Scott Storchâ„¢

*Scott Storch's knack for laying down dazzling keyboard lines led to a burgeoning career as a musically blessed producer by the early 2000s after aligning himself with production duties for high-profile rappers such as Snoop Dogg and Busta Rhymes. Long before Storch was crafting entire tracks for superstar rappers, he was a humble keyboardist. He contributed to mostly forgotten Philadelphia-area efforts such as Schoolly D's Welcome to America (1994) and G. Love & Special Sauce's self-titled debut (1994), yet his humble contributions to a then low-profile, indie-label debut album by another Philadelpha act ended up being his path to success. This particular album happened to be the Roots' Organix (1993), an album that led to a major label deal for the Roots, solidifying Storch's role as keyboardist for the group. Yet as the years passed and his reputation grew as the talented keyboardist in America's premier live hip-hop "band," Storch began extending his reach, taking on production opportunities. His big break came when his keyboard riff laced the mammoth lead single to Dr. Dre's comeback album, "Still D.R.E." Working alongside Dre obviously had its pluses, and soon Storch found himself co-producing the lead single to Xzibit's Restless album, "X," and getting the opportunity to produce three tracks for Snoop Dogg's Tha Last Meal. In subsequent years he became one of the rap industry's most reliable hitmakers, up there with the Neptunes, Kanye West, and Lil Jon among the industry's most in-demand hired hands. Some of his best-known productions include Terror Squad's "Lean Back," Mario's "Let Me Love You," 50 Cent's "Candy Shop," and Beyoncé's "Naughty Girl." ~ Jason Birchmeier, All Music GuideWhen it comes to the Jewish calendar, it don’t get any heavier than Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. Like Good Friday for Christians, Yom Kippur is a religious event that even the most lapsed of the chosen people choose to acknowledge. It’s not uncommon for the kind of Jews who openly enjoy a ham sandwich to spend the day fasting, dutifully filing into temple to pray and reflect upon the sins they’ve committed over the past year.Of course, there are those who opt to observe (or not observe) in their own special way. Count among such fallen Israelites this writer and Scott Storch. Because on this Yom Kippur, as dusk slowly embraces Miami Beach, and the omnipresent palm trees are doing their own version of the Rock-a-way thanks to the gathering strength of incoming hurricane Jeanne, Storch, who calls his production company Tuff Jew and refers to himself as the “Meyer Lansky of hip-hop,” is skipping the mandatory self-sacrifice in favor of what promises to be a lengthy session of weed-smoking. (And beat-making.)The three Ziploc bags of hydro, perched on a table next to a jar of Rolaids, might get Scott and the flotilla of friends, clients and support staff trickling through his Sound Villa studios as high as the Holy Days, but it’s what the 30-year-old Philadelphia native is lighting up behind the console that matters. A founding member of The Roots (he’s on the group’s 1993 debut Organix and had a major role in composing their 1999 Grammy winner “You Got Me”), and longtime keyboard player for Dr. Dre (the hookup came via old Philly pal Eve), Storch has hit the hip-hop trifecta of money, power and respect. He’s the dude behind the unofficial single of the summer, Terror Squad’s unexpected chart-topper “Lean Back.” With his slight, schlumpy frame, boyish, nondescript features (the most noticeable characteristic being a pair of dimples that explode when he’s particularly animated) and exceedingly low profile (most rap fans are probably unaware of the fact that Storch is White), this middle-class ninth-grade dropout is more geek than gangsta. But if homeboy ain’t cool, his beats are sure enough hot. Over the past five years, Storch has had a hand—as either a musician, producer, songwriter or something in between—in a long list of records you know: Beyoncé’s “Baby Boy,” “Naughty Girl” and “Me, Myself And I,” Eve and Gwen Stefani’s “Let Me Blow Ya Mind,” Dr. Dre’s “Still D.R.E.” (Storch’s insistent keyboard riff anchors the track), Xzibit’s “X,” Justin Timberlake’s “Cry Me A River,” Ja Rule’s 50 Cent diss “Clap Back,” The Roots’ aforementioned “You Got Me” and their latest single, “Don’t Say Nuthin’.” (Despite his lofty day rate, Storch still considers himself “a major part of The Roots family.”)*