Producer and DJ Richy Pitch is a rare British name signed to an independent American hip-hop label. Born in Hertfordshire, he studied education at the nearby University of London, and began organizing his first parties around the same time. Influenced by old school hip-hop, he received spinning dates for Gilles Peterson (Talkin' Loud) and Soul II Soul, and moved to full-fledged promoting with a British tour by the American 7 Heads collective. The relationship led to a contract, and Pitch's first record, Live at Home, was released in 2002. ~ John Bush