Scratch - Embodiment of Instrumentation (17 tracks) +Album Reviews

REAL HIP-HOP

Norfeest | 08/31/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"First and foremost, I'd like to congratulate the roots for holding down their ground, and for releasing authentic pieces of
hip-hop....real-raw smooth. This album is simply amazing. It contains all the elements of true hip-hop, and I haven't heard
anything quite like this album this year.......I dig this album.
For all those roots, pete-rock and c.l smooth or Jay-DEE fans.....check this album out."

A title for your review

Nathan | D.C. | 08/14/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Scratch, even more amazing than Rahzel, from the same crew. Layering tracks of complex beats......made by his mouth. With professional emcees over top of it. If your already here, just buy the album. How many beatbox albums come out in a year....or a decade....or ever?"

I love it.

Benjamin S. Tam | Pleasanton, CA USA | 05/30/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"For some reason, Scratch is the most underrated member of the Roots. I mean, Do You Want More, Illadelph Halflife, and Things Fall Apart, he had his own track where he did his thing. Yet everybody thinks that that's Rahzel. It's a shame because I think Scratch is pretty much at Rahzel's level, maybe Rahzel edging him a little bit. But still, that means he should be getting more props, but he's not. Well, with all that aside, he just shows us why he had his own spots on the Roots. Every track is him laying voice instrumentals and having mc's rhyme over them. This is the last work I think we see Malik B perform in, which is sad, since he is such a great talent. They have cats from the Schoolz of Thoughts in here, also from Philly, which I actually think Scratch also is in that clan. All of their rhymes are so smooth over the beats, Scratch just handles the beats and scratches, and noise perfectly. Why use any instruments when you have him? This is beatboxing at it's perfection, Scratch sound so super human, it's just amazing. I love hearing mc's rhyming over the beatbox, it feels like your just hangin with some friends, someone, actually always me, lays a beat down and everybody starts laying a flow down. Oh yeah, get this. This is a must have. The most underrated album ever."

You've Never Heard Anything Like This {5 Stars}

Norfeest | Washington DC USA | 03/12/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"What can I say, when you take into consideration how this album was put together, you can't help but be in awe of the man known as Scratch -- best known for his tenure as a member of The Roots crew. Here's the long and the short of it, this is basically an album of guests like Jill Scott, Malik B., Bilal, Black Though, Schoolz Of Thought (cop their album, they're ill), Floetry, Dice Raw, and the like all getting busy over tracks laid by Scratch. He creates all the tracks with -- get this -- his mouth. The incredible thing about it is the fact that if no one mentioned it or if you didn't know who Scratch was, you'd never know that these are beatbox tracks.

The only thing about this album that may have folks up in arms about this 5 star rating is the lack of uptempo tracks. There are a few, but most of the beats are mid tempo, but the tracks are all produced by Scratch and, again, he does it all with his mouth. He only gets help, according to the credits, on two tracks -- 88 Keys lends a hand on track 6 and Yameen All World helps out on track 11. That means that this dude is literally the embodiment of instrumentation without question. No disrespect to the greats (Buffy, Doug E., Rahzel, Ready Rock C., etc..), but I can't think of anyone better at this beatboxing thing.

The Embodiment of Instrumentation is literally a one of a kind album. Scratch laces every track without the use of instruments. Well, technically, his mouth is the intstrument, but you get my point. Like another reviewer said: "How many beatbox albums come out in a year....or a decade....or ever?" I couldn't have put it any better. Not only did it come out, but it's an excellent gem of an album that shows just how much you can do with this hip hop sh** when you don't rely solely on the rap aspect of it. I recommend adding this album to your library.

Standout Tracks: Sumthin' That U Missin' feat. Flo Brown, Spontaneous, Ciph Born, & D-Ruck, Breath Of Fresh Air (My Favorite), Square One feat. Bilal, We Got What You Want feat. Schoolz Of Thought, U Know The Rulez feat. Black Thought, Malik B., & M.A.R.S. Co-op, What Happ'N feat. Floetry, and That's What We Talkin' About feat. Dice Raw, Calente, & E.S.T"

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