Scratch is not your run-of-the-mill vocal percussionist, or as the layman says, a human beatboxer. Scratch is the embodiment of instrumentation. "I got practically every sound that you could do with a record as far as it being scratched on a turntable," says Scratch. "From scratching words to scratching drums to scratching any sound imaginable. I know how to make basslines with different notes. Then I got stuff I don't even know I have until I get experimental with it. It's just a heavy arsenal of stuff. You ain't ready." To better understand Scratch let's put things in perspective. The Root's 1996 release, Illadelph Halflife, was Scratch's first recording with the hip hop super group. When most listeners heard the scratches on "? vs. Scratch (The Token DJ Cut)," they thought that Scratch was a traditional DJ. Unless they read the album's production credits (which said plainly "yes, that's his voice") or caught the Roots in concert, casual listeners probably, to this day, think that Scratch is well, a DJ. Which he is-kinda, sorta. True to Scratch's musical discipline-a summit of practice, play and theory-"? vs. Scratch" came from an impromtu jam session. "I was only bullshitting around when I did it," he says. "During that session, there was one point where they were just playing drums and I just started messing around. That was my first minute and 44 seconds of fame." Scratch, has since extended his fame by becoming a full time member of the Roots, touring extensively with the group, appearing on their studio albums, backing Jay-Z on his MTV Unplugged concert and live album, performing on Musiq Soulchild's platinum-selling Aijuswanaseing, Jill Scott's Experience and Pink's missumndaztood. Scratch's debut album, The Embodiment of Instrumentation is a marvel of wind, spit, and muscle contractions set to expand his profile, while pushing the envelope of how music is created and enjoyed. SOURCE: http://www.okayplayer.com/scratch Scratch - Beatbox Embodiment of Instrumentation Scratch $13.98