SKILLZ
SKITZO
LEINEA CRUZ
BLACKSMIF
NICKI MINAJ
JD ERA
EXACT SCIENCE
The Million Dollar Backpack - Skillz
The Boy Hollywood
CHAMP: What’s on skills agenda today how’s the day been going for you?
Skillz: Oh good man I’ve been working on the album artwork trying to get all that out the way. I'm still out here tryina bring that out
CHAMP: Now we are getting ready to launch the anticipated album titled The Million Dollar Backpack. How do you feel about that droppin' I believe it's slated for July 8th still?
Skillz: Yeah I'm excited I'm ready to rock n roll. It's been a long time coming but it's definitely worth the wait fam you know what I mean
CHAMP: No doubt and of course this will be your second joint since The Confessions of a Ghostwriter in 05 -
Skillz: Um I don't really count that, but basically Confessions of a Ghostwriter was basically like a rocket album repackaged. I can definitely say that represented what I was going through at the time
CHAMP: I was gonna ask about the 3 year hiatus but since were not gonna count that as the first album, why did it take so long for an actual album that you're comfortable to drop?
Skillz: I mean I was on tour for like 2 and a half years. When I signed a deal with Koch I was on tour for about 2 and a half years, so it was like I wasn't really focused on making an album. I was more focused on doing it right and when I did that then it made sense and then the songs started coming together and everything else just fell into place after that
CHAMP: Now upon the release of the album Alan Grunblatt has put you in the category as one of the greatest MCs. How often is that thrown at you and what's your response to such comments?
Skillz: This is the first time I've heard it but I do appreciate it and Allan has a lot of faith in me and sees I'm hard worker, so I have the same amount of respect for Koch and the team and staff over there for making this project get out to the masses and we can really do something beautiful
CHAMP: Now in terms of producers and features on this album, who do we got on the bill?
Skillz: As far as production we got my man J Dilla he did something with me he did two singles, we got ?uest Love from The Roots we got my man Orthadox who did the Freeway song, my man Fushion long time collaborator. As far as features, Me, Freeway, Common, Kweli, and Black Thought
CHAMP: Mental processing-wise, what was your vision of the outcome of the album, and did you live up to your own expectations on the final product?
Skillz: Oh yeah definitely. It's definitely been a long time coming. The songs had to be right and I had to feel like as soon as it came out it represents me. I'm ready to go out there and present what I have to the world and let them be the judge and criticize or whatever else they wanna do with this music but it represents me as an mc and as a person who’s grown as a man 100%. There's nothing on this album that isn't me.
CHAMP: Now if there's a track you gotta warn me of because I might break my finger tryina pull the track back up a few times, which one would it be?
Skillz: That would probably be a cross of between Sick (The Sequel) who was produced by Kwame or it's the last song on the album which is called Preaching to the Choir
CHAMP: Alright but you wouldn't be able to narrow it down to one?
Skillz: They're all insane on their own but together as a body of work I would say it's one of best foot forward
CHAMP: Now a lot of cats are familiar of you through the year end Rap Up and when you first started in 2002, did you think that you'd be 6 years deep I mean it's almost considered as a mandatory element in hip hop now
Skillz: Nah it started off as a freestyle and it just turned into something else. I'm happy to be doing it because it's something that's mine, it's original, people only accept it from me, and to have something like that in hip hop that's a blessing in itself
CHAMP: Speaking of the Rap Up. How's your relationship with Shaq?
Skillz: We don't have one (laughs)
CHAMP: Now Koch is definitely a spot where premium artists such as yourself, what was it about Koch that had you sold or that was enticing for you?
Skillz: I mean I just wanted them to put my record out and knew they were gonna promote it. You can’t really ask for too much. More labels are downsizing and they’re not really like they was. At the time I signed with Koch everybody was saying Koch is the graveyard where all the old artist go when they cant get a deal no more and now Koch is competing with majors .They were saying Koch only signs artists if they were already out and that didn’t hold truth. It didn't hold truth for Unk or Jim Jones I believe if you make good music then it can get played and you can maintain a relationship with radio, and can maintain a relationship with your fans and that’s what I’m all about
CHAMP: Now other than the album what do we got next for Skillz music-wise and business-wise?
Skillz: I’m bout to hit the road at the beginning of the summer I actually been talking 'bout doing this tour I don't wanna say the name of the tour, but I'd be doing it 'til fall so I'm just working ..Just working trying to stay busy.
