotic E!!

[@bitchesleave]

Classic❤ q berts is still the best ive heard but its not in a competition he really breaks down the click guitar stab and "rock" strait abuses less than an inch of the record

[@cdeddits]

When WAX was WAX!!!! and Biting rhymes was a Capitol offence! I'm Sucio and what I remember is Rhymes were like a painting. Even in different colors and even the tempo's you would be called out for the copyrights on point! Yes, you and your whole crew could catch a beat down! Back in the day. Every since the Lords of the Underground and Das Efx mumble jumble came to volume, making music and money was just court date! Remember The Biz? Nobody Beats The Biz... RIP HipHop General!

[@adg_87]

Cash's Rock the Bells set on Lady B's Power 99 in 86 is the stuff of legend.

[@DjNikGnashers]

For 1990 Plazticman's routine was brilliant. But for 1988 Cash Money was sublime.

[@Moshe.1972]

Dj cash fucking money a beast

[@THillEntertainment]

1:37 is the hardest routine I seen Plazticman

[@dowingfaith]

Don't forget tat money

[@boogiel01]

Cash Money all day long

[@Su_So]

DJ Qbert even managed to get Crazy Legs to watch him doing his routine ;)

[@TruckTawk]

My God the nostalgia

[@djorig]

Aladdin, Cash and Q were very innovative with their routines

[@gaffle-411]

Don’t forget DJ Precision’s rendition in the Roc Raida tribute.

[@CBRadioWayBack10-4]

plazticman, we're not all stupid, we can see you moving your head looking at the vinyl..!!!!

[@angelojacobs7814]

Cash orr Al the 🐐 cash.

[@thehunterofdeath2180]

DJ qbert kill it like he style respect to the other DJ too

[@ATL13n]

Yo! I was able to upload the Rock the Bells rehearsal by Jazzy Jeff from 2012-2014 time-frame that I mentioned. I really wish that the video was back on KZbin though, hearing it is one thing, but seeing Jeff effortlessly rehearse is awesome.

[@boogiedownbronx73]

Cheeezzzz Qbert destroyed that fader shitttttttt dude is so fast

[@eniliocrockett]

Great List 💣💣💣

[@seydevilchick8]

This channel is Dopeness all day 👍🤙👌🖖

[@greatness3928]

Qberts was 1 funky on 1 table

[@MCJack-kj2zp]

Sensacional.....

[@EL_SINALOENSE]

‼️👑Q-BERT👑‼️

[@sonnisonni7727]

Like👍👍👍👍

[@darrellstevens9602]

Q Bert is an absolute beast!!

[@suntzu4666]

jazzy jeffs routine on VH1 induction of LL was a lot better than the one here.

[@GucciGambino1967]

Aweee daaaaanggg you made me feel like a teen again ..what MC did he roll wit?¿!

[@JayeBoogie1017]

SWEET BABY JESUS THAT WAS CRAZY!! DJS DONT DO THIS ANYMORE

[@MichaelShum]

they can't

[@JayeBoogie1017]

@@MichaelShum many of them wont take the time to learn the skill

[@JayeBoogie1017]

You aint ever lie!

[@INTshyt]

i wish there was video for jazzy jeff’s routine.

[@johrons]

These are classics jazzy Jeff is on his level

[@hadbl12]

The others guys had the benefit of Jeff going first.... so they were able to build upon what he did in 86....

[@jerometurner3317]

🔥

[@robertoalvarez6727]

q-bert is the best

[@dazbray1255]

Dj Cash Money for me. Alladin second. BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM

[@nupe357]

Daz Bray Agreed!!

[@jorgemtorres7132]

DAYUM

[@dougyoung9330]

Cash did that

[@LGKids]

When you look nasty up in the dictionary, Q Berts name should be part of the definition! Those records needed resuscitation after that cut session! Peace!

[@djpotnoodle2013]

What about respect to' Cut creator ' who did the original scratch ?

[@alexhammond436]

Yt : Qbert rock the bells QFO style 5:00 mins, but check it fire off at @ 2:50.. Itzanutz 🤛

[@MIKEMARBLES]

30 plus years later DJ Cash Money and that DST scratch only one other DJ can do it just as good is DJ Jazzy Jeff..215 STAND UP 🔥🔥

[@maccagrabme]

Been listening to Cash and Jeff since mid 80s and their live sets were unbelievable, I still haven't heard anything as good to this day that is so musical yet so technical. I slightly prefer Cash out of the two but Jeff has the best transformer ever on Magnificent JJ and perfect routine on Rhythm Trax House Party and Live at Union Square is jaw dropping for its speed and fluidity. Cash Scratching to the Funk and cuts on Where's the party at album is the best ever heard., also loved his live sets with Marvellous, play this only at night routine is one of the best routines ever and is a work of art.

[@drewphillips2359]

Apparently in the 1990 NMS Dj Battle for Supremacy I heard that after beating the DMC champion Dj David, Plazticman said "I've just beaten the World Champion so I've got nothing else to prove" and then walked out of the competition.

[@MIXPRO68]

WELL ILL SAY THIS ,WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO PLASTICMAN,EVEN IF HE WOULD HAVE COMPETED ,HE WOULD HAD TO GET PAST FRANCHESCO ZAPPALLA AND STEVE DEE.AND STEVE DEE HAD JUST BEAT HIM EARLIER THAT YEAR IN THE USA DMC FINALS.PLUS I DONT EVEN RECALL PLAZTICMAN BATTLING DJ DAVID BECAUSE HE DIDNT EVEN PLACE IN THE USA DMC FINALS TO GO TO LONDON TO BATTLE DAVID.PLUS DAVID WAS ON THE ROSTER TO BE IN THE 1990 NMS BUT DIDNT APPEAR.

[@MichaelShum]

neither plaz nor david were in the 90 nms

[@drewphillips2359]

@@MIXPRO68 Thank you for the clarification

[@drewphillips2359]

@@MichaelShum Thank you for the clarification regarding this.

[@MichaelShum]

@@drewphillips2359 no problem-it's a great story but unfortunately apocryphal

[@MrMLD1972]

❤

[@newyorker19810]

I still say if aladdin did his usa finals routine he would have crushed swift

[@irvinghawkins1346]

Agreed

[@DeeJayBUNDY]

HE STILL DID. SWIFT was the slopiest Dj i have ever seen (especially the chair trick omg lol).

[@greatness3928]

Platicman

[@jorgemtorres7132]

Yo I wanna see CASH MONEY v Q-BERT

[@ljoseph6114]

Plaztic Man (supermen all day ) cash money then Qbert ..

[@DjcHuCkNiCe1]

I have a clearer copy of the Plazticman. I have more to say but I have to go to work right now. BBL

[@nielscobie1852]

Wow, I've never heard audio from the 1986 NMS. Do you have more?

[@MichaelShum]

yes i have chad jackson against jeff i believe-it's recorded off tim westwood's radio show

[@nielscobie1852]

@@MichaelShum Great. Would love to hear it some time. Thanks for your uploads !

[@djkingmagneto1792]

I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE AND HEAR 1989 NEW MUSIC SEMINAR WHEN "DJ SCRATCH" WON THAT BATTLE!!!!! BUT NO ONE SEEMZ TO HAVE THAT FOOTAGE OR ITZ HIDDEN OR BURIED!!!!! THATZ LIKE TRYING TO FIND A DINOSAUR.

[@MichaelShum]

it must exist somewhere--!

[@djkingmagneto1792]

Michael Shum I BELIEVE IT DOES... LOL 😂 ✌

[@illsim]

Its 1988. There is no audio or video. For the past 10 years they been saying they gonna do a movie about it. Only thing I know is after mikey d won the freestyle rap battle mellie mel came on stage to battle him and Mickey d destroy him. Mel got mad and took his belt and daddy o was super mad start throwing chairs n shit

[@MichaelShum]

@@illsim classic tale

[@MIXPRO68]

I CAN SAY-I KNEW OF ONE DJ WHO HAD THE 1988 FOOTAGE BECAUSE I SAW IT BACK IN THE EARLY 90'S ON VHS.SADLY THAT TAPE IS GONE-I SHOULD HAVE MADE A COPY WHEN IT WAS GIVEN TO ME TO WATCH.I KNOW ON THAT VHS TAPE-THEY HAD FOOTAGE OF TAT MONEY DOING THE ROUTINE OF HIM PULLING THE SKI MASK OVER HIS HEAD(BEFORE PLASTICMAN DID IT IN THE 1990 DMC BATTLE),PHILLY'S DJ SPORTY SHORTY(FEMALE) GIVING DJ SCRATCH A RUN FOR HIS MONEY WHEN SHE HAD THE TURNTABLES NEXT TO EACH OTHER AND THE MIXER ON THE SIDE AND THE FINAL ROUND WITH ALL STAR FRESH A.K.A. JUAN ELMZOON VS DJ SCRATCH. REGRETS REGRETS THAT I DIDNT DUB IT.

[@kdub2229]

I wonder has LL himself heard any of these DJs ?

[@j-boogiebrown9961]

Every time I see a video of Q cutting up this record he does something slightly different with it. It's funny how he and Mixmaster Mike both came out with single-record routines, back in '95, with Mike doing his 'Natural Born Killers' routine. Are there any other single-record routines anyone can think of? I used to have one of my own, but I won't say what record I used, in case I ever make a comeback and I want to perform it again!

[@djbiggmike]

Alladin's was a little sloppy, Cash Money was on point! Qbert the most inovative with the new scratches at the time and Jazzy Jeff the smoothest and now his Rock The Bells routine and Peter Piper is the best! He now does this signature backspin that just blows your mind!

[@stephenmichael3395]

DJ JAZZY JEFF completely destroys all of these... just saying.. cash money is close but..jazzy says hold my beer..

[@djbrownroyal6613]

Yo you forgot RAIDA🤨

[@MichaelShum]

he'll be in the next one...

[@illwill5643]

Numbers 1 & 2 should’ve been #4 &5

[@royjones3306]

Na Q fucked every1 up! Lol!

[@shawnford8450]

i thought alladin was as good as cash money a tie

[@maccagrabme]

Nah.

[@DeeJayBUNDY]

OF COURSE!

[@JayeBoogie1017]

ALL RECORDS!! NO SERATO!!!

[@Diaz23]

Aladdin's rock the bells at the 89 world dmc was better than this one.

[@shawnford8450]

jazzy jeff was good q-bert way way way over rated

[@vernonjohnson997]

DJ cash money doesn't impress me at all,he's out of control alot with to much over kill with his beat juggling and it seriously becomes sloppy and boring

[@maccagrabme]

Total opposite for me.

[@DeeJayBUNDY]

EXACTLY. I thought i was the only one who felt this way about him.

[@garymeacham7353]

sorry but jeff overated

[@UmbrellaWatch]

The first one sucked. Sorry.