Hoping to release the definitive “history of the scratch” compilation, Sequence Records (home to other hip-hop DJ anthologies such as Dan The Automator’s Wanna Buy A Monkey? and Babu’s Duck Season) recruits the X-Ecutioners to put it down. One of the most visible crews in turntablism, the X-Ecutioners have graced the big screen (in Doug Pray’s documentary Scratch), and even made it to MTV and arenas around the world with their Linkin Park duet. But more importantly, all three X-E members-Rob Swift, Roc Raida and Total Eclipse-put NYC turntablism on the map with their dope mix tapes and inventive battle routines. Scratchology covers most of the essential old school scratch cuts, including Grandmaster Flash’s “The Adventures of Grandmaster Flash on the Wheels of Steels” and Herbie Hancock’s “Rock It,” featuring Grandmaster DXT. Homage is paid to scratching’s inventor, Grand Wizard Theodore (“Military Cut”) and Philly’s scratch innovator, Cash Money (“Ugly People Be Quiet”). The mid-’90s gets love with the inclusion of some funky scratch jams like 3rd Bass’s “Product of the Environment” remix featuring DJ Richie Rich, while Q-Bert and D-Styles’s “Razorblade Alcohol Slide” and the Beat Junkies’ “Dilated Junkies” exhibit just how far the scratch has come with the very best virtuosos of our time flexing on the cut. Overall, Scratchology is a solid overview for anyone interested in the musical history of the turntable as an instrument.