The Scratch

In the early 1980s the human beatbox surfaced in the spotlight and, much like rap overall, was dismissed as a fleeting trend destined to fade. The practice endured nonetheless, and Scratch—Kyle Jones from Philly—established himself among its foremost practitioners. A straightforward rhythm generator devoted to recreating the essential backbeat, he sustained the tradition through its third decade. Born in Camden, New Jersey, then among the nation’s most dangerous urban centers of the late twentieth century, he relocated to Philadelphia while still young, seeking both refuge from that environment and an opportunity to contribute to the city’s thriving hip-hop community. His abilities drew notice in the mid-1990s while performing with the local collective Schoolz of Thought, prompting interest from the Roots, Philadelphia’s preeminent and globally influential hip-hop ensemble.

A featured piece titled “? Vs. Scratch” appeared on the Roots’ 1996 breakthrough album Illadelph Halflife, pitting him against the group’s renowned drummer ?uestlove in a contest that ended evenly; he subsequently accompanied the band on tour, serving as both DJ and supporting beatboxer behind Rahzel. In 1998 Scratch became a permanent Roots member and remained through the recording of two widely praised releases, Things Fall Apart and Phrenology. He issued his own well-regarded project, The Embodiment of Instrumentation, in 2002—one of the earliest albums consisting entirely of beatbox work—before departing the collective the next year to develop an independent direction. Over the following six years he applied his skills across genres from pop to jazz, yet his second solo album, Loss 4 Words, did not arrive until 2009. That varied effort sought a broader, more inclusive aesthetic and included appearances by Kanye West, fellow Philadelphian Musiq Soulchild, and alt-rock provocateur Damon Albarn, reinforcing Scratch’s standing as an adventurous musician.