SKIP of WELOOSE - Interview

HowThatSound recently linked up with Miami based artist Skip (of WeLoose) for an Interview in which we talked about everything from the origin of his emcee name to what he felt were his biggest challenges as an artist.

Hit the jump to read the Interview in it's entirety.




HTS: I'd just like to start by saying thank you for joining us today and let's get the ball rolling with a bit of an introduction - tell everyone a little about yourself.

SKIP: My names Skip, I'm reppin' WELOOSE Music out of Miami, FL. I was raised between Miami and Germany but have been in Miami for the last 10 plus years. Im an artist, a producer, and I record, edit, and mix most of my own material.

I like to make music that makes people dance, but also like to make music that makes people think. I'm a big believer in working on the craft of being an emcee and learning about the history of it.

HTS: Talkin' of your name 'Skip' how did you choose this to be your emcee name?

SKIP: Well I had a few coming up but I settled on Skip because well its actually my name lol. It's not my government name, but I'm a junior so my family and friends have been calling me Skip since I was a kid.

I'm an artist who feels like too many emcees have to get into character or have an alias completely opposite of their personality just to sell records. I'm just myself so my name works lol.

HTS: Yeah, that's how it should be! You said there you have had the name Skip since you were a kid have you been making music since then too?

SKIP: Me and my partner Luck started WELOOSE Music back in 1999 officially. I started writing verses as far back as 95-96 though. I started making beats in 2001 just out of necessity. We jus clicked up, and started dropping albums.

HTS: Could you tell us a little about these albums?

SKIP: I have a few projects out right now, all of which you can get on my website (skipofweloose.com). I have my first album 'This is Skip' which is my first solo LP, again I produced, recorded, and mixed most of it.

Most recently, I have a mixtape called 'Skip Vs JayZ' which features me flowing on some JayZ instrumentals and some JayZ acapellas on some of my own beats.

Last out, I have 'ThruSpace' (myspace.com/ThruSpace) which is a totally left field album. Its an instrumental concept album for those who like Drum n Bass and Breakbeat. ThruSpace is only available on iTunes.

HTS: You have a pretty diverse catalog! I like the sound of 'ThruSpace' I'm a bit of a DnB head myself, I'll have to check that one out. Is there anything you working on right now?

SKIP: Yea, coming up 1st quarter 2010 is my new album 'See Skip Rap' and the 1st single 'Lemme' is out now! Its even been featured on this site lol. (If you missed it before check out Skip's single 'Lemme' by clicking HERE).

HTS: In your musical career which artists have most influenced you and your music?

There's so many to name because I like so many different kinds of music. I'll list a few I usually have in rotation: Eminem, Dizzee Rascal, Beastie Boys, Korn, System of a Down, Jay-Z, The Neptunes, Ice Cube, Trick Daddy, Lil Jon, The Prodigy, Micheal Jackson, M.I.A., WuTang, 36 Mafia, The Deftones and Benny Bennasi to name a few, very few. Lol

HTS: Ha! You did a good job of narrowing that down tho. Switching it up a lil - Where have you performed as an artist? Have you got any favorite and least favorite venues?

SKIP: I've performed all over south and central Florida. I'm trying to get up out the state and eventually overseas. My favorite venue was probably Ybor City at Club Empire (Tampa, FL) because it was packed wall to wall. My brother was onstage dancing when we were performing and he got pulled into the crowd by like 5 girls, I tried to tell him to watch out but I was too busy trying to save myself from being attacked lol They showed alot of love.

I wouldn't say I have a least favorite venue because I love to be on stage, but I like venues where people are there to have a good time and vibe. I don't like when people are standing around trying to be hard.
HTS: That's alot. I was actually at a gig last nite where bare fights broke out cos people were only there to act like bunch of dickheads and not too enjoy the music.

Moving on what's do you feel has been your biggest challenge as an artist? Have you ever had 'writers block'?

SKIP: My biggest challenge I'd say is just getting exposure as an artist. Alot of people know I produce but never knew I rapped too.

In Miami, and the south in general, popular music has become overrun with everyone saying they sell crack, ride in Bentleys, or rock so much ice, etc and my music is different from that. I'm basically trying to break a whole new sound and style here in the city, so it gets challenging at times, because some people feel like if you not talking about street shit, you aren't real.

It's funny because most of the dudes rapping street shit, mightve grown up around it, but never touched a gun lol. With that said writers block is rare because I'm not making music for anyone, or trying to fit in a box, its always easy to be yourself.

HTS: I can totally get on board with that, one of the many reasons for the starting this site was to help promote artists who ain't rapping or singing bout the same shit.

How has your musical sound evolved since you first started out?

SKIP: Well I think I started out doing Rap, but I've grown into doing what I call 'SkipHop.' Coming up I'd make songs about gun play, mansions and stuff like that because I wasnt conscious, maybe even not confident enough to be myself. I keep it real, I did whatever was hot at the time, one day it jus hit me like, that's bullshit lol.

I dropped all the nicknames and aka's and went with Just Skip. Id say for the last 8 years or so I've been focused on being myself musically. My music now is about so much more. Of course, working on my craft, my flows gone from average to awesome overtime lol. My production style has shifted too I started out real heavy on 36 Mafia so alot of my beats were dark and evil, now I listen to so much I have beats in all genres, from Soul, to Rap, to House and Electro. I've learned so much in all aspects of music, I do my own graphics and web design too.

HTS: You must be busy doin all that! How does an average day work out for you?

SKIP: Busy lol. I usually wake up around 10 or 11am, wake n bake get my mind right lol check my phone, emails, twitter, myspace etc for about 3-4 hours. I like to do alot of stuff myself, instead of having an intern or someone talking to my fans, I like to be in touch 1st hand.

After that I walk to the other side of the house where the studio is and either record or edit some things Im working on. I usually leave a few hours of open time for meetings, shoots, or conference calls, etc. By the time its dark Im usually plotting on a performance I have or what DJ's club Im going to go to that night. I usually get home around 3 or 4am when I like to make beats, and I do that until I pass out. lol
HTS: That's crazy! I got a lot of respect for how much work you putting in though. We'll chill with some more relaxed questions from here on out.

Like this one - Hypothetically speaking if you could work with any artist or group who would it be and why?

SKIP: Wow can I say everyone? Lol I'm going to say Dr. Dre because I think I could learn so much from him on the artist side of things, the production side, and the business side of things because he's been successful at all 3 for a long time.

HTS: Good shout. I wish he'd get on and put out Detox already, I know he's making it perfect but he's been keeping it from us for time! ha

Which artists and songs are you feeling at the minute?

SKIP: I like Eminem and JayZ's newest albums, um the new Basement Jaxx album is dope. For the last 3 days though I been bumpin' some mixtapes from Max B and The new Gucci Mane CD is rockin' too.

HTS: Ah is it? I need to listen to that.. it's been in my 'listen to' queue for a couple days now.

And finally do you have any last words, shouts out or links you want to share?

SKIP: Shoutouts to Howthatsound.com 1st of all, the WELOOSE Music fam, all my DJs, all my local artists I run with, everyone out here living life and trying to get better each day. Shoutout to the whole Dade, Broward, Palm beach counties and the whole state of Florida. Make sure you checkout my site www.skipofweloose.com As I update it almost everyday with media, and follow me on twitter @skipofweloose for the latest. Thanks!

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That just about wraps it up for this interview. I have to say a huge thank you to Skip for devoting his time to answer my questions! It really means a lot.

For all you smart dumb cats that need better presented links use the following:

Myspace / Twitter / SkipOfWeLoose
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