SKaLLa

SK the SKaLLa: Biography

Hailing from a city better known for its bankruptcy than its bosses, its no wonder why rapper and songwriter SK the SKaLLa feels as if hes carrying the city on his back. On his upcoming project Bankrupt: Bad Kid, Worse City, the Detroit native is showcasing the real Detroitthe one where crooked cops parlay with hustlers and drug dealers, and everyday citizens fight for survival. Im bringing real originality, and Im not fabricating anything that Im talking about, says SKaLLa.

Despite the unforgiving news headlines, theres beauty beneath the grime of Detroit. Its where SKaLLa first got his taste of the old school melodies that flooded through his grandmothers homemusic that was heavily influenced by the many talented artists that once strutted the now abandoned streets. Its also where his love of R&B music began, as evidenced on records sampling classic tunes from artists such as Maze and Frankie Beverly. 

As a piano and drum player, SKaLLa, who at the time went by Iceeboy, began further studying music and discovered a hidden talent in songwriting. At the age of 16 he penned his first song for a local artist and started to build a buzz around the city. He eventually landed in front of representatives from Jive Records, who were impressed by his knack for branding, as well as his blatantly honest lyricism.

Realizing that his name was also a major part of his brand, he ditched the moniker of his youth and chose SKaLLa as an ode to his ability of combining his classroom knowledge with that of the streets that he once called home. He then left Detroit and relocated to Atlanta to move beyond the local underground scene of his city.

In a world where many rappers spew lyrics from ghostwriters, SKaLLa prides himself on writing his own music. The release of Bankrupt: Bad Kid, Worse City in Summer 2014 gives the young rapper a new reason to boast, as he sets out to drop gems through personal stories of a kid trying to escape the chains of his city. He hopes that this project will encourage others to pursue better opportunities outside of their circumstances as he did. The streets isnt always the route that you have to take. You have choices in life. And with a free outlet like school, the streets should never be a first option, he says.

--Kiah McBride

sktheskalla@gmail.com