Originally from Virginia, Skillz knows about being overlooked. Coming from a state previously not known for its rap stars (but which has since produced the likes of Timbaland), Skillz has worked his way up and is now getting ready for the release of his second solo album. Previously known as Mad Skillz, he changed his name because, as the title of his second album states, I Ain't Mad No More. The Daily Cardinal caught up with the formerly mad emcee who will be at the Orpheum tonight with The Roots.
What do you bring to the table as an artist?
I'm the kind of nigga that keeps the nice niggas in the game. I'm one of those dudes in hip-hop that doesn't claim to be anything that I'm not. I'm not a killer. I'm not a thug. I don't claim to be nothing but nice. And I think I back that up. I represent those types of emcees.
You seem to be walking the fine line between mainstream and underground rap. How do you pull it off?
It's just in the music, and the people can tell. I just represent me. To me, it's not commercial, it's not underground. It's just my music. People put a label on it, but it's just music. I don't have nothing to do with who likes it. I'm just thankful that somebody does.
In the past, you've done some ghostwriting for some successful artists. How does it make you feel when you see your lyrics making some other artist popular?
It's a business, man. I don't look at it like this person took my song and they blowing up over it, because it makes sense for me. It helps me as a better lyricist. Ghostwriting has helped me with acting. Like becoming someone else for a little while.
You have several new songs that deal with certain themes and issues. Where do you get your inspiration?
I just think I'm a thinking man's emcee. So more or less I just try to keep my avenues open. A lot of people try to phrase me and coin me as just a battle rapper. And I've never been that way. Anybody that thinks I just battle has never heard songs like \Imagine"" or ""Suzy Q,"" and that goes back to songs like ""Ghostwriter."" I wasn't talking about battling in all those songs, and those songs still had an impact. So I'm grateful for that.
Do you plan on working with The Roots in the near future?
Yeah, we're definitely gonna get something crackin'. We're gelling real good on the road and I love those dudes. It's all good.
Besides the album, what does the future hold for you?
I'm working on this movie project that I wrote. So, I'm gonna try and get that out in the summertime.
Tell us more about that.
It's a movie that I wrote a couple of years ago. I'm gonna do what I gotta do to bring it on the screen. I'm not gonna wait for anybody else to put me in a movie, I'm just gonna shoot my own and use that kind of like a demo as far as Hollywood is concerned.
So you're just coming from all angles then, huh?
For sure, without a doubt.
What artists have influenced you and who are you listening to right now?
Guys like KRS-One, Big Daddy Kane, Rakim. Right now, I'm listening to Nas, I'm listening to 50. Common.
How's the tour going right now for you?
I'm loving it, man. Like every night it's something new. I'm loving it.
With everything that's going on right now, what do you think about the Iraq situation?
It's crazy man. It's definitely something that we got to keep our focus on and pay attention to.
