The reunion of rap duo EPMD during VH1’s Hip-Hop Honors Week won’t be the only stop for the group, according to their DJ, Scratch.
The pair is also in the early stages of planning a world tour.
But in the meantime, EPMD will perform their first concert in eight years on Oct. 14 when they grace the stage at B.B. King’s in New York.
The group will complete their reformation by re-teaming with their former turntablist DJ Scratch.
“I’m so anxious to touch that stage,” DJ Scratch told AllHipHop.com, adding that 2007 will mark EPMD’s 20th year in the rap game. “We’re blessed to still be able to contribute to Hip-Hop. [EPMD group member] Erick Sermon and I alone have generated the sale of over 100 million albums for our production in the game. We’re going to take it back to the Hit Squad tour on this one. No holds bar, and you know what’s going to happen when I touch those turntables.”
Sans EPMD, DJ Scratch has still thrived over the years, producing hits for artists such as 50 Cent, Jay-Z, and Busta Rhymes.
The EPMD concert is one of two events on deck this month for Scratch, who returns to TV as the resident DJ for Hip Hop Hold’em, a new weekly, one-hour program that combines poker with celebrity lifestyle and music, as five celebrities compete in a high stakes game of No Limit Texas Hold’em.
Although the game is intended for fun, Scratch said fans might witness some verbal sparring from players who are motivated to win.
“When you put five Hip-Hop artists at a table with cards and money, no one wants to lose,” Scratch said. “Your reputation is on the line because America is watching. So you’re going to see a lot of trash talking at that table–but all in fun. [There’s also] great performances and me cutting up golden era Hip-Hop to make the cipher complete.”
Hip Hop Hold’em premieres Saturday (Oct. 7) on the CW network.
And with a new show and a return to his former group, Scratch may have to field an obvious question for curious EPMD fans.
Is a reunion album in near sight for the legendary group? ”
As far as a new EPMD LP, who knows?” Scratch himself wondered. “It can happen, I’m ready.”
