[Words by: HALLWAY / Edited by: Knowxone ]
The Man (Ft. Estelle & Terri Walker)
Let's Go (Ft. Peedi Crakk)
Being that today myself and the almighty Mike Waxx are going to be at the Roots Picnic in Philly (Shouts to Truck North, Harry, Alex, Ritz, and Femi) we decided to sit down with Scratch to discuss his new album that recently dropped entitled Loss 4 Words on 5/26. Shouts to Stephen. Enter A Grammy Winning Beat Boxing monster......illRoots.com: Who do you care about most?
Scratch:[Slight pause] I would say God and my family! It keeps me strong through the [toughest of] times.
iR: What is the most unusual sound you have ever made with your mouth?
Scratch: [There's] been so many, hard to identify what one is most unusual to an average Joe.
I would say scratching sounds, I was the first to ever do it the way I do it.
iR: If you could give me the value of a Grammy in dollars, what would it be and why?
Scratch: Priceless.You can't put money on an item, that's the highest honor in the music industry!
iR: In 2002 you released your first LP. Explain the steps from '02 to now, chronologically, to the release of "Loss 4 Words" and why you took each particular step.
Scratch: The first album (Embodiment of Instrumentation) was an experimental project that led into a complete LP. Which is why I came up with the title. It was my first personal project, without direction of other influences involved. More of being proud I had an album, having great artist submit their talents and time to the cause. When recordings for "Loss 4 Wordz" started, I knew what I wanted to do. I had other producers getting involved, looking for a new sound and making the creation greater. But it was the same format with the artist. People I'm good friends with, not looking for what was the hottest artist selling records to make good sells on my album. This record was more worldly incorporated that gave no boundaries to the outcome of the finish product.
iR: Obviously beatboxing is an art form, but what do you find challenging the most, not just in music but in life?
Scratch: Raising my son, in this day and age is a battle.
iR: A good book to read is....? and why?
Scratch: Well, I'd say The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey. It helps some what mold the things in my life's direction. Organizing what matters most to me and those around me. 15 million people all can't be wrong for buying it. [Laughs]
iR: The new album in three words.Scratch: Innovative, Gallivant, Timeless.
iR: Why the title "Loss 4 Wordz"?
Scratch: The title was based on identity, the content of the record has not one genre to place in a specific category. If someone was to try to explain the record after they heard it, they would go back to the referable title. Basically, this album was made on one principle, good music!
iR: Breakdown two tracks that you feel embody the entire album to you.
Scratch: The entire album embodies the record. It's hard to put a finger on one song than to make a choice on two.
iR: Lastly if you could have one songwriter of any decade write a song about you, who would it be and why?
Scratch: Nina Simone. She was an intelligent, soulful writer and singer reading emotion from ones self. It would have been an honor to have that privilege of an extraordinarily talented woman write a song about my time on this earth.
