At one point the term Crate Digging was not as ambiguous as it is today. A modern (re)interpretation is long overdue.

the definition of Crate Digging.

...yet this isn't written in stone.

What is crate digging to you?

for example:

• Is it the same as it ever was?
• Do you think it's become loosely redefined over the past few decades?
• Is it open to interpretation or is this a black and white thing?
• Is it now synonymous with record collecting or any other physical media collecting?
• Is it simply music appreciation or is there more to it?

Please Leave your comments here.

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“Lesser artists borrow... great artists steal.” - Igor Stravinsky
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Very cool post. Nice Showbiz & AG reference as well!

For me the definition usually refers to shopping for records, but not necessarily looking for a specific record or records. I can take credit for this but someone once said "record shopping is about letting the records find you". I like that approach and it's what I mostly do when searching for old vinyl, though there are times when I will just buy specific things that are on a very long wantlist. However, part of the way to discover new music is to check out things you might not ordinarily buy. That's how I ended up with an LP by say, Azar Lawrence. I can assure you I never would've had that on any sort of formal wantlist, but hey, the cover looked cool, it was 70s jazz (which I like) and the store had a Vestax Handytrax in the back so I could check it out. Ended up taking home the record with some others. That is cratedigging to me.

Now I am all for music discovery in a broad sense but I don't consider that cratedigging. I also am not tied to vinyl only as a format, so I'm not any kind of purist either. I have way more CDs than vinyl simply due to space/convenience issues and the fact that some of the stuff I like is way too expensive for me to own on wax. I've even started buying lossless downloads of some stuff out sheer convenience or unavailability on other formats.

I would also agree with you that not all hip hop crate diggers buy stuff just to sample. I think I saw an interview with Easy Mo Bee awhile back and he said he just likes to sit and listen to his records when he has time.

Thanks for adding on LM, great points.

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"record shopping is about letting the records find you".

Well put. No doubt about it. Sometimes I know why I am at a store, to buy a specific title that I know is sitting there, and get sidetracked and find some harder to find stuff so I opt out of the original record I planned on buying. You gotta go with the flow, go with your gut. That record I went there for is still there. Now the trick is I need to buy it before it gets hard to find and goes up in asking price. Sometimes that comes way too soon.

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“Lesser artists borrow... great artists steal.” - Igor Stravinsky
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rchecka
Thanks for adding on LM, great points.

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"record shopping is about letting the records find you".

That record I went there for is still there. Now the trick is I need to buy it before it gets hard to find and goes up in asking price. Sometimes that comes way too soon.

Been there for sure. Often times what I'm looking for will come around again at a price I'm willing to pay. Other times, it just doesn't happen.

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To be honest I'm start quit on my create digging and starting serious record culls over the years.

The first big one was a few years ago when I was to the USA. I got rid of a whole bunch of doubles, and made enough money to pay for my flight, visa, shipping of all my stuff (mainly records) and a new computer, prompting the standard money-laundering email enquiry from PayPal.

I also got rid of a load 3 years ago, before my son was born - I was taking a back seat from DJing to concentrate on the family, and we needed to vacate my studio to make a new bedroom - the wife insisted ALL my records go into storage, but I was having none of it. We compromised, and most of my records moved into our hallway, with a bunch of crates in storage. I sold 8 or more crates at a stupidly low price just to get shot of them, but it was mainly 2000-2007ish indie rubbish.

I've been slowly sneaking new old records back into our house bit by bit, hoping my wife doesn't notice.

I have never had a cull per se but I did leave 1500 records in the UK when went to the USA. That enabled me to start again so to speak, or carry on without any guilt or storage problems (or wife hassle). Probably added 400 since moving. Everything is stored in flight cases this days ahead of future moves. I know that did not answer directly the question but just thought I'd add my bit

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