DJ Scratch

DJ Scratch was introduced to EPMD by Jam Master Jay at the Run's House Tour after DJ K LA Boss left EPMD.{{cite web| url= https://hot963.com/688701/rapper-dmc-bestows-jam-master-title-upon-dj-scratch/|title=Rapper DMC Bestows 'Jam Master' Title Upon DJ Scratch| website=hot963.com |date=July 8, 2010 |access-date=June 24, 2019}}{{cite web| url= https://www.thewordisbond.com/walker-wear-producer-series-dj-scratch/|title=Walker Wear Producer Series – DJ Scratch • Word Is Bond| website=thewordisbond.com |date=January 22, 2015 |access-date=June 24, 2019}}{{cite web| url= https://riotsound.com/interview/dj-scratch/|title=DJ Scratch Interview: Cuttin' Up The Game| website=riotsound.com |access-date=June 24, 2019}} Impressed by his skills, the two designated DJ Scratch as their official D.J. by their second album Unfinished Business in 1989. His presence was felt with his powerful cutting and scratching techniques that are heard on various tracks. Aside from scratching, on Business As Usual, he produced the track "Funky Piano", "Rampage" and in 1991 worked on a remix for "I'm Mad" off the "Rampage" 12" single.{{cite web| url= https://www.hongkonghustle.com/music/24164/dj-scratch-epmd-interview-hk/|title=Interview W DJ Scratch Of EPMD Performing At PLAY – Saturday!| website=hongkonghustle.com |date=July 26, 2016 |access-date=June 24, 2019}}

In 1992, Scratch produced "Scratch Bring It Back, Pt. 2 (Mic Doc)" and briefly worked with his cousin DJ Magic Mike{{cite web |last1=Torsten Schmidt |first1=Emma Warren |title=DJ Magic Mike |url=https://www.redbullmusicacademy.com/lectures/dj-magic-mike-boot-the-bass |website=redbullmusicacademy.com |publisher=Red Bull |access-date=November 25, 2021}}{{cite web |title=D.J. MAGIC MIKE, ORLANDO'S RAP MAESTRO BRANCHING OUT |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-1994-09-11-9409070683-story.html |website=orlandosentinel.com |date=September 11, 1994 |publisher=Orlando Sentinel |access-date=November 25, 2021}} after EPMD broke up. Soon Scratch made a name for himself as a producer for Busta Rhymes and the Flipmode Squad off Busta's debut album in 1996.{{cite web| url= http://www.crazypellas.net/mainstream-music-20/dj-scratch-face-off-interview-14351/|title=DJ Scratch: Face Off – Interview| website=crazypellas.net |access-date=June 24, 2019}} By 2003 DJ Scratch became a well distinguished and revered hip-hop producer after working with 50 Cent, LL Cool J, Talib Kweli, Pharoahe Monch, DMX, The Roots, Q-Tip and other notable acts.{{cite web| url= https://swaysuniverse.com/dj-scratch-sway-in-the-morning-mix/|title=DJ Scratch Sway In The Morning Mix| website=swaysuniverse.com |access-date=June 24, 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://allhiphop.com/features/dj-scratch-face-off-IzS5vQsBfEmWMMqRNPKOeQ/|title=DJ Scratch: Face Off|website=www.allhiphop.com|first=AllHipHop|last=STAFF|date=May 29, 2006|quote=The former EPMD DJ unveils his identity. Whether it's lacing hits for Busta Rhymes and LL Cool J, or popping wheelies, the face is revealed and the game is real.|access-date=December 17, 2019|archive-date=December 17, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191217170047/https://allhiphop.com/features/dj-scratch-face-off-IzS5vQsBfEmWMMqRNPKOeQ/|url-status=dead}}

Scratch was the resident DJ for three nationally aired TV Shows: Hip Hop Hold Em{{'}}, Fox 5's Uptown Comedy Club and B.E.T.'s Rap City: The Basement. Scratch's film credits include Juice, The Original 50 Cent, Backstage, Fly By Night, Rhyme & Reason and Spike Lee's film Bamboozled. In addition, Coca-Cola commissioned Scratch to produce & feature in their first DJ commercial, "3 DJs".{{cite web| url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvdXPv_9gzk |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/uvdXPv_9gzk| archive-date=December 12, 2021 |url-status=live|title=Coca-Cola commercial with DJ Magic Mike & DJ Scratch| website=youtube.com |date=August 24, 2015 |access-date=June 24, 2019}}{{cbignore}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.djscratch.com/biography.html |title=DJ Scratch |access-date=January 3, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161106221350/http://www.djscratch.com/biography.html |archive-date=November 6, 2016 |url-status=dead }}

According to PMD of EPMD, DJ Scratch left the group in 2015.{{cite web| url=https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.46946/title.epmds-parish-smith-talks-yo-mtv-raps-reunion-dj-scratch-fallout|title=EPMD's Parish Smith Talks "Yo! MTV Raps" Reunion & DJ Scratch Fallout|first=Kyle|last=Eustice|date=May 22, 2018| website=hiphopdx.com |access-date=June 24, 2019}} Scratch posted on his Instagram page words of resentment towards former participants on January 2, 2017.{{cite web| url= https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.41878/title.dj-scratch-airs-out-epmd-for-being-too-cheap-to-pay-him|title=DJ Scratch Clarifies Why He Aired Out EPMD On Instagram|first=Trent|last=Clark|date=January 2, 2017| website=hiphopdx.com |access-date=June 24, 2019}}{{cite web| url= https://hiphopwired.com/531005/dj-scratch-epmd-beef/|title=DJ Scratch Airs Out EPMD For Stiffing Him On Money (by D.L. Chandler) (January 3, 2017)| website=hiphopwired.com |date=January 3, 2017 |access-date=June 24, 2019}}

In 2016, DJ Scratch helped fill in for A Tribe Called Quest's DJ Ali Shaheed Muhammad on their final album We Got It from Here... Thank You 4 Your Service due to Ali producing the soundtrack for the Luke Cage TV series with Adrian Younge at the time.

As of 2022, Scratch hosts The DJ Scratch Show on LL Cool J’s Rock The Bells Radio, which is a station on Sirius XM. It is a mix show that features the DJ curating a selection of classic hip-hop.{{Cite web |title=Legendary beat maker DJ Scratch has new SiriusXM radio show |url=https://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/entertainment/2022/04/21/legendary-beat-maker-dj-scratch-has-new-siriusxm-radio-show |access-date=2023-02-05 |website=www.ny1.com |language=en}}

Scratch calls Grandmaster Flash his mentor.{{cite web|url=http://globalspin365.com/dj-scratch-shows-his-skills-and-speaks-on-his-life-in-an-interview-with-hot-97s-dj-enuff/|title=DJ SCRATCH SHOWS HIS SKILLS AND SPEAKS ON HIS LIFE, IN AN INTERVIEW WITH HOT 97'S DJ ENUFF|website=globalspin365.com|access-date=June 24, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190625230528/http://globalspin365.com/dj-scratch-shows-his-skills-and-speaks-on-his-life-in-an-interview-with-hot-97s-dj-enuff/|archive-date=June 25, 2019|url-status=dead}}

File:DJScratchOct05.jpg

• 1988 — New Music Seminar Battle For World Supremacy DJ champion{{cite book| url= https://books.google.com/books?id=sB3SAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA284|title=Ego Trip's Book of Rap Lists (2014) – page 284|isbn=978-1-4668-6697-3|access-date=June 24, 2019|last1=Jenkins|first1=Sacha|last2=Wilson|first2=Elliott|last3=Mao|first3=Jeff|last4=Alvarez|first4=Gabe|last5=Rollins|first5=Brent|date=March 25, 2014|publisher=St. Martin's Publishing }}
• 2010 — Master of the Mix winner{{cite press release| url= https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-master-of-the-mix-isdj-scratch-112375964.html|title=The Master of the Mix is...DJ Scratch!| website=prnewswire.com |access-date=June 24, 2019}}
• 2012, 2013 & 2014 — Global Spin Awards' "Turntablist Of The Year"{{cite web| url= http://globalspinawards.com/2018-nominees/past-winners/|title=2017 – 2012 GSA WINNERS LIST BELOW| website=globalspinawards.com |access-date=June 24, 2019}}

;DJ Scratch-produced works nominated for a Grammy award:

• Busta Rhymes — song "Gimme Some More" (1998) ("Best Rap Solo Performance")
• Busta Rhymes — album E.L.E. (Extinction Level Event): The Final World Front (1998) ("Best Rap Album")
• The Roots — album Phrenology (2002) ("Best Rap Album")

;Albums, produced by DJ Scratch, which were certified Gold in United States:

• EPMD — Unfinished Business (1989)
• EPMD — Business as Usual (1990)
• EPMD — Business Never Personal (1992)
• EPMD — Back in Business (1997)
• Flipmode Squad — The Imperial (1998)
• Q-Tip — Amplified (1999)
• Funkmaster Flex & Big Kap — The Tunnel (1999)
• LL Cool J — G.O.A.T. (2000)
• Busta Rhymes — It Ain't Safe No More... (2002)
• The Roots — Phrenology (2002)
• Talib Kweli — Quality (2002)

;Albums, produced by DJ Scratch, which were certified Platinum in United States:

• Busta Rhymes — The Coming (1996)
• Busta Rhymes — When Disaster Strikes (1997)
• Busta Rhymes — E.L.E. (Extinction Level Event): The Final World Front (1998)
• DJ Clue — The Professional (1998)
• Method Man & Redman — Blackout! (1999)
• Busta Rhymes — Anarchy (2000)
• DMX — Grand Champ (2003)

{{Main|DJ Scratch production discography}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{Commons category-inline}}
• {{Discogs artist|DJ Scratch}}
• {{Discogs artist|George Spivey|George Spivey}}
• {{IMDb name|0780087|DJ Scratch}}
• [https://genius.com/artists/Dj-scratch DJ Scratch] at Rapgenius
• {{URL|http://www.scratchvision.com|Official website DJ Scratch}}
• [http://www.namm.org/library/oral-history/dj-scratch DJ Scratch Interview] at NAMM Oral History Collection (June 19, 2017)

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Category:1968 births

Category:Living people

Category:American hip-hop DJs

Category:African-American DJs

Category:Musicians from Brooklyn

Category:East Coast hip-hop musicians

Category:African-American record producers

Category:American hip-hop record producers

Category:EPMD members

Category:Record producers from New York (state)

Category:21st-century African-American people

Category:20th-century African-American people

Category:Hit Squad members