Skratch Bastid

Hailing from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Skratch Bastid aka Paul Murphy has established himself as one of Canada's premier turtablists. He's twice competed at the National DMC competitions and recently won the 2003 Scribble Jam competition in Cincinnati. Despite having just returned from tour with Sleep & Pale Soul (OldDominion) and Qwel (Galapagos4), the bastid took the time to answer some questions.

Skratch Bastid Interview:

Troy: First off, congrats on all your success.
Skratch Bastid: Thanks.

Troy: So who were the Halifax DJs who played an important role in teaching you the basic skills?
Skratch Bastid: I would say my first lessons were over the radio via a radio program called "The Bassment" hosted by DJ Critical a.k.a. Buck 65. He focused a lot on the role of the DJ in hip-hop music and it really shaped me as a DJ as far as style and ethics. The first DJs around the city who actually showed me things in real life and not in audio or on a video were Druncnes Monstr and Sixtoo. After my first battle, we stayed in contact a little and they showed me a few things that I was doing wrong and some new things to try. I took the new things and learned them pretty quick, causing them to curse me out. You bastid! The name stuck.

Troy: How did Sixtoo and Buck 65 react when you came out of the woodwork to beat them at the DJ Olympics in Halifax in the late nineties?
Skratch Bastid: Well, they had seen me in the first DJ Olympics battle, so they knew that I was around and working on things. Like I say, Sixtoo and Drunc showed me a thing or two on the cut between the first and second DJ Olympics', plus they already put me down with their crew called HTML (Halifax Turntable Massacre Limited: Sixtoo, Drunc, Buck, Gordski, Greymatter and DJ Moves). But, I definitely don't think they thought I could have taken the title. I pulled out a diss to Buck 65 that I think caught him a little off guard because he didn't diss me and it was enough to take home the coveted spray-painted gold 45.

Troy: What was the diss that you pulled out on Buck 65?
Skratch Bastid: I took "The Bridge is Over" by BDP and cut it in late and made it sound like KRS is saying "...ridge is over, ...ridge is over". I held up a sign on the back of the record I was cutting previously that said "Rich is over". And people lost it.

Troy: Do you feel that the challenge of breaking through onto the North America scene as a DJ from Halifax, has been an asset or a hindrance?
Skratch Bastid: A little bit of both. It's hard to get heard from out here, so you have to work harder. Harder work produces better quality material, so in the end you win. But it's all about pushing yourself as far as you can to get heard outside of your surroundings. First it's your basement. Then it's your city. Then it's your province. Then it's your country. Then it's other countries. Sometimes the steps are made bigger if you live in a smaller place, but the climb makes you stronger.

Troy: At what point did you start to make moves at the National level?
Skratch Bastid: I won a few regional battles that took me to national competitions. First it was the 1999 ITF competition in Montreal. The top four at that battle were A-Trak, DJ Wax, DJ Pump and DJ Dopey - a pretty stacked line-up if you ask me. I saw how far these guys were pushing themselves and built off that. I kept doing better at the battles every year and I pushed myself to be more creative with each routine. I still battle today. I don't think that there was a specific point where I said to myself "I've made it!", I think it just happens with experience. You keep doing your thing and hope others recognize.

Troy: What do your parents think of your career as a DJ?
Skratch Bastid: They are cool with it. My mom actually twisted my arm to go into the first DJ Olympics after seeing some posters floating around downtown. They see that I love what I'm doing and support it. They still want me to go back to school, and I understand that, but they also understand that I take what I do seriously and that I am getting things done with it. So as long as I am focused and enjoying life then they're down.

Troy: You're renowned for some of the most original battle moves and outfits in Atlantic Canada. Where do you figure all this creativity comes from? Do you have some special socks or is it Captain Crunch that does it or what?
Skratch Bastid: Man, to me DJing is all about a good balance of skill and entertainment. You've got to be entertaining for the crowd, but also skilled enough so that the next DJ isn't saying you're wack. In battles, it gets really competitive and some people forget about the actual entertainment factor. I never do. Sometimes it's a weird trick, sometimes it's an outfit, and sometimes it's just pure testosterone. But I'm still bringing routines that you can't knock. You see some fools do a routine that only a handful of DJs who sit in their bedroom all day would like. I want to play for more people than that. Let the crowd leave the night remembering you. Plus, the DJs don't pay cover, so how are you going to make a career out of doing silly tricks that only DJs understand? Stand out and be creative, bottom line.

Troy: I think that's a great philosophy that others should try to keep in mind. In fact that philosophy is probably one of the biggest reasons why you won last years Scribble Jam contest in Cincinnati! Congrats, by the way. I haven't seen footage for the show, but I was wondering what some of the highlights of the contest were for you?
Skratch Bastid: Scribble is just a fun place to be, with a bunch of music fans all around, so the energy of the contest was definitely a highlight. I pulled off one routine the best I ever did it and another so-so, but still made it out on top. It was dope battling Sqwint and Lenn Swann because they were both good competition, which made it better than what I saw on last year's video. The highlight of the weekend was getting to see MF Doom rap and drunkenly scream "You're the best" about 43 times during his set and throw a bag of Skittles on stage. But, yeah, the best part of the battle was probably the hype crowd, because they got into it this year and turned the heat up and made it into a real battle.

Troy: I've heard you've gained fans as a result of being in some videos. Are those the scribble jam videos? Where could potential fans check them out?
Skratch Bastid: Yeah, most people seem to be talking about the "2001" and "Best of" Scribble Jam videos, both of which have me doing my Imperial Death March routine. Kids all over know about that video, in Canada, U.S., Japan, it has really spread. You can pick them up at www.scribblemagazine.com, I believe. I'm also on some Vice magazine video, but that's because I was featured in a terribly produced story about DJing on CTV that made it to some "Worst of TV" DVD of sorts. People know about that one, too! But I have yet to see it.

Troy: Your last mix CD was my favorite album of 2003. Do you have another album in the works and when could your fans expect to see it released?
Skratch Bastid: Well, glad you enjoyed it. My newest mix CD entitled "Better Ask Somebody" is currently being pressed and will be released February 28th in Halifax and distributed wherever hard-ass mixtapes are a way of life. It's got a lot more cut-up tracks on it and features a beat produced by me along with Canadian MCs John Smith, Pip Skid, Birdapres, Kunga 219, Tachichi, Nathan C and Kaleb Simmonds. You can e-mail me directly at skratchbastid@skratchbastid.com if you feel so inclined.

Troy: What's in the future for Skratch Bastid? Touring, shows, etc?
Skratch Bastid: Be on the lookout for Skratch Bastid opening up for Styles of Beyond as they tour Canada from March 17- April 4. I am also playing Montreal and Ottawa on a semi-regular basis. I just came from touring the West Coast of the US, also. As far as recordings go, I have a lot of production plans, including a project with John Smith and Pip Skid, as well as work with Tachichi, Kaleb Simmonds, Kunga219, Sleep and BishopI from Oldominion. I also did lots of skratching on the new Goods album entitled "Four/4" coming out on Goodnight Musics. Look out for that...it's some heat. I'm sure I'll drop another mixtape before year's end, too.

Troy: Is there anything you'd like to add? Email? website?
Skratch Bastid: The website is www.skratchbastid.com . Anyone who wants to ask me anything can hit me up at skratchbastid@skratchbastid.com. To all the aspiring DJs out there: creativity and a dope sound weigh more heavily than the degree of difficulty. This isn't a diving contest. This is rap. 1200 Hobos.

Troy: Thanks for the interview.
Skratch Bastid: Thank you

For more information on Skratch Bastid, check out www.skratchbastid.com or email skratchbastid@skratchbastid.com .