"Catch the Beat" is an early song for rapper T-Ski Valley. It was a hit for him in 1981. Over the years it has been sampled by many artists as well as charting with remixing and new titles.

Background The song came about as a result of T-Ski Valley who was known as Tyrone in the early days being hired to set up the break beat section at the back of the store run by Brad Osborne. After asking Osborne if he could record some hip hop songs, Osborne booked Tyrone some time with Bob Blank's Blank Tape Studios. This was the same the studio where some early rap and disco artists such as Musique and the Salsoul Orchestra made their recordings. The single that emerged from Tyrone's recording session was "Catch the Beat" by T-Ski Valley.Remixology, Tracing the Dub Diaspora, By Paul Sullivan · 2013 - - 4 NYC, Dub, Rap, Disco and Illbient, Dub in NYC - Page 96 Produced by Brad Osborne, the song was released in the US on Grand Groove GG 7701.Genius - Catch The Beat! T-Ski Valley

"Catch the Beat" uses a sample from "Heartbeat" by Taana Gardner.Remixology, Tracing the Dub Diaspora, By Paul Sullivan · 2013 - - 4 NYC, Dub, Rap, Disco and Illbient, Dub in NYC - Page 96

It has been sampled in at least 82 recordings.Who Sampled - Songs that Sampled Catch the Beat by T-Ski Valley The song "Over" by will.i.am which appears on his Songs About Girls album uses a sample of "Catch the Beat".Let's Get It Started: The Rise & Rise of the Black Eyed Peas, By Daryl Easlea · 2012 - - Also using a break from T/Ski Valley's old-school rap hit, 'Catch The Beat'

Reception In an article by Stuart Baker in Hot Stuff magazine issue #11, "Catch the Beat" was referred to as a groundbreaking rap song.Hot Stuff, 11 - Page 87 Disco Reggae Rockers by Stuart Baker Soul Jazz Records Like "The Breaks" by Curtis Blow, it is an early rap favorite,DJ Screw: A Life in Slow Revolution, Lance Scott Walker · 2022 - - Page 32 the track has been described as a huge hit in the black community.Spotify Throwbacks, November 8, 2018 - T-Ski Valley: Catch the Beat (1982) According to Piccadilly Records, the song captures the post disco Bronx era of Rap.50 Years Of Hip Hop: The Solo MC Jams (Black Friday 23 Edition), TUFLP0905, 24 Nov '23 - Notes

In 2002 a remix by Dimitri from Paris, "Catch the Beat (Dimi's & Mousse T.'s Old School Mix)" bw "Catch the Beat (Bibi Better Days Mix)", "Catch The Beat (Acapella)" was released on Peppermint Jam PJMS0063. The editor of The Beat Box, Hot Plate section (Billboard 20 July) wrote that it was "cleverly reworked by Dimitri From Paris and Mousse T." and they had "collectively infused it with an old-school contemporary feel".Discogs - T Ski Valley* – Catch The Beat (Dimi's Mousse T's Old School Remix)Billboard, July 20, 2002 - Page 25 The Beat Box, Hot Plate

Hit The song has been described as an underground hit.Remixology, Tracing the Dub Diaspora, By Paul Sullivan · 2013 - - 4 NYC, Dub, Rap, Disco and Illbient, Dub in NYC - Page 96 and according to the 31 August 1981 issue of Cash Box, "Catch the Beat" was in the East Coast Dance Music Top Ten for the week of 1 August 1981.Cash Box, August 1, 1981 - Page 16 Dance Music Chart, Top Ten As reported by Record World in the 12 December 1981 issue, the New York area hit "Catch the Beat" was continuing to sell well.Record World, December 12, 1981 - Page 24 Stars on 12 -Inch: Indies Cover Hits By Brian Chin (Continued from page 3)

Later years In 1984, "Catch the Beat (Scratch the Beat)" was released on Master Mix 12CHE 8409 as well as BMC 3597.James Hamilton's Disco Page, November 24, 1984 - November 24, 1984: Thelma Houston, James Ingram, Kool & The Gang, T.Ski Valley, Scheer Music, Odds 'N' Bods, T.SKI VALLEY: ‘Catch The Beat (Scratch The Beat)’ (Master Mix 12CHE 8409)Amazon - Catch The Beat (Scratch The Beat), Product details A hit in the UK, it spent ten weeks on the Record Mirror disco chart,Record Mirror, June 30, 1984 - Page 52 Record Mirror Disco, 45 - peaking at no. 33.Record Mirror, July 28, 1984 - Page 33 Record Mirror Disco, 33 40Record Mirror, August 4, 1984 - Page 31 Record Mirror Disco, 35 33 It re-emerged on the Disco Top 85 chart at no. 75.James Hamilton's Disco Page, September 22, 1984 - Disco Top 85 – September 22, 1984, 75 — CATCH THE BEAT (SCRATCH THE BEAT), T.Ski Valley, Belgian BMC 12in It stayed in the chart for one more week.James Hamilton's Disco Page, September 29, 1984 - Disco Top 85 – SEPTEMBER 29, 1984, 79 75 CATCH THE BEAT (SCRATCH THE BEAT), T.Ski Valley, Belgian BMC 12inJames Hamilton's Disco Page, October 6, 1984 - Disco Top 85 – October 6, 1984

References

External links Discogs - T/Ski Valley* / Grand Groove Bunch – !Catch The Beat! / !Catch The Groove! Cifraclub - Lyrics