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| "Rockit" | |
|---|---|
| Single by Herbie Hancock | |
| from the album Future Shock | |
| Released | June 1983 |
| Recorded | 1982 |
| Genre | Electro, Hip hop |
| Length | 5:27 (Album Version) 3:38 (Single Version) |
| Label | Columbia 03978 |
| Writer(s) | Herbie Hancock Bill Laswell Michael Beinhorn |
| Producer | Bill Laswell |
"Rockit" is a song recorded by Herbie Hancock. It was released as a single from his 1983 album Future Shock. The song was written by Hancock, bass guitarist Bill Laswell and synthesizer/drum machine programmer Michael Beinhorn.
Constructed and composed during the recording process at various studios, including Martin Bisi's in Brooklyn NY, "Rockit" was perhaps the first popular single to feature scratching and other turntablist techniques, performed by GrandMixer D.ST - an influential DJ in the early years of turntablism - using turntables as a musical instrument. Later turntablists, such as DJ Qbert and Mix Master Mike, cited "Rockit" as revelatory in the documentary film Scratch, inspiring their interest in the instrument. The record GrandMixer D.ST. used for scratching in Rockit was Change The Beat by B-Side, released in 1982 on Celluloid Records.
The single was a major radio hit in the United Kingdom and a popular dance club song in the United States. The music video, directed by duo Godley & Creme[1] and featuring robot-like sculptures (by Jim Whiting) moving in time to the music, was among the earliest videos to feature African Americans on MTV[original research?] and garnered five MTV Video Music Awards in 1984, including Best Concept Video and Best Special Effects. Hancock himself appears and plays keyboard only as an image on a television, which is smashed on the pavement in the closing shot.
The song is featured in the video games, Dance Dance Revolution UNIVERSE 2 and DJ Hero.
Charts
| Chart (1983) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 71 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Black Singles | 14 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play | 1 |
| Chart (2001) | Peak position |
| Austrian Singles Chart | 7 |
| Dutch Singles Chart | 7 |
| Swedish Singles Chart | 10 |
| Swiss Singles Chart | 4 |
Notes
- ^ Wiederhorn, Jon; Corey Moss (2002-08-26), The Influence Of VMA Breakthroughs, http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1457172/20020826/story.jhtml, retrieved 2009-05-08
External links
| Preceded by "Do It Again Medley with Billie Jean" by Slingshot |
Billboard Hot Dance Club Play number-one single August 27, 1983 – September 17, 1983 |
Succeeded by "Holiday" / "Lucky Star" by Madonna |
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