Hi Toad, your fame came from the first freestyle you put up years ago on the old TTNN message board (the one with a high up-tempo loop), do you remember the context and the audience reaction? To clear it up once for all was that shit sped up or not?

T: Nah that wasn't sped up. At the time (when I learned how to link flares and patterns) I was all about scratching fast and hard... and I had a 05 with a super loose fader in it. There are only a few parts on that file that I actually like. A lot of that file was patterns I would do over and over when I practiced (you know whenever you get stumped you start repeating stuff). That's why it sounds robotic. And then also some 'accidental' patterns happened in there. Trust me I can cut faster than that, and so can other people... stuff matches up with a fast tempo a lot easier than people think. I did a pattern on track 1 of Switchblade sermons that's actually a lot faster than that.

Then Ricci contacted you to be a member of Ned Hodding, is that right?

T: Nah I didn't meet Ricci until later on, when we all went to the DMC. That's the first time we all met up at once.

How was the first contact with the other members of the crew?

T: Glenn (Excess) was kind of a dick when I first was introduced to him hahahahaha. My friend Juan (aka Dj Presyce) introduced me to him in New York when we went out there for the first Allies battle. I think Presyce had asked me to cut or something and I just did some BS cuts and Glenn gave that look like "uh whatever" Hashanah. But after our paths crossed again with the whole Styluswars thing, we became real cool friends. Mike was real chill, showed mad respect and all that. Glenn told me about him before I met him and he was exactly the way he described. Ric I met in a cut session, and that was probably the best way for me to meet him. He told me his name was Bob though, which was kinda odd... I still don't know why he did that.

Is it true that you were cutting only to your own beats to develop your own style?

T: Yes this is true, but it never was to develop my own style. I just liked my beats more and in turn, it helped me make my own flavor.

Are you proud to see your cuts style and beat productions style everywhere, even in battle? Or does that make you sad? Do you think you changed the scratch game?

T: I's cool to have influence on people, but I don't like it when people make it obvious that they are trying to emulate instead of doing what they feel. I don't know about changing 'the scratch game'... I wouldn't be so pretentious to say something like that. Everything causes change.

You made cuts using sentences on the Scetchbook track "If you don't break your neck we will", is it dedicated to all those biters?

T: Not really, but If I keep seeing people borrowing my flavor, I will dedicate something to them soon enough.

Is Get'em really limited to 1000 copies or is it a "promotional trick"? Because I really have doubts.

T: Oh no, they really are limited.

Talking about doubts, you clearly say on your Stylus wars interview that "Switchblade sermons" is not a one take freestyle CD, do you think people that are used to hear "one take" freestyle Tape/CDs are considering this as "cheating"? What is your opinion on that?

T: Nah that CD wasn't intended for people who are thinking about things like "It wasn't one take so it's cheating." It was intended for people who actually appreciate scratch styles and flows. That's like saying your favorite vocalist is cheating when he/she is recording verses separately in the studio.

Do you earn a living from your music?

T: Kind of... It's back and forth with my job and music.

Do you know much about the European tablist scene? (People like Noisy Stylus, Birdy Nam Nam, C2C, 2tall, and others I've probably forgot)

T: Not a whole lot, but I've judged ITFs in Germany and there I met and heard some real cool cats over there. Overseas people got mad love.

What do you think of Scetchbook? Piece of art? Pile of shit? Pile of art? Piece of shit? Pielce of shart?

T: Dope album. I'm glad to be a part of it.

What are your future projects, I heard you are now working on a straight hip hop LP, where you make the cuts and produce the beats, do you already have contacts with MCs? Who are the MCs you appreciate the most?

T: Yeah I will be putting out some hiphop stuff in the near future. I have a short list of MC's I can actually get in touch with and collaboration with. I have too many favorite MCs.

Ricci often says that if Ned Hoddings enter the DMC battle, they will have the title. Do you think it's true? If so, why don't you do that to bring more interest and fewer headaches to the Battle scene?

T: I'd be lying if I said I don't agree with him, but I don't think that a DMC title would benefit anyone in our group very much. Me in particular... I wouldn't find that kind of thing gratifying. But if the prize was like a lot of money, I would do it! haha

On a track, you scratch a synth sound you played and pressed only for this purpose (you can hear it on the "A night at the Knitting factory" DVD and on a DMC showcase in Canada with Excess and D-styles). This way, the melody is really more complex than everything else in the scratch scene. Do you think you can go even further with scratch melodies?

T: Yeah of course... I came up with that concept very fast; I'll take that a bit further soon enough.

What is this "particular" Toadstyle cap you wear? If you don't mind, we can give you a Hand control limited edition Trucker hat.

T: hahaha. The hat a lot of people see me wear is a rare kind of Kepi. I can't stand trucker hats.

How do you feel on stage? Relaxed?

T: Half and half... Usually when things go wrong (we mess up or something) I feel more relaxed because it can't get any worse.

What are you listening to these days?

T: Always various stuff, but the last thing in my CD walkman was a really good house music mix.

Numark TTX or Vestax PDX?

T: Both.

A trak is deejaying for Kanye West, what do you think about that?

T: That's good, I bet he's having a lot of fun.

Who was the last scratch DJ to make you say "woah" with a "ahhhhh" or "fresh"?

T: When I judged the Chicago DMC this year, this one older cat did some super basic transforms with a phrase and it was sick.

I heard that you have problem travelling by plane or something like that. Is that true?

T: Nah. Maybe you have me confused with Ricci... He doesn't like heights I think.

What do you think is the next trend in turntable music?

T: I don't know, I'm not concerned with trends... I just want to see people be honest that's all.

Are you proud of the Bastard Language Tour, or do you think you could have made it better?

T: Well like 60 percent of the stuff was freestyle, so it was what it was. It was just some shows... Nothing too big. That is like a tiny glimpse of what we could do if we have time to get together and actually work something out.

Can you tell us something funny that happened in your life?

T: One time I beat a person so bad in Mortal Kombat 2 he threw his wallet/pouch thing at the screen and money and change flew everywhere making a huge mess and MAD noise... it was hysterical. It had to be like 10 bucks in change.

How was your first kiss?

T: It was almost perfect.

Do you consider yourself as a nerd (either a scratch nerd, or a record nerd, a game nerd, a cyber nerd, a sex nerd)? Are you highly addicted to something?

T: Hmmm. I collect kung fu movies and I'm kind of a game nerd.

Are you attracted to other forms of artistic expression than music?

T: Yes, all.

Favourite sneaker?

T: I dunno, I have all types. I guess for now my fave would be my Reebok Pro Legacy pair.

Lil Jon or Lil Kim?

T: Neither.

ISP, Beat Junkies or the X?

T: All of the above.

The girlfriend of your dream?

T: I'm not interested in a girlfriend at this point in time.

Trying to cover a bit more ground on your past for those that don't know, can you tell us how you fell into scratching and got into it? Oh yeah and where does your name come from?

T: My name comes from a kung fu movie called "Five Deadly Venoms." Also the middle three letters in Toadstyle is an homage to the man who I first heard scratching from.

You've mentioned in your interview on SW that making scratch music in the studio (in the way you've done live with Ned and BLT) doesn't interest you that much. But what about merging production on samplers and computers, with scratch music, live instruments, singers, rappers etc. the whole melting pot aspect of using what you feel is right to make music at the time. Is that something that appeals to you?

T: I specified that I didn't care much for PURE 100% scratch music in the studio. Hybrid stuff is all good.

How does it feel for you to have come out onto the scene in recent years and already be involved and working with people like D, Ricci, Mike and Excess, as well as being on Styluswars and in a position to release your music (which is a situation I'm sure many people would envy but which is also in a way quite lucky if you see what I mean)?

T: It's not that big of a deal. Anyone can release a record. I am fortunate though that I met and befriended everyone. I don't feel lucky because its my skills that put me in the position that I'm in, not luck.

Do you have any thoughts on the way the media appropriates part of the turntablist scene and its culture at times? (such as adverts, university courses, TV programs etc.) Do you think it's all bad, or do you lean more towards the belief that any attention put on this artform in any way will be beneficial in the long run?

T: Nah I don't think about that. I don't care about that.

What do you think is wrong with the scratch scene today and what do you think is dope?

T: I haven't paid attention too much to the scratch scene to know. I just take part whenever I can and contribute.

Any thoughts on Bush's re-election?

T: At least he can't be elected again.

If I say message boards you say?

T: Same old.

Worst place on earth you've been to, and the best one?

T: I'll answer that when I've been everywhere. Peace and be on the lookout, listen out for some new stuff from me. Hope you enjoy.

Thanks to Toad for his time and Sam for the hook up. Interview conducted by Samsascratch for Hand Control and Laurent Fintoni for Spin Science. For more information on Toadstyle and his work check Styluswars.