DJ Scratch
George Spivey (born June 21, 1968), professionally known as DJ Scratch, is an American three-time Grammy-nominated hip hop disc jockey (DJ) and multi-platinum record producer from Brooklyn, New York.[1]
DJ Scratch | |
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DJ Scratch at a gig in Berlin in February 2008 | |
Background information | |
Birth name | George Spivey |
Also known as | Jam Master DJ Scratch |
Born | Brooklyn, New York, United States | June 21, 1968
Origin | Brooklyn, New York, United States |
Genres | Hip hop |
Occupation(s) | |
Instruments | |
Years active | 1985-present |
Associated acts | |
Website | www |
DJ Scratch is the 1988 New Music Seminar Battle For World Supremacy DJ champion, the 2010 Master of the Mix winner and the 2012, 2013 & 2014 Global Spin Awards' "Turntablist Of The Year". 19 albums produced by DJ Scratch were certified Gold in United States, 7 of them were certified as Platinum.
Career
DJ Scratch was introduced to EPMD by Jam Master Jay at the Run's House Tour after DJ K LA Boss left EPMD.[2][3][4] 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.[5]
In 1992 Scratch produced "Scratch Bring It Back, Pt. 2 (Mic Doc)" and briefly 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 Busta's debut album in 1996.[6] 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.[7][8]
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".[9][10]
According to Parish Smith, an EPMD member, DJ Scratch left the group in 2015.[11] Scratch posted on his Instagram page words of resentment towards former participants on January 2, 2017.[12][13]
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.
Scratch calls Grandmaster Flash his mentor.[14]
Awards and nominations
- 1988 — New Music Seminar Battle For World Supremacy DJ champion[15]
- 2010 — Master of the Mix winner[16]
- 2012, 2013 & 2014 — Global Spin Awards' "Turntablist Of The Year"[17]
- 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)
- Monica — After the Storm (2003)
- 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)
Discography
References
- Price, III Ph.D., Emmett G. (210). Hip-Hop Culture. Coughlan Publishing. p. 23. ISBN 1-4296-4016-2. Retrieved 18 March 2011.
- "Rapper DMC Bestows 'Jam Master' Title Upon DJ Scratch". hot963.com. Retrieved 2019-06-24.
- "Walker Wear Producer Series - DJ Scratch • Word Is Bond". thewordisbond.com. Retrieved 2019-06-24.
- "DJ Scratch Interview: Cuttin' Up The Game". riotsound.com. Retrieved 2019-06-24.
- "Interview W DJ Scratch Of EPMD Performing At PLAY – Saturday!". hongkonghustle.com. Retrieved 2019-06-24.
- "DJ Scratch: Face Off - Interview". crazypellas.net. Retrieved 2019-06-24.
- "DJ Scratch Sway In The Morning Mix". swaysuniverse.com. Retrieved 2019-06-24.
- STAFF, AllHipHop (May 29, 2006). "DJ Scratch: Face Off". www.allhiphop.com.
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.
- "Coca-Cola commercial with DJ Magic Mike & DJ Scratch". youtube.com. Retrieved 2019-06-24.
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-11-06. Retrieved 2017-01-03.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- "EPMD's Parish Smith Talks "Yo! MTV Raps" Reunion & DJ Scratch Fallout (by Kyle Eustice) (May 22, 2018)". hiphopdx.com. Retrieved 2019-06-24.
- "DJ Scratch Clarifies Why He Aired Out EPMD On Instagram (by Trent Clark) (January 2, 2017)". hiphopdx.com. Retrieved 2019-06-24.
- "DJ Scratch Airs Out EPMD For Stiffing Him On Money (by D.L. Chandler) (January 3, 2017)". hiphopwired.com. Retrieved 2019-06-24.
- "DJ SCRATCH SHOWS HIS SKILLS AND SPEAKS ON HIS LIFE, IN AN INTERVIEW WITH HOT 97'S DJ ENUFF". globalspin365.com. Archived from the original on 2019-06-25. Retrieved 2019-06-24.
- Jenkins, Sacha; Wilson, Elliott; Mao, Jeff; Alvarez, Gabe; Rollins, Brent (25 March 2014). Ego Trip's Book of Rap Lists (2014) - page 284. books.google.com. ISBN 9781466866973. Retrieved 2019-06-24.
- "The Master of the Mix is...DJ Scratch!". prnewswire.com. Retrieved 2019-06-24.
- "2017 – 2012 GSA WINNERS LIST BELOW". globalspinawards.com. Retrieved 2019-06-24.
External links
- DJ Scratch discography at Discogs
- George Spivey discography at Discogs
- DJ Scratch on IMDb
- DJ Scratch at Rapgenius
- Official website DJ Scratch
- DJ Scratch Interview at NAMM Oral History Library (June 19, 2017)
First | Master of the Mix winner 2010 |
Succeeded by DJ P |