Every Tuesday, we will post a new conversation with an artist that we play frequently on Tha 4.0 Show. Regardless whether you’re familiar with the artist or not, the idea is to get THAT much closer to them and why they make music. We also want to promote the artist as well as Tha 4.0 Show which you can hear on Fridays from 8pm to 10pm CST (9 to 11 EST,) and encourage people to SUPPORT dope music. I am ecstatic that the first artist to agree to take part in this is one of my personal favorite emcees in the game, Skyzoo.
Wes: I first heard you back in 06 I think. My girlfriend worked at Dr. Wax, this record store out here in the Chi. She knew I loved anything 9th. So she came home one Friday with Cloud 9: the 3 Day High… I knew what was up after “Way to Go” (track 2)…
”Skyzoo”: Word up. Thanks
Wes: Will there be a part 2?
“Skyzoo”: Maybe in the future. Right now I’m focused on my official debut album “The Salvation” The mixtape is dropping in February and the album will be in the spring
Wes: Who can we expect to hear on it as far as features or producers?
“Skyzoo”: Production on it comes from 9th wonder, Pete Rock, Nottz, Needlz, Illmind and more. 9th wonder is executive producing the album
Wes: Good biz – That’s a dope cast - do you feel like producers are recognizing you for what you bring to the game?
“Skyzoo”: Definitely. I work with a great list of producers and artists, all off of the respect they have for my music. It’s definitely a blessing
Wes: Switching gears, you mention a lot of hoops and sports references in your music
“Skyzoo”: Yea I’m big on sports, especially basketball. I grew up playing point guard almost as much as I did making music.
Wes: What’s your 2009 NBA all star ballot lookin’ like?
“Skyzoo”: Aww man, let me see…
“Skyzoo”: For the East: Dwight Howard, LeBron James, Kevin Garnett, Dwayne Wade, and maybe Vince Carter
“Skyzoo”: I always supported carter
Wes: Over AI or Devin Harris?
“Skyzoo”: Nah, you’re right
Wes: I think AI is leading now, I’m not sure.
“Skyzoo”: Either of them, but probably AI to run the point
Wes: Ok out west? THAT’S where it gets crazy…
Wes: ‘cuz no matter what you say - somebody gets shafted
“Skyzoo”: For the West: Amare Stoudamire, Kobe Bryant, Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony, and Brandon Roy
Wes: I like the Roy pick - he’s more deserving this year than Mac
“Skyzoo”: Mac definitely gets busy though, but I like what Brandon Roy is doing on the court. He’s good on both ends of the floor equally
Wes: One thing I like about your style is the story telling aspect that you bring back every so often
Wes: Like soul on ice, or like the remix to Superstar
“Skyzoo”: Yea I grew up a block away from Biggie, so story telling is a part of me
“Skyzoo”: The whole “Salvation” album is gonna be stories. The mixtape and internet stuff has to be more about bodying the beats because that’s how I got my respect, but the whole album is just cohesive stories
Wes: What’s your favorite BIG story?
“Skyzoo”: “Everyday struggle” is my top BIG story, easily
“Skyzoo”: Followed by “Somebody Gotta Die” and “I Got a Story to Tell”
Wes: “They Range got towed they double parked by a hydrant” might be the greatest ending ever though
“Skyzoo”: Yea for real
Wes: how do you feel about file sharing downloading? And how do you think it affects you?
Wes: I mean, some artists think it’s a positive and some believe it hurts more than it helps
“Skyzoo”: But at the same time, the game has completely changed. It’s harder to earn a living from music, so there’s pros and cons at the same time
Wes: People come to my house and I’m always playing music, so let’s say its April or May or June 09… I’m bumping “Salvation”. They say, “Let me get that”
Wes: What do you say to sell it to them instead?
“Skyzoo”: “There hasn’t been an album created with this much passion in years. The album is a piece of art. It definitely deserves your $15. Plus, the booklet is a piece of art in itself; you need that to tie in with the story”. That’s what you should say to them
Wes: Bet, I got a policy, since I buy almost ALL my records, that if they really HAVE to have it I just go out and buy a second copy and call it a gift. ‘Cuz it’s not THAT expensive!
“Skyzoo”: Lol
“Skyzoo”: That’s dope
Wes: I think it was Eminem who said: ‘people complain about $15 when they’re downloading my music. I never even HAD a computer! If you can afford that - you can buy the album’
“Skyzoo”: Word up
Wes: So how is the project being released? What label and distribution?
“Skyzoo”: Well 9th Wonder is executive producing the project and it’s coming out through his label, and we’re still choosing who we want to distribute it
Wes: Name 5 artists to look out for that will be worth people’s $15
“Skyzoo”: Wale, Torae, Nina B, Maino, and Jay Rock
“Skyzoo”: All of those artists’ albums are gonna be great
*Excerpt from “For the Summer”*
“And they’ll never be ashamed to stand behind my name,
Even though it ain’t Obama it’s synonymous with change/”
Wes: What do you believe Obama’s presidency represents?
“Skyzoo”: That was history making. The ceiling has officially been eliminated and now there is no such thing as a limit. I know he will do a great job, but I also know it won’t be over night. People have to realize that a lot was done by the Bush administration, so it won’t be an overnight change. People are thinking that things will be different in a day, but it’s not gonna work like that. Give him the time he’s earned and deserves to do the job, and things will all shape up
Wes: Word.
Skyzoo info:
friend him: myspace.com/skyzoo
follow him: twitter.com/therealskyzoo
support the music: Amazon, MySpace, THE STORE…
