Anyone who wants to learn the art of turntablism can watch a YouTube video or post for tips and instructions on social media. But in the early days of hip-hop, all of the observation and experimentation hinged on the willingness of others to teach what they knew.
For DJ Sean Swift, growing up in Athens was essential to his passion and education.
Swift, born Sean Lindsey in 1971 and raised in the Stonehenge subdivision of Athens, described himself as “the low-key guy” who grew up in the same neighborhood as local scene pioneers like Cedric “Amun-Ra” Huff and Willie Wester. At the time, hip-hop in the Classic City was pure b-boying,” a style of performance art commonly known as breakdancing, and Lindsey took extensive notes on the moves and "dress codes” of the era.