Underground Spotlight
COAST 2 COAST MIXTAPES DJs/ Topp Dogg Hill Records/SkyHigh Recordz
Present: E-Skillz
Mr. Nobody
Mixed By DJ YKCOR
Harmony Muzik: Tell me a bit about yourself and your start in music.
E-Skillz: I was born in Managua, the capital city of Nicaragua. When I came to the United States, I lived in Florida, Texas, and Virginia, before moving to Maryland. I was what you would call a troubled youth. One year though, I had an English teacher who got me into a creative writing classe, in the hopes that it would give me an outlet for my anger. It helped me out a lot, and eventually it just made sense for me to put my poetry over a beat—and become a rapper.
Harmony Muzik: Many artists venture into other areas of music. Do you do anything besides rap?
E-Skillz: I have a studio of my own, where I also record other artists and engineer.
HM: This may sound cliché, but tell me what makes you different or unique, and what you are trying to bring to the Hip Hop game.
ES: As I have said before, I bring vulnerability back into Hip Hop music. Folkz (Whitefolkz) likes to say I do “Emo-Rap,” but f**k it, I got real issues to rap about that people can relate to. You know—family, work ….the baby-mother.
HM: You seem like a very modest and humble kind of guy, tell me about the work you put into your Mixtape.
ES: (laughs) Well, working hard is just normal to me. I’ve had to work hard for everything I’ve ever done. If you’re lazy, move out my lane! As for being humble, I don’t walk around with undeserved pride and ego—because I don’t think I’ve earned it yet. I’m just Mr. Nobody right now.
HM: Fair enough. So let’s get into the Mixtape. What is your favorite song?
ES: That’s gotta be the outro, “Apology to a Rose.” That was the last song I wrote, and I’m talking about my baby-mother in that one. It has a lot of feelings, and it was basically the culmination of the whole mixtape.
HM: OK, how about the most controversial track?
ES: I’d have to say “She Wanted a Rider” (A Topp Dogg Love Story). It was not the type of song I normally do. I made references to Chris Brown and beating the p***y up, so yeah, it wasn’t typical E-Skillz.
HM: I understand that you have over 80,000 downloads to date—what did you do to promote?
ES: Oh man, I promoted my a** off for this mixtape. I spent over a month promoting with flyers, hitting the streets, and networking. I think even DJ YKCOR was surprised when the download numbers starting pouring in.
HM: What is in store for E-Skillz in six months, a year, and beyond?
ES: In six months I’d like to be done with my mixtape, Mr. Somebody. I feel like after finishing Mr. Nobody, it’s only right for me to keep moving forward. I actually almost quit before I started working on Mr. Nobody. I was in a place where I was ready to give up, and then one day Whitefolkz took my tracks home to listen, and came back telling me I need to keep going. That meant a lot to me. Now I just feel like I’m ready to go all the way with this. I’m realistic about my goals though, so in a year—I’d be happy if I was well-known and sought after in the DMV region. I just want to keep moving forward and do business.
Keep up with E-Skillz on Twitter: www.Twitter.com/E_Skillz
To Listen and Download "Mr. Nobody" click the following link, or listen from the player below.
http://www.coast2coastmixtapes.com/DJSite/mixtapes/mixtapedetail.aspx?mixtapeid=2749
MidiEast and DJ Chub
Present: Frayz
Catch Frayz 2
Harmony Muzik: So Frayz, let’s start by telling people a little bit about you. How long have you been rapping, and where did you get your start?
Frayz: 12 years. I’m from Brooklyn, and I rep for the MidiEast Movement!
Harmony Muzik: Have you ventured into other areas of music, or do you play any instruments?
Frayz: Yep, I can the Congos.
HM: What do you do that stands out against rappers in the game right now? Tell people what you bring to the table.
Frayz: I have Star Power! I’m Puerto Rican, I look good, and I stay fresh. Period.
HM: Catch Frayz 2 has an astounding 31 tracks, how long have you been working on this follow-up project?
Frayz: I spent 2 years on this mixtape, cuz I wanted to make sure that I topped my last album, for my fans.
HM: With that many tracks, I was surprised the album was posted up as a free download. Not too many artists would give away 31 tracks. Why did you choose to go that route?
Frayz: I do this for the love. I know that free downloads won’t make me money, but I know the reward will be bigger at the end.
HM: Tell me more about the project. What is your favorite song off the Mixtape?
Frayz: “I Made It” is my favorite, cuz it feels like a classic. It’s like one of them tracks that will be great in ten years. I made it with a lot of emotion and passion. I got a few remixes on the way for it too, one with Phil Ade and Raheem DeVaughn, and another one with a lot of other DMV artists.
HM: What do you think is your most controversial song on Catch Frayz 2?
Frayz: All of them! That’s cuz I talk so much shit that I’m the best on every track. So that makes it controversial.
HM: Catch Frayz 2 dropped on 3.2.10 (March 2, 2010). What type of promo have you done for your sophomore follow-up to Catch Frayz?
Frayz: I go to Lux Louge and pop bottles. I hang banners in our VIP—who does that? Then I get my goonies to plaster posters covering a two-mile radius around the club. I do so much promo the police are looking for me. I even have fines for hanging posters on poles in Alexandria, VA.
HM: There is phrase, or should I say “Frayz” that I hear throughout your album, “Holla at me while I’m still young.” What does that mean?
Frayz: That means that you should get at me while I’m still a regular person, because once I’m at the top, you won’t be able to reach me. There will be like three levels of security around me and you won’t be able to even talk to me. So anyone who is with me now, Im taking with me when I go to the top.
HM: Where is Frayz in six months, or a year?
Frayz: In six months, I’m on top of the world. In a year, I’m on top of the Galaxy! Google me, and you’ll see that I’m the first link that shows up when you Google “Frayz”. That’s proof of my hard work.
Keep Up with Frayz on Twitter: www.Twitter.com/Frayz
To Listen and Download "Catch Frayz 2" click the following link, or listen from the player below.
http://www.datpiff.com/DJ_CHUB_FRAYZ_Catch_Frayz_2.m102531.html
