OnE: Alright state ur name gangster and what do you do? How did u decide on that name, what is it's meaning?
I am Skeptik and iRip everything. i also go by Skeptor when im in decepticon form.
To be honest, I really don't know where the name came from. I can't recall the exact moment when i became Skeptik, let's just say it came to me in a dream. What I DO know, is what it means to me. Alotta people are rapping nowadays and they claim to be the best at what they do. I DONT BELIEVE YOU! My name is Skeptik becaues I am the most skeptical person you could ever encounter.
tWo: And Skeptor where did that come from?
One thing that people may not know about me is that I clown, all the time. I love to laugh and i laugh at any and everything. My cousin Speezy (who produced "Goose" on my Noid3ntity mixtape) is always on some other shit, makin up words or whylin out. He started callin me Skeptor and that evolved into King Skeptor which was my producer alias for a while until i stopped making beats. If I was a transformer I feel like I would be a decepticon, and King Skeptor is an epic ass name, wouldn't you agree?
ThReE: Yea I do that's dop3 as hell. You mentioned that you like to clown, how does ur personality fit into ur rhymes?
In daily life I'm usually clownin but when it comes to my music, there's no room for games. I take my music extremely serious, and usually my music portrays that. I've never been diagnosed, but I think I might be bi-polar so I can be a really fun person but i can also be real introverted and solemn at times. More often then not, I use music as a release, therapy if you will. There have been a lot of situations where i had no one to talk to about a situation and i just pick up the pen and vent. I think that is when i make my best music. I do make fun songs every now and then like the I love college remix i did called "I'ma Pothead". However, I pride myself in my intelligence and i would like to think that shines through my rhymes as well.
FoUr: Ok so you use ur rhymes as a cathartic release to get out your feelings. A lot of artists are missing the whole storytelling element in their music nowadays, in my opinion. What kind of rhymes do you bring to the table?
Honestly, I can do it all. I'd like to believe that i showcase that with this youtube campaign i've launched (Youtube.com/DontBeASkeptik). You'll find everything ranging from a remix to "Blame it" to a ferocious ass acapella freeverse. I've been remixing everybody's songs as well as dropping freestyle verses and a 32 bar video verse everyweek. Just this last week i did a 64 bar story verse over my homie TrackBangas' (Trackbangas.com) beat. I try my best to make marketable music while maintaining my lyrical integrity. So even if im doin a song for or about the ladies, I'm still gonna rip it. That's really the driving factor behind my whole Dont Be A Skeptik movement, I really want the people to believe me when I say that iRip Everything.
FiVe: I can tell u have a lot passion for rhyming. What made u decide to start ur YouTube campaign and how often do you post songs?
I've been doing music for a while now, I've been recording out the basement since 2000, and I'm real familiar with the internet. I bought a flip cam when i had no business buying it, so i figured i need to put it to good use. It started when I posted on facebook sayin "Drake is nice, but i think im nicer" and alotta people sent me when i said that, so i felt the need to prove myself and i kicked a long ass verse over the Say you will beat and put it on youtube. I got a good response from it so I decided to make it a weekly thing. Youtube has intrigued me ever since souljah boy got signed off it. seemed like a good way to promote and gain exposure. So every week I remix a popular industry song for "Who's Better Wednesday", I do a 32 bar acapella video verse for "32 Thursdays", and every other sunday I do a 64 bar freeverse for "64 Sundays". I would say i post pretty regularly.
SiX: So I see that you use the internet as a marketing tool, how important do you think it is to participate in social networking or sites like YouTube?
I think its extremely important because its not as easy to pump your music in the streets anymore. Especially in the city of columbus with our radio station in the state that it is, they dont play any local artists. For the past 3 years I've been in my own world making music, no networking at all. I joined twitter a couple months ago and I have increased my network exponentially. (Shouts to the whole Elevator camp, Young Wise, Byonest, and everybody else who been showin love since I "showed up on the scene") In fact, I met Rashad through twitter and linked up wit him at a 3rd show and now i got a slot at summer jam, which im definitely excited about (the lineup is CRAZY). Oh yeah, and if your not hip, get hip. http://www.Twitter.com/DontBeASkeptik <-------0 FOLLOW!
SeVeN: I hear you on that, networking is very important to your success. You gotta get your name out there and in people's ear! Next question. In this time of record low industry record sales, what drives u to continue making music? Are u looking for a deal?
Lord knows I would love to get paid for what I do, but that's not what im in it for right now. If the right deal was presented to me, I'd definitely sign, Im broke out here lol. Like i said before, music is my release, so even if i never make a dime off of it, I will continue to write and make music for myself if anything. It's extremely frustrating with the state of Hip-Hop right now because its pretty obvious that I'm not what they are looking for right now. I don't dance and I REFUSE to autotune, you will also NEVER catch me making a song that comes with a dance. Labels nowadays are so short sighted, they're willing to sign a rapper to a one song deal instead of an album, so a multiple album deal is out of the question. They dont care to grow an artist that can make them money over an extended period of time, they would rather max out profit today. It's really not a good look for the industry.
EiGhT: I agree whole heartedly, we live in a microwave society. Everybody wants instantaneous success and riches. At the end of the day, what do you want to say you did with your music? As far as impact...
I would really like to say that I influenced someone who needed an escape to pick up the pen and put their thoughts on the notepad instead of taking a more destructive route to release that bad energy. I really dont know where I would be without music.I would LOVE to be known as the artist who brought back Hip-Hop from the brink of death,and I hope to one day be reckognized for my lyrical ability and versatility. Besides that, what rapper do you know that doesn't want to be remembered as the greatest? I know I do.
niNe: Question what influences you in the music making process?
Alot of weed. LOL na, I really don't have an answer for that question. When Im REALLY in my zone, it's more of a blackout kinda thing where the track can write itself. I don't wanna sound arrogant or anything but i usually dont put too much effort into it if im in my groove. The only way i can relate it to you is that it's like Isaac Mendez (Heroes) when he's painting. Kind of a let go and let GOD type of deal. I dont really listen to a lot of rap for specifically that reason, i'd rather not be influenced. Aside from that, sometimes I'll watch a movie and get inspired to write something, or I'll hear a crazy ass beat and have a "magic moment." It's really spontaneous with me, sometimes the mood just strikes.
TeN:I feel you on that inspiration comes from many many places... Last question, what are some of ur favorite artists, OLD and NEW...
Back when I first got into hip-hop and music in general, i used to listen to No Limit ALOT (Don't judge me). My favorite era in hip-hop was the Roc-a-fella era when Beanie Sigel, Hov, Freeway, and the Young Gunz was doin it. So much great music was made around that time. I also used to listen to the Ruff Ryders alot, DMX first album was a CLASSIC. Lately, I really haven't been inspired by rap (can't call it hip-hop anymore). Call me a hater but 90% of these mufuggas on the scene wit deals are TRASH. Nowadays I'm into more rock and alternative music like Pink Floyd, Coheed and Cambria, The Beatles, Citizen Cope. I am a music lover first. Rapper second.
Check out Skep's links!
http://www.areyouaskeptik.com/
http://www.YouTube.com/DontBeASkeptik
http://www.Twitter.com/DontBeASkeptik
You can HIT him up through:
contact info:areyouaskeptik@gmail.com
AIM: itzgovibaby
ALRIGHT so remember, Summer Jam 614 is on June 19th 2009 @ Skully's, Follow on Twitter @SummerJam614
