Voici l’introduction formelle de mon nouveau collaborateur Randy Mason des États-Unis, plus précisément du Bronx (NY). Ce dernier nous écrira, à différentes fréquences, des articles et entrevues touchant la scène de Hip Hop américaine. Pour sa première entrevue, je suis fier d’annoncer que nous avons une entrevue exclusive avec Skyzoo, ce jeune MC de Brooklyn. Vous allez voir de plus en plus d’articles/entrevues de la part de Randy, alors n’hésitez pas à laisser vos commentaires. (Cliquez sur le lien ci-bas pour lire l’entrevue intégrale)
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Here’s the formal introduction to my new collaborator Randy Mason from the States, Bronx (NY) to be more precise. The latter will write interviews and articles about what’s going in the American Hip Hop scene. For his first interview, I am proud to announce that we have an exclusive interview with Skyzoo, the young MC from Brooklyn. You will see more and more of those articles/interviews in the future, so don’t hesitate to leave your comments. (Click on the link below to read the full interview)
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The art of storytelling, flow & delivery, the ability to make listeners believe clever & meaningful lyrics. Every so often Brooklyn produces a rare breed of emcees who excel in all these areas naturally. Right now, Skyzoo is that emcee. Pure talent, passion, and drive has catapulted the lyricist from obscurity into the underground Hip Hop scene where he now competes amongst the best of the best.
In just a few years, Skyzoo has earned the type of respect and accolades from fans and peers alike that some artists only dream of achieving in a career. Collaborating with some of Hip Hop’s heavy weights such as 9th wonder and Just Blaze just to name a few, has definitely helped solidify his name in the game as one to remember. I wish I could say we cracked open a few 40’s, lit an L and discussed where he is at now, but due to conflicting schedules we had to conform to technology.
So instead of a 40, I sipped on a cup of Bustello coffee while putting this one together. Yup, here you have it, none other then the homie Skyzoo himself talks about everything from his debut album, « The Salvation », to why he considers himself to be one of the best lyricists in the game right now.
Randy Mason: It’s been about a year since your debut album “The Salvation” dropped. How do you feel about the progress it has made thus far?
Skyzoo: I’m very happy with the progress it has made, but I know it’s an album that can continue to make more. It’s a catalog piece. 10 years from now, Duck Down will still be getting orders for it, just like Sony is with « Illmatic ». It’s one of those albums that takes time to digest and can be enjoyed for
years to come. I’m happy with what it did though. That album is my life wrapped up in 25 years, so it’s definitely my finest and most personal moment to date.
Randy Mason: Congrats. Do you have a favorite song on the album?
Skyzoo: I can’t pick one because they all tell my story, there’s no filler. But if I had to pick a few, it would be « The Shooter’s Soundtrack », « My Interpretation », « Metal Hearts », « For What it’s Worth », and « Maintain ». The whole album is story driven, but those five records are some of my best story telling thus far.
Randy Mason: A lot of your mixtapes are kind of like albums, so how did you approach your actual album differently if at all?
Skyzoo: Well with the mixtapes, I never wanted them to be dated, and I always felt like if you used industry instrumentals on your tape, people can go back to them years later and be able to say « oh that dropped in ’06, you see he wrapped over Jay-Z’s “Show me What you Got’ », etc. But when all the beats are original, you can’t tell when it was released. In 2012 I can promote a tape I dropped in ’06 if I wanted to, and it’ll still feel new because the music is all original. Content wise, I always wanted to go above standard mixtape music, but not give away what would essentially be on my official debut album. So sometimes I would hold back, as far as the type of records I’d write for my mixtapes. To me, mixtapes are about showing and proving, where as albums are about artistry and making music that stands the test of time. So that’s how I separated the two.
Randy Mason: That’s a lot of writing! How often do you write and what is your writing process like?
Skyzoo: Believe it or not, I only write in the studio. I don’t sit at home or on the plane and write tons of lyrics to use later. I write at the studio with the beat on and me sitting in front of the monitors. I come up with concepts and ideas every day, but I don’t write every day. Only when I’m working on a project of mine or a verse for someone else and it’s also on the spot, at the studio. My writing process always starts with the beat. I don’t write to an empty space and then try to find a beat later. I always write to the beat that you hear the finished product on. I’m big on flows and delivery, so I like to have the beat selected so that I can find the pockets and weave the flow through. Sounds weird but that’s a big part of my process. As far as the actual writing, the beats tell me what to do. Depending on the feel and style of the beat is how I come up with what to talk about over it.
Randy Mason: Interesting. You are back stage about to go on in 5 minutes. What goes through your mind moments before you take the stage?
Skyzoo: I picture the crowd and knowing that if I was them, I’d wanna see a hell of a show, so I try to make sure that I put 150% into every set. I like to be alone for about 5 minutes before I take the stage. Then I say a few words to God and then rip it down.
Randy Mason: Give them what they paid for and more, nice. So what are you working on right now musically?
Skyzoo: My next project is a collabo album with myself and Illmind. He’s produced records for 50 Cent, Redman, Scarface, Little Brother and more. We’re doing a collabo album, sorta like how I did Cloud 9 with 9th Wonder. It’s Illmind doing all the beats, and it’s called « Live From The Tape Deck ». It’s a dope creative album that I wanted to give fans before my official sophomore album drops next year. Live From The Tape Deck drops late september 2010 on Duck Down.
Randy Mason: Cool sounds dope. How are things over at Duck Down?
Skyzoo: It’s a real good situation. They give me tons of creative freedom, and they make moves in the vein of a major label. As far as indies go, they’re definitely at the top.
Randy Mason: What do you consider to be your greatest achievement to date? What has been your greatest obstacle (difficulties you face as an artist)?
Skyzoo: I’d say my greatest achievement would have to be releasing The Salvation. My biggest obstacle would probably be learning the business side of the game at an early age and seeing how sour it really is. Once you learn that though, it’s easier to move because you know what to expect.
Randy Mason: Speaking of learning the business. Being an artist, a rapper in this day and time, in this economy, some say it isn’t the brightest career choice. How do you deal with the day to day pressure of surviving, providing financially in this climate? Do you feel pressure at all?
Skyzoo: It’s definitely harder in 2010. Records aren’t selling, more fans are trying to become artists or critics, and the ‘net has given people more and more reasons to just click a button and keep it moving. Anything worth gaining is worth fighting for though, so you connect to your true fans while trying to gain more in the process, and figure out how to make money in music without the actual selling of music. Sounds weird, but between touring, merch and licensing, that’s where you’ll get your checks from. Not necessarily record sales. The internet took that away.
Randy Mason: Got to be quite the creative hustler these days. Do you feel you are in competition with your peers lyrically? What emcee, if any, are you impressed most by as of lately.
Skyzoo: Absolutely. I definitely consider myself one of the best new lyricists in the game. If you’re talking artists who made noise in the game anytime after 2005, definitely. And that’s not because I said so, it’s because the people said so. I take a huge amount of pride in being a lyricist and making sure my writing is the best of the best. A lot of my lyrics go over people’s heads and they don’t get it all ‘till later, which is fine by me. That’s always what the greats did, so I’m good with that. I respect a lot of other lyricists that are out though. People like Torae, J Cole, Lupe Fiasco, Wale, Royce da 5’9, Elzhi, Drake and tons of others always come correct lyrically. I’m an artist but I’m also a fan, so I love to hear new shit where someone gets busy with the lyrics.
Randy Mason: You have worked with many legendary Hip Hop artists, what is the most important thing you have learned sharing the stage and working in the studio alongside such veterans?
Skyzoo: The most important thing I’ve learned is to keep the authenticity intact. I’m all about being as true to myself as I can be. My goal is to keep making great music, but grow at the same time within it. Making dope records that stand the test of time is probably what I’ve learned the most from being around so many legends.
Randy Mason: What’s next for Skyzoo?
Skyzoo: Next up is the collabo album « Live From The Tape Deck » with me and Illmind, dropping in late september of this year, and then some mixtape stuff, and then my official sophomore album next year. Plus some touring and other dope things I have on deck. But right now its about « Live From The Tape Deck » with me and Illmind. The first single « Frisbees » is out since mid july.
Written by Randy Mason (www.randymason.info)
Photo of Skyzoo by J. Shotti
