01. And Starring…
02. Still Spittin’
03. DTP Magic (ft. Willy Northpole)
04. Get Up Get Out (ft. Block Xchange)
05. So Thoro
06. The Vocalizer
07. Bigg Ass House
08. 2 Kings (ft. I-20)
09. Politics As Usual
10. Look What I Got (ft. Playaz Circle)
11. Pinky Shinin’ (ft. Small World)
12. Sho’Nuff Revisited (ft. Lil’ Fate)
13. Ordinary Negroes
14. Busta Rhymes - Throw It Up (ft. Lil’ Wayne & Ludacris)
15. LA The Dark Man - Coogi Down (ft. Willie The Kid)
16. I’m A Dog (ft. Playaz Circle)
17. Smokin Big Kill (ft. Shawnna)
18. Stay Together
19. We Ain’t Worried Bout You
20. Roll The Credits
21. Been Puttin On / Secret Song
I had the pleasure of interviewing the artist formerly known as Mad Skillz aka The Punch line Professor, Skillz before his album, “The Million Dollar Backpack” drops Tuesday, July 22nd. We spoke about his new album, the heat around an alleged Weezy beef and his most memorable session, peep the Q&A here exclusively on the3XGP.com.
Felicia: What exactly is a Million Dollar Backpack?
Skillz: A Million Dollar Backpack is me subsequently just saying you can’t judge a book by its cover. Being what I make people tend to call underground music, what I’m trying to say is that just because I make what y’all call backpack music doesn’t mean I don’t have the same dreams as everyone else?
Felicia: What instigated this creation? You have production from Jazzy Jeff to ?uestlove and appearances by Talib and Common so how did this come about?
Skillz: Just the fact that I had been on the road for so long doing a lot of touring from The Roots to Jazzy Jeff, it was to a point where the label was like, “You gonna make another album, do you want to even do an album?” because I was touring so much but I was recording periodically but not really locking myself down in the studio and doing it. It took me a minute to get it right and I think that’s why it took so long, I had to get it right. I need the right songs, I need to sound the right way, had to get the guest appearances from my favourite artists and then I’ll put it all out. Once it all came together, I was doing my thing!
Skillz interview with DJ Q45 on BET Rap City July 18, 2008
Felicia: I was reading up on your blog and there was a lot of heat around your ‘FUCK THE DJ’ entry regarding a statement from Lil’ Wayne that you addressed. Can you set the record straight for us on the3XGP.
Skillz: I had read something Wayne had said about Deejays and I’m new to blogging, people can take what they want off your blog and post quotes from my blog and I didn’t know how it all works but I’m thinking I got like 15 people on my blog and can say what I want but people were posting it on other sites. I saw ‘Skillz response to Lil’ Wayne,’ but I was like ‘I’m not responding to him, Lil’ Wayne wasn’t even talking to me. It’s a clean vision of how technology takes things. I do stand behind my statement, I don’t understand why he would say it or what prompted him to say it. Deejays’ are the corner stone of this music and you really got to respect them. I’m not saying that if a Deejay spits in my face I gotta respect him but if he aint do anything to me, we need these dudes. I didn’t really understand that, how you could do that.
So Far So Good (featuring Talib Kweli)
Felicia: That being said, what do you think is in Hip-Hop’s future?
Skillz: We need to focus on making good music, I believe that a lot of people tend to want to separate music; we tend to want to label music. You know, Hipster Rap, Backpack Rap, commercial, R&B. I believe theres only two types of music out there, good music and bad music.
Felicia: So what are your guilty pleasures? What’s something up on Skillz iPod that we’d never expect to see?
Skillz: No Doubt! I love “It’s My Life,” another Gwen Stefani song I love. Justin’s last album is on my iPod but I love 80s pop music. At any given time you can catch me in the car listening to the Eurhythmics, Men Without hats, I love that kind of shit. But as far as R&B, I love old R&B but that’s not a shock, I love the Isley brothers and I’m a huge Stevie Wonder Fan.
Felicia: You don’t really pop into the mixtape scene often but when you do it’s not you covering top 40 tracks, your last mix tape, Design of a Decade Volume 1 dropped to receive great reviews but is there going to be a second installment?
Skillz: Yeah! I was already half way done it when I finished the last one but I was on the road and didn’t have a chance to get out and do it but it’s crazy. It has the same vibe and features obscure records it’s not the norm, it’s the records everybody forgot about but not me.
Skillz Freestyle on BET Rap City July 18, 2008
Felicia: You were a ghost writer and you are an emcee, what did you want to be when he grew up ?
Skillz: When I was a kid I knew I wanted to be on TV, I would always say that. I’d watch Different Strokes and all that shit and always wanted to be on television, just never figured it would be for rapping. Ghost writing was never in the picture, it wasn’t something you could even imagine yourself being at that point. I couldn’t imagine I would have made it this far doing what I love to do, just making hip-hop music and that’s what me, Talib Kweli and Common were discussing, hip-hop doesn’t have to be good to any of us, none of if it is promised to us. We’ve come a long way and I’m appreciative of that. We are blessed, there is another option to listen to someone else, these people are taking time out to listen and see us so we got to give them our best or nothing at all.
Felicia: What was your introduction into Hip-Hop? What caused your first rhyme?
Skillz: I used to Deejay, my start into hip-hop was that. I bought turn tables, mixer and I knew how to blend, wasn’t really a good scratcher but I had records. I tried break dancing when that was popping and I was good at that a little bit but couldn’t spin on my head for that long. Then I sucked at graffiti writing, I can write a tag but you’d have no clue what it was [laughs]. Then I started emceeing and that’s when I got the best response, people were like ‘Yo that’s dope, yo your dope!” and then I thought ‘Oh shit maybe that’s the one I’ll stick with.’ and that’s what I did …I stuck with the rapping.
Felicia: Since everybody and their mama are using the elections [Senator Obama specifically] as inspiration in rhymes, on shirts but are we ever going to hear a political track from you endorsing a candidate?
Skillz: Yeah, if I do it will be after we see who wins, it’s a changing time and things could go in either direction. I want to stand back and see what happens but I would be compelled to make a song because its history, it’s bigger than that it’s not something that happens every day.
Showing support for The Roots - Rising Down on April 29, 2008
Felicia : You are known for being the Punch Line Professor as a battling emcee what advice do you have for the legion of freestylers?
Skillz: Be original make sure your on point with what’s going on but educate yourself because a lot of younger cats just hop out and do songs and think they know what’s going on but don’t. You got to educate yourself, the songs are out there for us to use as educational tools to have. Make sure you do your research, there’s kids out there spinning but don’t know who Marly Marl is and that aint cool.
Felicia: If you were stuck on an island, and let’s just say you could only have one record with you to play over and over again, what would it be?
Skillz:Paid in Full. Paid in Full! Rakim was so influential to me, he was the kind of person who changed the game and brought in a lot of flavour and brought my ear in from the jump. Without Rakim there would be no Skillz, hearing him changed my life.
Felicia: Should there a level on responsibility placed on emcees for what they are saying and doing?
Skillz: Yes definitely. I think we have an edge a lot of people don’t have. A lot of people are listening to us and people are listening to us we should keep that in mind. We have these ears ad know they are on to you, you gotta give them something. Like you can’t eat bad food all the time, that shit will kill you. You gotta mix it up at some point, you know?
Felicia: What’s next for you and your million dollar backpack?
Skillz: Right now I’m going on tour next month, going out with The Roots, pushing this album while doing more videos, more songs will leak from the album and I’m ready to ride it out for the rest of the year until Christmas when I do the “Rap-Up” but I know I won’t take this long to make another album. Like I told you, there wasn’t a urgency to get back in the studio before, I was on the road, I was making money, I was recording freestyles and mixtapes here and there. Now I feel the urgency, I hear all the people saying “It’s about time” so now I’m going to put out quality music at a speed that the people will be appreciative of.
Skillz - The Rap Up ‘07
Felicia: I can only imagine how many sessions you have been involved in but what is the most memorable freestyle you have been involved in thus far?
Skillz: Damn. It had to be with Q-Tip, Black Thought and Large Professor on a big tour bus, can’t even remember whose it was but we were all on it and had a beat CD on and just went crazy with it. That was one of my most memorable because I’m a fan of them.
Felicia: Skillz, I don’t want to put you on the spot but could you give us a quick taste before the album drops on the 22nd?
Skillz:Big never had one but Kanye did but he misplaced his soon as he got rich// Puff had one way before he became Diddy used to see him all the time out in New York city// Q Tip rocked his live on Arsenio , Buck Shot was the first one to put it in the video// MC Search dropped the flow with his on his back, and that was the last time you saw YO! MTV Raps.//
Skillz is bringing Hip-Hop back with his Million Dollar Back Pack that drops Tuesday,July 22, make sure you go out and cop it or hit him up at www.myspace.com/skillz Reporting for the3XGP.com, I’m Felicia Mancini.
DJ Z let me know that California up and coming MC, Rob Grimes is about to release a mixtape inspired by the brainchild visionaries of Kanye West and Pharrell Willliams.
Preview 2 tracks on the upcoming Glow In The Dark themed mixtape, that will be out Tuesday, July 15, 2008.
ABOUT ROB GRIMES: Rob Grimes music is a mix of swagger, raw hip-hop, catchy flows and hooks, with lesson behind it. Rob Grimes has been compared on numerous accounts to the likes of Jay-z, Mos Def, Lupe Fiasco, Eminem, Kanye West and others. Rob has been featured on Audio-Ology.com, HipHopRuckus.com & Front 2 Back Magazine.
It’s that time again for the annual Get Right series to take off. Check out the new artwork cover for the upcoming mixtape by my dude DJ Benzi. Coming Real Soon.
01. Intro
02. Amnesia
03. Money Come Fast
4. Pistol (ft. T.I.)
05. Lookin’ Boy
06. Let’s Get It
07. Wus Up Wit U
08. In One Ear And Out The Other
9. Enemies Closer
DJ Baby Yu is one of Canada’s greatest DJ’s of all time and will soon be venturing full-time into the U.S. market with 3 new nightclub residencies, including a brand new radio show in addition to his continued satellite shows. the3XGP.com had a chance to catch up with the Remix Kid as he prepares to take his career to the next level.
Nas with DJ Baby Yu
RFC: You will soon be making the move from Toronto to Atlanta. Explain why the move to a new market and what the ATL music scene has to offer that the T-Dot has yet to develop.
DJ Baby Yu: The entertainment scene in general is way bigger in the U.S. obviously, and I felt that I was getting older faster than what I wanted to accomplish, so I took the dive. Other than that, artists are so much easier to get in touch with over in Atlanta. If they don’t live there already, they seem to find themselves there. Makes it easier for me to get in touch with them to do mixtapes, radio interviews and for production. At the end of the day, the Hip Hop culture was founded in the U.S., and that’s where I like to expand my career.
RFC: You have been DJing for quite a long time now. At any point did you ever have a part time job in between gigs like at the Foot Locker or McDonalds?
DJ Baby Yu: The only job I ever had was at a skating rink as a skate patrol during my last year in high school. You know during recreational skating, where they wear the bright yellow jackets screaming “No TAG on the ice!!!!” yeah that was me!
Rick Ross with DJ Baby Yu
RFC: Do you think it’s important for DJ’s to be on top of their game, have the ability to read crowds, to break new music and provide a vast variety of musical knowledge in their sets while showcasing their talents?
DJ Baby Yu: Yes of course! That divides the good from the bad.
RFC: You have had some impressive artists guest host your mixtapes. Of all your mixtapes that you have put together, which one would you rank as your favorite?
DJ Baby Yu: The West Side Story Mixtape Hosted By The Game. He’s a great guy on and off stage, and had lot’s of fun touring across Canada with him. I had a lot of fun putting that mixtape together.
DJ Baby Yu with Jermaine Dupri
RFC: Lil’ Wayne recently cleared a million plus copies of Tha Carter III. What was your initial reaction when you heard about the Foundation magazine interview when he addressed all mixtape DJ’s to go fuck themselves?
DJ Baby Yu: I think he was pissed that most of his stuff was being leaked I guess. Considering this day in age where no one buys LP’s anymore, he was probably afraid that it would affect sales. He’s a BIG ZERO without all these mixtape DJ’s. Nothing more to explain.
RFC: You have got to travel all over the world and you have seen many places. What was the best club that you have ever played at? What was the most memorable crowd you that have ever played in front of?
DJ Baby Yu: The best club must of been in Bangkok, Thailand at this place called Bed Supper Club. Entire club is white with black lights and king size beds all around the club. Getting a massage while you get your drink on with great food, you can’t beat that!. The most memorable crowd out of town must of been in Oslo, Norway. RG and I killed it and was surprised with their music knowledge! From New Jack to 90’s Hip Hop they were singing word for word.
DJ Baby Yu with Cassie
RFC: Name one song that will always get the crowd moving at parties. And name one song that you can’t stand playing but always get requests for.
DJ Baby Yu: I think Poison by Bell Biv Devoe is Universal, other than that Jay-Z, “I Just Wanna Love You” and 50 Cent, “In Da Club” never fails. There’s not a song right now where I can’t stand playing, but I’ve retired Usher - “Yeah”.
RFC: Would you agree that the club MC is an instrumental factor in the success of a party? How much credit do you give your club MC for maintaining the energy and flow of the party?
DJ Baby Yu: It’s very important! Most DJ’s know how to rock a crowd while they DJ. That’s how it usually works, but since I’m so keen and technical on what I do with remixing, it’s almost impossible to do both. Having a great MC will make that party 10x better! Luckily I have RG who is a great party MC.
DJ Baby Yu & RG
RFC: You have rocked tons of shows over the years. Has there even been a night where everything that could go wrong, did go wrong? Any bad travel stories or shady promoter stories that come to mind?
DJ Baby Yu: I guess I’ve been lucky cuz I don’t remember anything serious. Luckily having a great manager and assistant, I’ve never encountered any problems with any shady promoters. Other than that, people have walked over power cords to take out all the power in a club by accident. lol.
RFC: In the past few years DJ’s have made the transition from carrying record crates to carrying laptops and hard drives. How much has Serato Scratch Live changed your DJ life?
DJ Baby Yu: No more heavy lifting has saved my back that’s for sure. Other than that, it made me a better DJ overall. Serato can make anyone a DJ, but made DJ’s like me an even better DJ!
DJ Baby Yu with Busta Rhymes
RFC: Who are Baby Yu’s Top 3 MC’s of all time?
DJ Baby Yu: Biggie, Jay and Nas of course.
RFC: Who are Baby Yu’s Top 3 R&B artists of all time?
DJ Baby Yu: Aaliyah, Whitney Houston, Bell Biv Devoe
Jim Jones with DJ Baby Yu
RFC: Who are Baby Yu’s Top 3 DJ’s of all time?
DJ Baby Yu: Jazzy Jeff, Clinton Sparks, AM
RFC: Name some of your favorite websites you like to hit up.
RFC: What changes would you like to see in the music business or the nightclub business that would be beneficial to all DJ’s across the board?
DJ Baby Yu: The one thing that bothers me is that nightclub owners sometimes forget how important it is to create a good DJ booth for the club. That’s all I have to say not to mention any clubs!!!
RFC: How important is it for DJ’s to promote, market, network and brand themselves as valuable entities in the music industry? How can one DJ get to the level of national recognition?
DJ Baby Yu: It’s probably the most important thing to becoming a successful DJ. If you got your business side on point, it don’t really matter how good you are as a DJ. To help get national recognition, take advantage of the Internet and promote your podcasts, mixtapes etc. Ideas are endless, but luck and being at the right place and right time is important too.
Young Jeezy with DJ Baby Yu
RFC: You have built quite an impressive resume and following. Is there one defining moment in your career that stands out or are you still in search of that illusive one?
DJ Baby Yu: I mean theres always something bigger happening in my career every year, but I’m still not satisfied. So I guess I’m still searching for that ‘ONE’!
RFC: As you embark in a new chapter with your relocating to the United States, do you feel you have yet to touch the surface of accomplishing your goals? Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
DJ Baby Yu: My goals are endless. And what I mean by that, DJing around the world, touring with artists, producing for artists, syndicated radio shows, acting, clothing line, mixtape collaborations, and it goes on forever. In 5 years I say I would be doing all of the above !!
The Clipse with DJ Baby Yu
RFC: What started off as a love for music has turned into a full time job. Any advice you would like to pass on to anyone out there who is considering a career in the DJ business?
DJ Baby Yu: You answered it for me with the question. Start it off for the love of the music and take it from there. Use other successful people as an example and make it your own, and don’t try and become a carbon copy. It takes a lot of work, luck, patience and help from others to become successful.
RFC: Best of luck in all of your future endeavors. Any shout outs or plugs you would like to mention?
Footage of DJ Baby Yu’s Bye Bye Party @ This Is London in Toronto, June 23, 2008. The legendary DJ Starting From Scratch said a few words while Canadian comedian extroadinaire, Russell Peters gave Baby Yu some words of advice regarding his move to Atlanta.
01. I’m Rising to the Top
02. MoonMan
03. My Heart
04. Don’t Stop 50’s Music
05. Before I Let Go
06. Thanks A lot
07. This Is For You
08. When I Get Out
09. I Wanna Be Your Favorite
10.That Girl
11.Cruising Music
12. My Name Rings Bells
This came out yesterday, I listened to it, not great sound qaulity…but it’s the Snow Man!
01. I’m Here
02. Put On
03. Black Dreams Freestyle
04. Translator
05. Out Here Grindin’
06. Entertained Freestyle
07. Prime Minister Freestyle
08. Job For
09. C.T.E. Freestyle
10. Serious Freestyle
11. Legal
12. Lollipop Freestyle
Check out part 2 of The Empire interview conducted by Low Key of BET.com. What needs to be known about Lil’ Wayne’s Foundation magazine rant was that he was directing it to one specific DJ - The Empire. The clip that was chopped up and sent online to websites and blogs depicts Wayne as an artist who hates all mixtape DJ’s. Read more about the situation on the link below.
My dude Low Key spoke with The Empire, who is the notorious DJ that Lil’ Wayne called out last week in that infamous Foundation magazine rant in terms of his music being leaked on mixtapes the past 2 years. Many will argue it was these same mixtapes that helped build Wayne’s momentum on a street level as he continued to record new records in preparation of Tha Carter III.
The Empires Strikes Back At Lil Wayne, “I Got Your Records From Somebody That Sits Next To You On Your Bus.”
No hard feelings. Despite being called out by Lil’ Wayne for putting out his unauthorized The Drought Is Over series, The Empire isn’t mad at Weezy. However, he does have some sound advice for the rapper.“I’ve never been to a Lil’ Wayne studio session,” Empire told XXLMag.com. “He gotta look at his inside camp and understand that I got those records from somebody that sits right next to him on a bus…That’s co-signing him while he’s talking about me. I’m not gonna put his name out there, but it’s one of those guys. They’re sitting next to him every day.”
As previously reported, Weezy phoned into DJ Drama’s Shade 45 radio show to clear up comments he made about mixtape DJs in Foundation Magazine. Apparently, Wayne wasn’t pissed at DJ’s in general, but at Empire in particular. “For all DJ’s, just letting y’all know, that whole shit was meant for that Empire nigga,” Wayne declared during the phoner. “I don’t fuck with [him]. This nigga puts out a CD on me every month. I couldn’t [even] tell you what he looks like.” Empire has a different story.
“I spoke to Wayne,” the DJ assured. “After [The Drought Is Over] Pt.2, I spoke to him. We were supposed to work out a situation where we can work together. Wayne hosted my first Empire joint, so for him to say he don’t even know who I am, that was wrong.” He made the comments that I dropped CD’s every month,” he continued. “That’s wrong. I dropped five CD’s in two years. I made sure all of them were quality. My CD’s are known for having the new music. These kids are running around putting stuff out like stuff I played or whatever leaks on the Internet, I think that’s wack and I’ve been not feeling that. I feel like I did more good than bad. Those have been the hottest CD’s in the streets for the past year and a half.”
To let him tell it, leaking Tha Carter III was wrong as well. Though he’s featured leaked records from earlier Carter III versions, Empire doesn’t agree with the DJ’s who leaked the CD in protest. “I could have took Tha Carter and put out a new Drought, but that’s not what I’m about,” he explained. “The kids that did that, that’s wack. They’re just trying to look for press.”
He didn’t leak the record and he won’t say if he profited from the Drought series, but he does have an opinion on Tha Carter’s third act. Actually, Empire thinks The Drought Is Over Pt.2 is a better record than Tha Carter III.
“It’s not what I expected,” Empire confessed. “There’s definitely some records on there. The Dought Is Over 2, a lot of those records were samples that would have been really good if they could have been cleared. It would have been very costly to clear. That “Mr. Carter” record on Tha Carter III, that record is crazy. No records on none of my tapes equal that joint. But I don’t know, The Drought Is Over 2 is just crazy to me.”
