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It was tough to narrow down, but here are my top three DJs:

1. Grandmaster Flash – hip-hop pioneer
2. Kerri Chandler – deep house innovator
3. Andrew Weatherall – eclectic visionary

Get your own DJ setup

If this list inspires you to try mixing yourself, there are plenty of setups to suit every style and budget. Here are three options that cover everything from beginner gear to professional club rigs.

The best DJs in the world

1. Grandmaster Flash (1958 – )

Grandmaster Flash reimagined what turntables could do. In the late ’70s Bronx, he pioneered cutting, scratching, and quick-mix techniques that became the DNA of hip-hop. His block parties gave young Black and Latino communities a new culture built from rhythm and rhyme.

In short, he’s an inventor and teacher, using two turntables and a mixer to spark a global movement.

2. Kerri Chandler (1969 – )

Kerri Chandler is one of the true originals of house music, shaping the sound for over three decades. You play vinyl? Kerri Chandler plays reel-to-reel tape. This art is almost extinct in DJing, yet he still makes it part of his live sets. It shows the care and love he has for his craft.

Chandler also plays piano over his mixes, adding warmth and melody in real time. He gave deep house its soul and proved that a DJ could be both musician and selector.

3. Andrew Weatherall (1963 – 2020)

Andrew Weatherall spent years in the shadows of the UK scene, quietly underpinning everything that made our underground so rich. His sets could move from Balearic to dub techno, from post-punk to shoegaze; it was never predictable. And yet it was always perfectly judged.

Beyond the booth, Weatherall’s remixes and productions for bands like Primal Scream and My Bloody Valentine gave him an edge as a DJ that cemented his place in UK music history.

This entry is sadly posthumous, but his legacy lives on. Each year at Houghton Festival, works of art are displayed to honour him, a lasting tribute to a life completely given to music.

4. Frankie Knuckles (1955 – 2014)

Frankie Knuckles turned Chicago’s Warehouse into a sanctuary where music, freedom, and identity came together.

His sets married disco and soul, effectively laying down the heartbeat of house music. But he was more than just a DJ; he gave the city’s Black LGBTQ+ community a soundtrack and a space to be themselves, which was a salvation in the 1980s. His friend Larry Levan was doing the same in New York, and between them they lit the spark that carried house music across the world.

5. Annie Mac (1978 – )

Annie Mac built her reputation step by step before landing her long-running BBC Radio 1 residency. She’s one of the UK’s most successful DJs. Her sets feature pop-leaning house selections and techy cuts, catering to a wide audience whilst retaining a genuine passion for the underground.

What makes Annie Mac special, though, is the way she uses her platform to inspire and give opportunities to new DJs on the scene. She invites up-and-coming and obscure DJs onto her shows and gives new music a spotlight, bringing fresh sounds to new ears. Millions who might never have found them otherwise! For countless listeners, Annie Mac was their first doorway into club culture.

6. Fatboy Slim (1963 – )

As you’d expect, the cheekiest chap in British music came from Kent. Norman Cook began in bands before developing a love for synthesisers and electronic sounds, a path that would eventually make him a household name.

With a playful approach behind the decks (whether it was a Brighton beach party or a global stage), he grew into an incredible DJ and the figurehead of British dance music in the late ’90s and early 2000s.

7. Skratch Bastid (1982 – )

Skratch Bastid started out in Canada’s battle scene, where he cut his way through competitions. Those early wins gave him a name, but it was his festival sets that really made him popular, mixing hip-hop, funk, and party classics.

What people love is the energy he brings. He never hides behind the decks; he’s engaging, playful, and clearly having as much fun as the crowd. Offstage, Skratch Bastid puts time into workshops and community projects, making sure turntablism is not just remembered as a past era but passed on to new DJs finding their feet.

8. DJ Jazzy Jeff (1965 – )

DJ Jazzy Jeff first came to fame alongside Will Smith in DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince. However, long before the TV show spotlight, he was really pushing turntablism forward in Philadelphia with his wild scratch routines. He treated the decks like an instrument, using his impeccable timing, rhythm, and soul to rewrite what could be done on a pair of turntables.

Decades on from those early hits, Jazzy Jeff is still touring, still innovating, and still showing crowds real craftsmanship behind the decks. And to keep up with this level of continuous innovation, he’s never stuck to one era; rather, his live sets combine classic hip-hop with more current influences and styles. 

Jazzy Jeff is also a mentor for younger artists, sharing his knowledge with those who look up to him as one of the greats of hip-hop and keeping turntablism alive.

9. Jeff Mills (1963 – )

Forged in the fires of Motor City, Jeff Mills is arguably one of the most important figureheads of US techno. Known early on as “The Wizard” during his Detroit radio days, his rapid-fire mixing and daring selections set him apart from the start.

He went on to co-found Underground Resistance, giving techno a political edge, with a style that shifts from heavy, darker electro and techno to more upbeat sounds like house or hardgroove. Mills is still known for running three turntables at once—always with surgical precision.

10. Sonja Moonear (1978 – )

Sonja Moonear has a deep, dubby, and slick minimal style. She runs her own label, Ruta5, and has long been connected with Perlon, one of the most respected imprints in electronic music. These associations, and her careful approach to selection, have made her a fixture on the underground circuit.

Beyond the booth, she has worked across production and sound design, but the club remains her natural home. And if Moonear couldn’t get any more impressive, she actually trained as a pianist in Geneva and brings that grounding into everything she does.

11. Martin Garrix (1996 – )

I’ve included Martin Garrix on this list because of how successful and popular he’s become globally. Voted the world’s number one DJ multiple times by DJ Mag, he has built a career around large-scale EDM productions and stadium shows that attract massive audiences.

His focus is on accessibility and scale rather than technical DJ craft, and it’s this dominance in the numbers game that earns him a place on this list.

FAQs

Can DJs make a living?

DJs can make a living, but it usually takes years of dedication and persistence. Most start by treating it as a hobby or passion before it becomes financially viable, and only a small percentage reach the level where it pays as a full-time career.

Who is the greatest DJ of all time?

There is no single greatest DJ of all time because DJing is subjective and rooted in personal taste. Different DJs have pioneered different styles, and many have shaped the culture in unique ways, which is why it’s more about influence than competition.

What equipment do professional DJs use?

Professional DJs use a mix of controllers, CDJs, mixers, and turntables depending on their style. Industry standards include Pioneer’s CDJ-3000, Technics SL-1210 turntables, and Rane controllers. Many also use laptops with software such as Serato or Traktor.

Final thoughts

There’s no single way to define the best DJs in the world. This list simply reflects a mix of artists who, in different ways, have left their mark on dance culture.

At the end of the day, it’s subjective, but this is my list of pioneers and influences who have inspired me as a DJ.