Today, June 21, is the birthday of pioneering Brooklyn DJ and producer DJ Scratch, who now turns 50. In his storied career, Scratch helped establish many names in hip-hop, including EPMD, LL Cool J, 50 Cent, Busta Rhymes, Talib Kweli and more.

Scratch’s accolades as a DJ are unprecedented. In 1988, he became champion of the New Music Seminar Battle for World Supremacy. That same year, he joined RUN-DMC’s Run’s House World Tour, where the late Jam Master Jay was his mentor. JMJ helped Scratch evolve from a battle DJ to a versatile performer/showman. Impressed with his progress after the tour ended, JMJ recommended Scratch to EPMD who hired him to become apart of their crew.

As years went on, Scratch won his second DJ World Title by winning season one of Master Of The Mix in 2010. At the Global Spin Awards in 2012, he won “Turntablist Of The Year.” Scratch remains a legend in hip-hop, and one of the culture’s respected turntable assassins.

Happy Birthday, DJ Scratch!

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