Skratch Bastid

Born Paul Murphy and hailing from Bedford, Nova Scotia, Skratch Bastid has since the early 2000s developed a career focused on hip-hop, turntablism and a culture of mixing that crosses rap, funk, soul and pop classics reworked with precision. His name circulated widely after his victories at Scribble Jam in 2003, 2004 and 2007, in a register where the virtuosity of scratching remains tied to a strong sense of selection and sequencing. Skratch Bastid pursues in parallel a production career, notably on Buck 65's Situation in 2007, then on several tracks from Shad's Flying Colours in 2013. His discography also includes collaborative projects such as Taking Care of Business in 2005 with John Smith and Pip Skid, the EP The Spring Up with Shad in 2013, and Spin Cycle in 2015 with the Afiara String Quartet, which extends his work toward a dialogue between instrumental writing and DJ practices. Used to club, festival and battle scenes, Skratch Bastid has also developed Bastid's BBQ, a block party format launched in the early 2010s, as well as a role as a judge and ambassador in the world of DJ competitions. With Skratch Bastid, technique always serves a readable, energetic and constructed mix to move between styles without losing its hip-hop anchor.