SPCL GST

"Expect to see someone destroy records," says disc jockey SPCL GST, or Joseph Giampino, when asked what the crowds at Hopscotch could look forward to this year. "I love music, and I love pushing myself. What sets me apart from other DJs is that I DJ from the heart."

This will be SPCL GST's second appearance at Hopscotch. He performed last year in conjunction with Kill the Noise and Treasure Fingers. In his sets, SPCL GST does not leave any genre untouched. He creates beats from soul, hip-hop, synth and electronic music as well as funk, rock and even classic instrumentals. By mixing genres together and coupling them with scratches, he works to create new aural landscapes. The contrasting genres in SPCL GST's music keep his sets not only entertaining but also intriguing, as the listener is exposed to both popular and obscure music and sounds.

SPCL GST got his start back in the '90s, when he was still just a college student. Messing around with his roommate's equipment, he quickly developed a love of the craft and has since become a turntabilist in his own right, paying his dues through crate digging, battling and live shows.

"I was very influenced by the hip-hop and rave scenes, which, you know were popular in the '90s," says SPCL GST. "But, really, I just like going out and showing what you can do with turntables."

Since these early days, he has become a popular Raleigh DJ, with a regular weekly show in the Hive at Busy Bee Cafe. He has also appeared at many clubs throughout North Carolina and has held residencies in Philadelphia and New York City. —Maggie Faircloth