Somewhere In America...
Artwork By Rhek

http://www.skratchbastid.com 
http://www.soundcloud.com/grandtheft
http://www.facebook.com/skratchbastid
http://www.facebook.com/GrandtheftMusic 
http://www.twitter.com/skratchbastid
http://www.twitter.com/grandtheft

Grandtheft & Skratch Bastid - Miley

Skratch Bastid - Tuesday Morning Coffee Sept 14 2021 (no Mic)

By now, you have probably heard that Shad is the new host of CBC's "Q" radio program. MOST EXCELLENT NEWS!!!
We were supposed to announce the appointment of the new host/old prince live on air tomorrow, but the Globe & Mail leaked the story last night. Here's a since-spoiled announcement I put together over the instrumental for Shad's "A Good Name" off his TSOL album. Listen and pretend you didn't log onto the internet in the past 14 hours.

Celebration still in order, though. Join K-Os, The Arkells, and myself on 'Q' Thursday on CBC Radio One at 10AM/10PM local time. 

Hear more of Shad's work here on Soundcloud (https://soundcloud.com/shadk), on iTunes (https://itunes.apple.com/ca/album/flying-colours/id694416156), or on Bandcamp (http://shadk.bandcamp.com/album/the-spring-up)
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/books-and-media/cbc-picks-rapper-shad-as-new-host-of-q/article23402218/)

Shad 'Q' Announcement Skratch Intro

Just landed in Winnipeg! Verrrrry excited to play a 45 set tonight at The Goodwill, and judge the Red Bull Thre3Style Canadian national finals this weekend with Z-Trip, Thugli, Hedspin, and Ali Shaheed Muhammad (how about that for a line-up!?). Seriously. 

Accordingly, today's #TBT SoundCloud post is dedicated to my Winnipeg homies Pip Skid and John Smith, who worked on this song from an incredibly fun project. 10 years ago this month (!), we released a CD & 12" on my own label, First Things First. "Taking Care Of Business" was the product of a 2-and-a-half week recording session in Halifax, based around a few shows in Eastern Canada. At the time, I had been DJing for Pip after he moved out to Halifax and I was a big fan of not only his music but his work ethic and focus. I was also a big fan of the label that he was a part of (Peanuts & Corn, shoutout to mcenroe - I still owe you something for that Bob James record you sent me), and in particular rapper John Smith, who I thought was a great balance of tough and witty, and that I had recently had rap on one of my mixtapes. They had already done an album together as Hip-Hop Wieners and I liked their chemistry, so I set out to make a DJ-centric rap album from the ground up - from beginning to end.

Featured here is the 'DJ Theme' song "Murphy's Law" (featuring Sleep) to my Soundcloud as an audio accompaniment to this post. It's kinda like my version of 'Ugly People Be Quiet' or 'Alladin's On A Rampage' - just not as classic. 

In retrospect, the whole project was an amazing experience. I learned so much about how the business works: physical production, distribution, promo, radio, video, licensing, budgeting, touring -- many lessons which influenced how I approach my career to this day. I'm still very proud of the music that we made together, and it was an experience that I am very happy I went through when I did. It was a good primer for handling things to come. This is turning into a bit of an 'acceptance speech', which I normally detest and dismiss as self-indulgent, but I'm on a roll here and reminiscing while 20,000 feet above Thunder Bay, so bear with me.

Thank you to: Greymatter (who helped engineer the album), Sleep (who recorded vocals and toured with us during the making of this project), Gordski & Jorun Bombay (who contributed 3 beats each to the project), mcenroe (who added a remix on the 12"), Kunga219 & Tachichi (both featured on 'Get Nice'), Jason Lapeyre (who made the 'I Ain't Lazy' & 'Collecting Empties' videos for next to nothing -- we made the latter for the cost of the returned beer bottles in the video), Yosuke (who released the album in Japan), my manager Mike D, Troy Neilson (who helped it chart with radio promo), and ______ (who I am surely forgetting... like I said, 10 years). I asked a lot of favours and patience in making something like this happen, and for your help I am grateful. And of course to Pip & Smitty: if an internet post is a remotely relevant 'thank you', well, thank you. Too many stories to commit to this touch screen right now, and I'm thankful for all of them. Even that awful place I made us stay in Saint John, and running out of gas halfway between Fredericton and Moncton. I'll stop. 

I recently saw this album pop up for download on one of those blogspots with every-album-your-HD-can-handle on it. I'm not sure if it's still up there... those things disappear faster than politicians' promises after election, but give it a Google. The positive, well thought out review encouraging people to check it out made me happy, in all of it's friendly pirating intent. Maybe it will convince you to check it out, and if so, by all means grab it. And if you want physical copies of either the CD or 12" for yourself, I've got a few left over at my online store which you can reach via skratchbastid.com. 

And that's about it. I mean, there's more, but we can rap about it when I see you in The Peg this weekend. Beers on me. 

Murphy's Law (f/ Pip Skid, John Smith & Sleep)(2005)

Proud to announce the release of my project with the Afiara Quartet entitled "Spin Cycle". This project was produced over the last 8 months in collaboration with 4 Canadian composers (Laura Silberberg, Dinuk Wijeratne, Kevin Lau, Rob Teehan). Here's how it worked:

Phase 1: 4 composers wrote 4 original pieces for the Afiara String Quartet. Pieces were recorded.

Phase 2: Skratch Bastid remixed each of the pieces, using select parts that were replayed by the string quartet, sampled, and scratched. 

Phase 3: The 4 composers remixed the remixes by writing new pieces based on the remix. Skratch Bastid & Afiara Quartet performed these pieces live and recorded them. 

This track is Phase 3 of Laura Silberberg's piece, titled "Dirty Laundry - Heavy Load".

Check out our feature pieces and interview (30 mins) on CBC Radio's "Q": http://www.cbc.ca/radio/q/schedule-for-monday-may-11-2015-1.3066925/skratch-bastid-and-the-afiara-quartet-blend-scratch-and-strings-1.3068985

Available via purchase link below the above waveform.

We premiered the project May 23rd at the 21c Music Festival at Toronto's Royal Conservatory of Music in Koerner Hall. 

For more on the artists, visit:
http://www.skratchbastid.com
http://www.afiara.com/

Buy the album

Skratch Bastid & Afiara Quartet - Spin Cycle: "Dirty Laundry - Heavy Load"

Another selection from my project with the Afiara Quartet entitled "Spin Cycle". This project was produced in late 2014-early 2015 in collaboration with 4 Canadian composers (Laura Silberberg, Dinuk Wijeratne, Kevin Lau, Rob Teehan). Here's how it worked:

Phase 1: 4 composers wrote 4 original pieces for the Afiara String Quartet. Pieces were recorded.

Phase 2: Skratch Bastid remixed each of the pieces, using select parts that were replayed by the string quartet, sampled, and scratched.

Phase 3: The 4 composers remixed the remixes by writing new pieces based on the remix. Skratch Bastid & Afiara Quartet performed these pieces live and recorded them.

This track is Phase 3 of Kevin Lau's piece, titled "Second Wind", recorded live at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto. We will be working on another phase of this piece for the Toronto Symphony Orchestra's 2016 season!

Check out our feature pieces and interview (30 mins) on CBC Radio's "Q": www.cbc.ca/radio/q/schedule-fo…d-strings-1.3068985

Available via purchase link below the Soundcloud waveform.

We premiered the project May 23rd at the 21c Music Festival at Toronto's Royal Conservatory of Music in Koerner Hall.

For more on the artists, visit:
www.skratchbastid.com
www.afiara.com

Buy the CD

Skratch Bastid & Afiara Quartet - Spin Cycle: "Second Wind"

Summertime. #BastidsBBQ season in full effect.
Produced by Skratch Bastid. Vocals by Shad. Bass by Devon James.
Come join Skratch Bastid and special guests and the following Bastid's BBQs:
July 2nd - Muskoka, ON  f/ K-Os + guests (@ Muskoka Wharf)
July 17th - Toronto, ON - f/ DJ Jazzy Jeff + guests (@ Honest Ed's)
July 23rd - Ottawa, ON - f/ Just Blaze + guests (@ TD Place)
More info & tickets: http://www.skratchbastid.com/bastidsbbq

Catch Shad LIVE this weekend:
June 24th - Toronto, ON (Mod Club)
June 25th - London, ON (London Music Hall)
More info & tickets: https://www.facebook.com/shadk/events/

Limoncello ft. Shad

I made it easy to dance to this. 
Bastid's BBQ dates: (Toronto July 23)(Halifax July 30)(Calgary Aug 20)(MORE TBA)
http://www.bastidsbbq.com for tix

Rhek flipped the art

http://www.skratchbastid.com

ERIC B IS PRESIDENT (SKRATCH BASTID'S PASS THE PLUGS EDIT)

Cutty Ranks' "Limb By Limb" Acapella over Cam'ron &amp; Vado's "Speakin' Tungs" jumpoff chopped up inna dancehall stylee. Artwork by Rhek (http://www.sharksandhammers.com)
http://www.skratchbastid.com


Limb by Tung (Cosmo Baker & Skratch Bastid's Harlem meets Jamaica mix)

"Classic"
Produced by DJ Jazzy Jeff & Skratch Bastid

The Spring Up is the result of fortunate timing, grapefruit Perrier, a shared high school obsession with Outkast's Aquemeni, and a couple of sessions at Skratch Bastid's Toronto studio this April. The 5 track collection marks a moment in time for the pair; embodying the spirit of Spring and also serving as a sort of prelude to Shad's upcoming full-length, to which Skratch Bastid also contributes. The collection features a production assist from DJ Jazzy Jeff, and a turn on the mic from compatriot Cadence Weapon.

http://www.shadk.com
http://www.skratchbastid.com


Download

Shad & Skratch Bastid - "Classic" (Produced by DJ Jazzy Jeff & Skratch Bastid)

"Out Of My Head"
Produced by Skratch Bastid

The Spring Up is the result of fortunate timing, grapefruit Perrier, a shared high school obsession with Outkast's Aquemeni, and a couple of sessions at Skratch Bastid's Toronto studio this April. The 5 track collection marks a moment in time for the pair; embodying the spirit of Spring and also serving as a sort of prelude to Shad's upcoming full-length, to which Skratch Bastid also contributes. The collection features a production assist from DJ Jazzy Jeff, and a turn on the mic from compatriot Cadence Weapon.

http://www.shadk.com
http://www.skratchbastid.com


Shad & Skratch Bastid - "Outta My Head"

"Clappin'"
Produced by Skratch Bastid

The Spring Up is the result of fortunate timing, grapefruit Perrier, a shared high school obsession with Outkast's Aquemeni, and a couple of sessions at Skratch Bastid's Toronto studio this April. The 5 track collection marks a moment in time for the pair; embodying the spirit of Spring and also serving as a sort of prelude to Shad's upcoming full-length, to which Skratch Bastid also contributes. The collection features a production assist from DJ Jazzy Jeff, and a turn on the mic from compatriot Cadence Weapon.

http://www.shadk.com
http://www.skratchbastid.com


Shad & Skratch Bastid - "Clappin'"

"Homie"
Produced by Skratch Bastid
Additional vocals by Cadence Weapon

The Spring Up is the result of fortunate timing, grapefruit Perrier, a shared high school obsession with Outkast's Aquemeni, and a couple of sessions at Skratch Bastid's Toronto studio this April. The 5 track collection marks a moment in time for the pair; embodying the spirit of Spring and also serving as a sort of prelude to Shad's upcoming full-length, to which Skratch Bastid also contributes. The collection features a production assist from DJ Jazzy Jeff, and a turn on the mic from compatriot Cadence Weapon.

Shad & Skratch Bastid - "Homie" (Featuring Cadence Weapon)

"Peace"
Produced by Skratch Bastid
Additional keys by I.K.K. Koiter

The Spring Up is the result of fortunate timing, grapefruit Perrier, a shared high school obsession with Outkast's Aquemeni, and a couple of sessions at Skratch Bastid's Toronto studio this April. The 5 track collection marks a moment in time for the pair; embodying the spirit of Spring and also serving as a sort of prelude to Shad's upcoming full-length, to which Skratch Bastid also contributes. The collection features a production assist from DJ Jazzy Jeff, and a turn on the mic from compatriot Cadence Weapon.

http://www.shadk.com
http://www.skratchbastid.com


Shad & Skratch Bastid - "Peace"

[CA: himmelfarb@feldman-agency.com]
[MGMT: management@skratchbastid.com]

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