1/3 beatboxer, 1/3 vocal turntablist, and 1/3 organic producer, member of The Roots, Scratch (real name: George Spivey) brings his unique vocal stylings to ropeadope with his first solo release, the embodiment of instrumentation.



Scratch was introduced to EPMD by Joseph Simmons (Run) at the Run's House Tour after DJ K LA Boss left Erick and Parrish. Impressed by his skills, the two designated DJ Scratch as their official DJ 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" and in 1991 worked on a remix for "I'm Mad" off the Rampage 12" single. In 1992 Scratch produced "Scratch Bring It Back, Pt. 2 (Mic Doc)" and breifly worked with DJ Magic Mike after EPMD broke up. Soon Scratch made a name for himself as a producer for Busta Rhymes and the Flipmode Squad off the Busta's Coming album in 1996.



Scratch joined The Roots when they met him at a talent show.



Scratch has performed live with De La Soul, Pink, Jay-Z, Jill Scott, Jaguar, Mos Def, and is a member of grammy award-winning hip hop band The Roots, Scratch steps to the front, leaving instruments and effects behind, for a vocally driven album featuring Jill Scott, Black Thought and Malik B (of The Roots), Bilal, Rich Medina, and a whole crew of underground Philly cats including Flo Brown, Schools Of Thought, Dice Raw and more.



The organic producer: "Every beat on the embodiment of instrumentation was specially crafted with a vocalist's personal style in mind." Explains Scratch: "U know the rulez," the album's lead single, was a beat Scratch created for black thought and fellow roots crew member Malik B.



"When I started working on the beat for "square one," I knew Bilal would sing on that track, too." Recording each beat in one take, Scratch refused to punch in vocals or loop his beats or Scratches. He brought in horns and congas on "that's what we talkin' about" and trombone and guitar on "breath of fresh air," and the result is raw beats and hot melodies in which the listener looses sense of which sounds Scratch is making and which he's not. Where the dj at?



Craving the hip hop sounds he could only hear 2 hours a day on the radio, Scratch learned to imitate not just beats, but the sounds interspersed with his radio listening, such as moms calling him for dinner, doors creaking, cats screaming, and of course, the djs Scratching. Inspired by doug e fresh, darren "the human beat box" robinson (of the fat boys), and michael winslow (of police academy fame), Scratch developed a unique style that mimics the turntablist's vinyl movement. He listened to records carefully, moving them back and forth at different speeds, learning how to recreate the sounds.



"I wanted to sound convincing, so people would hear me and be like "where the dj at?" "you ain't ready," Scratch explains when asked about his arsenal of sound weaponry. Neither were The Roots when they first ran into Scratch in 1990 at a philadelphia talent show held at the urban education center. The Roots and Scratch were in awe of one another as Scratch performed with his other crew, schoolz of thought and went head to head with the band then known as the square roots. Scratch and his crew won the contest and won The Roots attention.



His first track with the band, "? Versus Scratch," pit him against roots' drummer Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson on Illadelph Halflife. Scratch has been a band member ever since, touring relentlessly throughout the united states and the world.