Niel Scobie

Niel Scobie is a DJ, producer, and scholar with over 30 years of professional experience. In his turntablism courses, students develop foundational DJ techniques – such as scratching and beat-mixing – while engaging the cultural and historical contexts of the music. Niel holds a PhD in Media Studies from Western University. His doctoral research examined the relationship between Toronto’s early hip-hop scene and Jamaican sound system culture, bridging practice-based knowledge with critical scholarship. A foundational figure in Vancouver’s hip-hop scene, Niel performed at pivotal events and battles and was a presence on radio during the culture’s formative years in the city. As a producer, his work earned Juno Award nominations for Rap Recording of the Year, and he has shared stages with artists including The Roots, De La Soul, and George Clinton.