Christian Hip-Hop artist, M.A.D.S.K.I.L.L.
Where did you grow up? I grew up In Pasadena, California, and I went to Victory Bible Church throughput my childhood and when I was a young adult.
What inspired you to get into music? My father was a jazz musician, I was raised in a studio soaking in music he played under his Fender Rhodes piano. He exposed me to all sorts of music at a young age so I have an eclectic taste and love fusing hip-hop and jazz elements into songs.
Do you produce your own music, or work with producers? I have produced this latest project on my own. However, I’ve been blessed to be able to work with Andrew Ford, a world renown bass player and former program director of Whitney Houston. I have been able to pick his brain throughout the years and bounce concepts and ideas off of him. We have worked together on my previous two projects and it has been a blessing to glean from him industry experience.
What is a songwriting session like for you? I really don’t force myself to write, I let it come organically, naturally. I don’t really have a set time or session to write songs. Before the advent of smartphones, I would jot down song ideas and lyrics on any and everything throughout the day when the flow hit me. Now, I utilize my phone to capture my song ideas almost immediately.
What inspires you to create? The Holy Spirit inspires me to create. I wrote the bulk of my new album “Clarity 2020 Vision” in 3 weeks. It was a total of 21 songs in that short time. At times I felt like it was just being downloaded on me it would come so fast, when I was sleeping I would wake up and have to write down the concept or idea before it disappeared. It felt like a faucet that got turned on at certain times and then would just shut off. I have learned not to force it, when I get the urge it usually starts as butterflies in my stomach and a growing excitement that I can’t contain, that’s when I know it’s time to write. I just stay diligent in praying, reading and studying scriptures.
What is your local Christian Hip-Hop scene like? I really don’t know a lot of Christian rappers in my area. I have connected with other Christian Hip-Hop artists on Facebook communities. It’s been cool, there are a lot of good CHH artists out there.
Do you collaborate with other artists? I was recently invited to be a part of Kingdom Citizens volume 4. That is a compilation album with Christian Hip-Hop artists from all over the United States. It was released a couple of weeks ago and it has been an absolute blessing for me to be a part of. There are a lot of great CHH artists out there that are very creative in sharing the Christian Faith.
Before Covid19, did you perform live often? I had kind of put my music on hold while I coached my kids and helped get them to college. I mixed and mastered an album years ago that I am just now releasing entitled “marinated muzic”. I have done a lot of shows and concerts in the past, after taking some time off I am making a resurgence in creating music and I look forward to being able to perform again when things open up.
Tell us about your latest project. I was deeply grieved by the current cultural state, and inspired by the Holy Spirit, I wrote 21 songs in three weeks that cut into the meat of the gospel lyrically showing that the Bible is still relevant, poignant, and applicable to all the current struggles we face today. The first single “What really matters?!” explores the counterculture surge, and religious people putting whatever culture they are involved/engaged in over the importance of Christ. With other featured songs such as "Jellyfish," "Sin Colour", and "Epignosis," the album “Clarity 2020 Vision” is sure to hit some right in the chest, and on the spiritual third rail, unashamed, unabashed, and not afraid of using the word of God to lyrically battle against the demonic forces that have become so prevalent and popular in today’s society. It is laced with earthshaking beats and apologetically charged lyrical lozenges that the listeners will surely be unpacking finding different nuggets of wisdom every time they listen.
What can we expect from you in the future? I am releasing content from my new album “Clarity 2020 Vision” once a month in conjunction with my marinated muzic. I will also be unleashing apparel so make sure to go to www.madskillmuzic.com and register your email to stay up on everything as it’s released.