The DJ "cut song" has always been a dedication to the DJ in a given crew, which allowed them to showcase their cuts and scratches over an instrumental beat that, many times, the DJ themselves produced. Other times, the MCs from the group would dedicate a song to their DJ boasting about their skillset on the ones-and-twos. These songs were usually contained on full length albums, and at one point, they were as commonplace on a rap album as the rap ballad or socially conscious song. Here are 25 dedications to the DJ.

#25 Moe Luv's Theme - Ultramagnetic MC's 1988

This DJ dedication song is from "Critical Beatdown", one of underground rap music's most celebrated albums from one of it's greatest crews the Ultramagnetic MC's. "Moe Luv's Theme" is one of rap's more energetic DJ dedication songs with Kool Keith celebrating the talents of DJ Moe Luv over the "Pussy Footer" break beat. Moe Luv is on the mix tonight!

#24 AJ Scratch - Kurtis Blow 1984

From Kurtis Blow's, 1984 album, Ego Trip. "AJ Scratch" with its infectious hook was a huge hit from the album that included "8 Million Stories", and "Basketball". The song was a dedication to late DJ and promoter DJ AJ. Kurtis also gives an early history lesson on Hip-Hop DJ's.

#23 Sucker DJ's - Dimples D. 1983

Queensbridge legend Dimples D. is one of Marley Marl's first recorded MC's. This dedication was a play on Run-DMC's Sucker Mc's down to the cadence and drum beat. The accapella of Sucker DJ's provided Marley with a scratch that would become his signature for years come.

#22 Spinderella's Not A Fella (But A Girl DJ) - Salt n Pepa 1988

From Salt N Pepa's sophomore album "A Salt With A Deadly Pepa". "Spinderella's not a fella but a girl dj" is a line from "Beauty & The Beat" a dedication to The Original Spinderella from their debut album. Spin kills it on "Spinderella's Not A fella" over a James Brown loop. Arguably one of the best cuts on the album.

#21 Play That Beat Mr. DJ - MC G.L.O.B.E. 1983

One of Hip-Hop's first DJ dedication tracks from MC G.L.O.B.E. from the Soul Sonic Force. G.L.O.B.E. crafts a classic ode to his DJ the late Whiz Kid over a synthesizer driven track. Whiz Kid displays various cuts and scratches as G.L.O.B.E. him to "play it" for the Punk Rock, Hip Hop etc. There are three version of this classic which provide different cuts for each version. Cut it up Whiz, cut it up!! Classic.

#20 My Cut's Correct - U.T.F.O. 1989

U.T.F.O.'s Mix Master Ice is one of Hip Hop's most prolific DJ's and he absolutely shows his ass whenever he's given the chance. "My Cut's Correct" is from the group's fourth album "Doin' It". Unlike other DJ dedication records Ice actually rhymes about himself for the entire song and handles the cuts and scratches. Check the "morse code" scratch at the end of the song.

#19 Howie's Teed Off - The Real Roxanne 1986

The Roxanne era produced many new artists, but an extremely small percentage of them did anything after answering U.T.F.O.'s ground breaking record. The Real Roxanne went on to record two full length albums and several singles, with "Howie's Tee'd Off" being one of them. As Roxanne sang about the dopeness of her DJ - Brooklyn's Hitman Howie Tee, Howie showed off his "swing scratch" and several other techniques that many up and coming DJ's studied closely.

#18 He's My DJ - Sparky Dee - 1985

Brooklyn battle MC Sparky Dee released "He's My DJ" as a dedication to legendary Zulu Nation and KISS 98 DJ Red Alert. Red cuts up "Good Times", "Johnny The Fox" and "Catch A Groove" to perfection over a Spyder D produced beat. "He's My DJ" would be just one of many dedication tracks by several artists to the legendary DJ.

#17 Girls Love The Way He Spins - Grandmaster Flash 1985

From the 1985 album "They Said It Couldn't Be Done". The group had split into two factions on this album and this side was simply known as Grandmaster Flash. "Girls Love The Way He Spins" is one of rap music's least talked about DJ dedication tracks and one of its most sophisticated. Flash cuts African records, Eddie Murphy routines and Earth Wind & Fire songs over a track produced by R&B singer,songwriter and producer Gavin Christopher. An incredible "comeback" by Grandmaster Flash.

#16 The Music Maker - Cash Money & Marvelous 1988

On top of a track that he produced, Philly's DJ Cash Money shows why he's one of the best to ever do it. On "The Music Maker" from Cash Money and Marvelous' debut album "Where's The Party At?" Cash teaches a master class in cutting, scratching and transforming. Your favorite DJ's DJ and DMC champion created a blueprint that many still follow today.

#15 Go Cut Creator Go - L.L. COOL J 1987

Fromm LL COOL J's sophomore album, Bigger And Deffer, this single showcased the incredible talents of Bobcat of The L,A, Posse who produced the album. Over a sample of "Johnny B Goode" by Chuck Berry Bobcat and Cut Creator cut L's classic '"Rock The Bells" and "Slow & Low" by The Beastie Boys.

#14 King Kut - Word Of Mouth & D.J. Cheese 1985

New Jersey's Word of Mouth featuring the incredible D.J. Cheese hit the scene with a bang delivering their debut single "King Kut", an ode to their D.J. Produced by Duke Bootee (writer of The Message by Grandmaster Flash & The Furious 5), and released on his Beauty & The Beat Records, 1986 DMC World Dj Champion DJ Cheese obliterates the "Change The Beat" scratch as well as phrases from Run-DMC's "Jam Master Jay". King Kut stands the test of time and still sounds as groundbreaking today as it did in 1985.

#13 Rockin' Music - Steady B - 1987

On their sophomore album "What's My Name" Philly giants Steady B and Tat Money continued the reign that they initiated on their debut "Bring The Beat Back". Tat's DJ cut song "Rockin' Music" utilized everything from The Blackbyrds and the O'jays to the Speak & Spell electronic talking toy. An incredible song from an equally incredible album.

#12 He Cuts So Fresh - Marley Marl feat. M.C. Shan 1987

Originally a DJ cut song from the "Uptown's Kickin It" compilation, "He Cuts So Fresh" displays the ingenuity of DJ Marley Marl as both a producer and DJ. The remix adds his MC, MC Shan who rhymes about the greatness of his DJ. Marley is a master of pasting vocal cuts and scratches to create montages, and "He Cuts So Fresh" illustrates this perfectly.

#11 Cool V's Tribute To Scratching 1988

Biz Markie's dedication track to his DJ from his 1988 debut full length album Goin' Off. V produced the track and cuts up vocals from Big Daddy Kane's "Something Funky" and incorporates the "What's On Your Mind" break beat as the hook. "Cool V's Tribute To Scratching" remains one of Hip-Hop's great DJ dedication tracks. R.I.P. Biz.

#10 Jam Master Jay - Run-D.M.C. 1984

Run-DMC's second single is an ode to the late great Jam Master Jay. Musically based around the "Scratching" break beat and produced by the late great super producer Larry Smith, this dedication track shows why JMJ is regarded as one of Hip-Hop's most solid DJ's on record and on stage. Because the song has no snare drum it was regarded as odd at the time. Sal Abbatiello of The Disco Fever told The Foundation: "When we played 'Jam Master Jay' for the first time in the club, nobody danced. They just stood in amazement because the song was so different."

#9 Marley Marl Scratch - Marley Marl feat. M.C. Shan - 1985

Released in 1985 on NIA Records "Marley Marl Scratch" was a DJ dedication unlike any other up until that point. Marley took the acapella from "Sucker DJ's" and created the signature scratch of his name which would be used in several records later, while Shan described in detail what made Marley a great DJ.

#8 Terminator X To The Edge of Panic - Public Enemy 1988

From what has been celebrated as the greatest rap album in history; "It Takes A Nation of Millions To Hold Us Back". "Terminator X To The Edge of Panic" is a DJ dedication done as only P.E. could. "Police, wild beasts, dogs on a leash - no piece to reach that's' why he's packin' his black piece", Chuck yells over a backwards "Rebel Without A Pause" loop. Classic material. Terminator X It!

#7 Mega Mix II: Why Is It Fresh - Grandmixer D.ST - 1984

A classic sequel from the man who influenced generations of turntablists on Herbie Hancock's "Rock It". "Why Is It Fresh" is a DJ dedication and a mega mix of songs from D.ST's label Celluloid Records. The Infinity Rappers big up D.ST as he cuts up Kurtis Blow's "Tough" for the simple but extremely effective hook. D.ST once again proves that he is one of the genres best and brightest.

#6 Leader of The Pack - U.T.F.O. 1985

Arguably one of Hip-Hop's greatest DJ dedications from U.T.F.O.'s self titled debut album. "Leader Of The Pack" highlights the incredible skill set of Mix Master Ice from its incredible intro until the operator at the end announces that "Your scratching is up." Dr. Ice, Educated Rapper and Kangol Kid detail the skills of "The Ninja" Mix Master Ice with lines like "All across the metropolitan USA everybody with a mouths talkin' 'bout a DJ - Mixmaster DJ Ice, to be precise the boy is nice." R.I.P. Educated Rapper and Kangol Kid.

#5 The Move - JVC Force 1988

This DJ cut from Strong Island's JVC Force was a sleeper on their 1988 debut album "Doin' Damage", but it's an incredible song. D.J. Curt Cazal crafts a masterpiece complete with cut up verbal snippets from his MC's AJ Rock and B Luv as well as Whistle, Biz Markie and MC Shan. "The Move" is structured like an actual song with an intro, hooks and a bridge. A true masterpiece.

#4 One For The Treble - Davy DMX 1984

Davy DMX has done it all. The former DJ of both Kurtis Blow and Run-DMC and bass player with the legendary band Orange Krush played on some of rap's biggest hits including "Jail House Rap" by The Fat Boys and "Dollar Bill Yall" by Jimmy Spicer. He played bass guitar, programmed the Oberheim DMX drum machine and performed all of the scratches on his 1984 solo cut song "One For The Treble". His cutting of Run-DMC's classic line "Dave cut the record down to the bone" (a reference to himself) paired with his scratches of Bob James' "Take me To Mardis Gras" and the Gap Bands "Burn Rubber" create a sonic masterpiece and a certified Hip Hop classic.

#3 DJ Premier In Deep Concentration 1989

DJ Premier remains one of the most prolific producer/DJ 's in Hip-Hop. His early genius is evident on the DJ cut song "DJ Premier In Deep Concentration." Preemo produces and cuts on this classic combination of "Summer Madness", elements of "Marley Scratch" and snippets of "I Ain't No Joke" by Eric B. and Rakim. "Deep Concentration" is easily one of the most creative DJ cut songs and one of Premier's best early productions.

#2 The Magnificent Jazzy Jeff - Jazzy Jeff And The Fresh Prince 1987

"The Magnificent Jazzy Jeff" from Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince's 1987 album "Rock The House" was a literal instructional song on cutting, scratching and something called Transforming that most of us had never heard. This DJ dedication was an introduction to the greatness that is DJ Jazzy Jeff. Jeff and The Fresh Prince had released singles previously, but Jeff's participation was minimal on those. When the Fresh Prince tells the story of Jeff turning into an autobot (Transformer) and instructs him to transform, a new DJ technique was named and born to those outside of Philadelphia. He then instructs Jeff to make the record sound like a bird, and to chirp. This song was the first of many jaw dropping recorded performances by D.J. Jazzy Jeff.

#1 The Adventures of Grandmaster Flash On The Wheels of Steel - Grandmaster Flash 1981

This is the genesis - a musical big bang if you will. The birth of the cut record. Grandmaster Flash introduced those outside of the boroughs of New York to cutting and scratching on 1981's "Adventures Of Grandmaster Flash On The Wheels Of Steel." This was our first time hearing actual records on a record. Flash displays all of his theories on this record - the clock theory, phasing and the quick mix. In 2003 Flash told JayQuan of The Foundation: "it took 3 takes .The first was just getting familiar with moving from one turntable to the next - the dexterity .The second time was getting even more familiar , and the third time I just locked it in." Hearing "Good Times", "Another One Bites The Dust" and "Rapture" cut up, mixed and scratched signaled to a generation that something new was on the horizon. Flash one time.