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Skillz
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Skillz (formerly Mad Skillz, born Donnie Shaquan Lewis in Richmond, Virginia) is an African-American rapper. Known as a talented freestyle rapper, Skillz has not received widespread acclaim outside of the hip-hop community, but within it is considered one of its best performers.
He first made a name for himself by finishing in second place in a national freestyle competition in 1995, which resulted in a recording contract with Atlantic Records. Skillz’ Atlantic debut, From Where???, and its single, “The Nod Factor”, were released in 1996, but sank without a trace. In the late-1990s, he allied himself with fellow Virginia natives Missy Elliott, Timbaland, and The Neptunes. He made appearances on Timbaland’s albums Tim’s Bio in 1998, and Indecent Proposal in 2001; Timbaland made plans to sign Skillz to the Blackhand label he was developing, the label failed to materialize. He along with Danja Mowf, Lonnie B, and Patrice O’Neal, members of Mad Skillz’ Supafriendz collective, also appeared on a remix of Aaliyah’s hit single “Are You That Somebody” in 1998.
More recently (2000) Skillz is known for his tell all single “Ghostwriter”. In which he names (but edits) artist for which he has written hit singles. With lines like ‘I’m a ghostwriter, I’m the cat that you don’t see/I write hits for rappers you like and charge ‘em a fee’. Un-edited versions of the track have not surfaced but Skillz is known to do a live performance in which he includes the names. One artist that openly admits Skillz has written hits for them is P. Diddy.
He first made a name for himself by finishing in second place in a national freestyle competition in 1995, which resulted in a recording contract with Atlantic Records. Skillz’ Atlantic debut, From Where???, and its single, “The Nod Factor”, were released in 1996, but sank without a trace. In the late-1990s, he allied himself with fellow Virginia natives Missy Elliott, Timbaland, and The Neptunes. He made appearances on Timbaland’s albums Tim’s Bio in 1998, and Indecent Proposal in 2001; Timbaland made plans to sign Skillz to the Blackhand label he was developing, the label failed to materialize. He along with Danja Mowf, Lonnie B, and Patrice O’Neal, members of Mad Skillz’ Supafriendz collective, also appeared on a remix of Aaliyah’s hit single “Are You That Somebody” in 1998.
More recently (2000) Skillz is known for his tell all single “Ghostwriter”. In which he names (but edits) artist for which he has written hit singles. With lines like ‘I’m a ghostwriter, I’m the cat that you don’t see/I write hits for rappers you like and charge ‘em a fee’. Un-edited versions of the track have not surfaced but Skillz is known to do a live performance in which he includes the names. One artist that openly admits Skillz has written hits for them is P. Diddy.
Top Albums
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I Ain't Mad No More
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Confessions of a Ghostwriter
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Got Skillz??? The Neptunes Collection, Volume 1
SkillzBuy- Download Album
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Confessions Of A Ghost Writer
SkillzBuy- Download Album
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Top Tracks
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Nod Factor
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Pressure Time
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Shoutbox
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mhunke wrote:
'up all night' is ill
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mhunke wrote:
nuthin but a lil baby phat
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Donegan123 wrote:
http://www.last.fm/group/Freeway?setlang=en
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p1ll3 wrote:
Extra Abstract Skillz is his best track
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blackambition wrote:
08' Rap Up!
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mupet0000 wrote:
Can anyone supply me with the all the rap ups he has done, Dirty versions if possible. I want the 2008 rapup dirty mostly.
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mhunke wrote:
Where I Been's got a tiiighhtt beat
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ploveskicks wrote:
Can someone add "The Million Dollar Backpack" album?
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Chingy314 wrote:
yeah he sound lil bit beans!
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Conatz wrote:
2008 Rap Up http://www.[spam]/download/534932482afd340f/
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bravebeats wrote:
www.potholesinmyblog.com . .. .. . . .. . . . . . . . . .. . . . . www.potholesinmyblog.com . .. . ........ .. . . ... . .. . .. . . . www.potholesinmyblog.com
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SabinaPatiJo wrote:
"U gotta hold on tight with a tight grip, U gotta hold tight 'coz U might slip..." awesome beat!
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Pistol999 wrote:
rap up 2008!
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TuNa_DriNk wrote:
he sounds a lil bit like Beanie Sigel to me
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trolllover wrote:
So he's the reporter from season five of the wire? 0_o
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defk3000 wrote:
Yeah, it leaked! And Yeah, I got it, but guess what, I'm still gone buy this one. Real Hip-Hop! Get it, got it; good!
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Soulful_One wrote:
rappers....
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Soulful_One wrote:
Imagine...half these rappres frontin! Ain't even live it! Skillz my mans!
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SamG7777 wrote:
Kinda hit and miss.
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pamento wrote:
The new album is fantastic.
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Recent Activity
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threedee33 and ASKI09 added Skillz to their libraries. Thursday evening
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8thlight wrote about Skillz in Le Da Soul: 20 Years Of De La Soul Mixtape. Wednesday morning
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G-Lantern, edgarlc, tribesteppaz and 21 other people added Skillz to their libraries. Wednesday morning
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Vinetto tagged Skillz with ‘underground hip-hop’. 13 days ago
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KINGLAX25, osc1979, ankit78413 and 8 other people added Skillz to their libraries. 13 days ago
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buddizm tagged Skillz with ‘hip-hop’. last month
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buddizm, GOLDENFOXXX, JRSoulchild and 12 other people added Skillz to their libraries. last month
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Rzarect0r tagged Skillz with hiphop, underground hip-hop, rap and 2 other tags. last month
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BretEastonAcid, oholivia, selvija and 1 other person added Skillz to their libraries. last month
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Bloodzie linked Skillz to S. September 2009
Related Journals
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Le Da Soul: 20 Years Of De La Soul Mixtape
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25 Nov 2009 | Add comment
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9 Sep 2009 | Add comment
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17 May 2009 | 2 comments
Groups (16)
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Funky Music
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Okayplayers
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N*E*R*D
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ANTI I Hate Hip Hop group
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The Juice Box Crew
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