Richy Pitch first made his name back in 1996 as resident DJ at the legendary London Hip Hop club night, Scratch (nearly 14 years and still going strong at the Big Chill House, Kings Cross, London). It was here that Richy Dj’ed alongside star guests such as, Macy Gray, Eminen, The Black Eyed Peas, Mix Master Mike, De La Soul, DJ Spinna, Madlib and Mos Def.
As a producer, Richy is one of very few Hip Hop beat-makers from the UK to travel to the US to produce his own project. In 2002 he travelled to New York to work with Brooklyn-based label, Sevenheads, where he recorded his critically acclaimed Live at Home EP. The EP featured many respected MCs including J-Live, El da Sensei, Mr Complex, Asheru and Apani B.
In 2003, Richy recorded the Green Lanes EP on Above the Clouds Records which contained a regular 1xtra favourite Cuttin up the Rug featuring UK MC Mystro. The EP also featured the soulful Marcia Escoffery, New York MC, Apani B who appeared on his previous project and Tukka, a friend and regular host at Scratch who also fronted US3 (Bluenote) in the 90’s.
During this period, Richy was doing a lot of other production work. He remixed songs for artists as diverse as Reggie Watts (Freestyle Records) and Englebert Humperdink (Universal) and also ghost produced for TV and film. Tracks produced by Richy have been used on TV networks ABC and Fox as well as on world renowned TV shows such as Oprah Winfrey, The Daily Show, Mona the Vampire and America’s Most Wanted.
In 2006, he compiled an LP for the Unisex record Label (Demon Music Group). East Coast Hip Hop – The Soulside was released in February 2006. The LP was inspired by his many DJ sessions at the world famous Jazz Cafe, alongside the likes of Talib Kweli, The Pharcyde, The Roots and Slum Village.
In late 2006, Richy had another opportunity to produce a project abroad. This time he moved to Ghana, West Africa, where he lived for 2 years. Ye Fre Mi Richy Pitch. (They call me Richy Pitch in Twi) features the cream of Ghanaian music talent including MOBO and MTV Africa winner Samini, Reggie Rockstone, known as the Godfather of Hiplife and talented MC’s such as Wanlov the Kubolor, M3NSA and M.anifest, plus many other inspiring Ghanaian artists. Ye Fre Mi Richy Pitch will be released on BBE Records in summer 2010.
Richy is also currently writing a book on Beat-making for US publisher Cengage Learning and it will be released this Summer.
