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Skillz (rapper)

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For the American actor also known as Mad Skillz, see Scott Caan. For the French DJ, see DJ Skillz.

Skillz
Also known asMad Skillz
Born (1974-06-02) June 2, 1974 (age 50)
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
OriginRichmond, Virginia, U.S.
GenresHip hop
Occupations
  • Rapper
  • songwriter
  • DJ
Years active1992–present
Labels

Donnie Shaquan Lewis[1] (born June 2, 1974), better known by his stage name Skillz (or Mad Skillz), is an American rapper. He first became known for his debut album From Where??? (1996), titularly in reference to his origins in Virginia, contrary of the prototypical New York City- or Los Angeles-based rapper at the time.[2] He is also known for his yearly "Rap Ups," which he has done annually since 2002 (except in 2013).

Skillz is also the creator of the web series "Hip Hop Confessions", a series of shows that gathers hip hop purists and hip hop lovers alike where they reveal something hip hop related that they have never told anyone. The show has featured Q-Tip, Peanut Butter Wolf, Kwamé and DJ Jazzy Jeff.[3]

Skillz earned a 2025 Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Poetry Album nomination for the album The Seven Number Ones.[4]

Early life

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Lewis was born June 2, 1974, in Detroit, Michigan, and after spending his early childhood in Fayetteville, North Carolina he then moved to Richmond, Virginia at a young age. He credits Run DMC for getting him involved in hip hop as a child.

Career

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He first made a name for himself by finishing in second place (Losing to MC Supernatural) in a national freestyle competition, which eventually resulted in a recording contract with Atlantic Records. At this time he went by the stage name Mad Skillz rather than just Skillz. Mad Skillz' Atlantic debut album, From Where???, and its single, "The Nod Factor", were released in 1996, but neither received much commercial or critical attention. The album's title was a reference to the regionalism in hip-hop, and at the time the state of Virginia did not have a large hip-hop scene. In the late-1990s more of a Virginia scene emerged, and he allied himself with fellow Virginia natives due to his new friendship with Magoo. He made appearances on Timbaland & Magoo's albums Tim's Bio in 1998, and Indecent Proposal in 2001; Timbaland made plans to sign Skillz to the Blackhand label he was developing; however, this label failed to materialize. He along with Danja Mowf, & Lonnie B, members of Skillz' Supafriendz collective, also appeared on a remix of Aaliyah's hit single "Are You That Somebody" in 1998.

In 2000 Skillz was known for his single "Ghostwriter". The lyrics say he has written hit singles for others.

Skillz eventually got a deal with Rawkus, where he recorded his 2002 LP I Ain't Mad No More, the title of which commemorated the official change of his MC moniker from "Mad Skillz" to just "Skillz." The aforementioned LP was never officially released in the U.S., however, during the Sprite Liquid Mix Tour in 2003 he sold some bootleg versions of this CD. The CD was re-packaged without several tracks as "Confessions Of A Ghostwriter" in 2005. A Supafriends LP, "The 804 CompilationSupavision and another solo LP.

Skillz released an album on December 30, 2014: Made In Virginia, produced by Bink Dog. In 1997 Skillz became the founder of the supergroup, V.A. Playaz Supafriendz, which members consisted of Timbaland & Magoo, Ginuwine, N.E.R.D., Missy Elliott, Nicole Wray, DJ Lonnie B, Playa, Sebastian, Tweet, Aaliyah, Danja Mowf, and Clipse. In 2018 he released "I'm The DJ & The Rapper a compilation of songs that were all written by him. As of late he partnered with Gavin Williams and released an ep under a group called "The Bop Gods". He has recently gone back to his original moniker Mad Skillz and has returned to producing and deejaying.

In 2018 and 2020 Skillz was an artist-in-residence at the University of Richmond where he taught The Voice of Hip Hop in America. On February 13, 2019, Mayor Levar Stoney declared it to be "Mad Skillz Day" in Richmond, VA to commemorate the 23rd anniversary of Skillz's debut album From Where??? and to recognize his "positive influence on our city."[5] On January 14, 2020, he began his second semester as an artist-in residence at the University of Richmond.

Skillz earned a 2025 Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Poetry Album nomination for the album The Seven Number Ones.[4]

Discography

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Albums

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Compilations/Mixtapes

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  • 2002: The Neptunes Collection Vol. 1
  • 2004: The James Brown Collection
  • 2006: Got Skillz? - The Timbaland Collection
  • 2009: Design of A Decade ( J. Period & Don Cannon)
  • 2011: Infamous Quotes Mixtape

Singles

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As lead artist

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List of singles, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
US US
R&B 		US
Rap
"The Nod Factor" 1995 — 76 26 From Where???
"Move Ya Body" 1996 — 85 27
"Y'all Don't Wanna" 2001 — 92 6 Confessions of a Ghost Writer
"Crew Deep"
(featuring Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott and Kandi) 		2002 — 83 — I Ain't Mad No More
"Off the Wall" 2003 — — —
"Suzie Q"
(featuring Cee-Lo Green and Jazze Pha) 		2004 — — — Confessions of a Ghost Writer
"2010 Rap Up" 2011 — 92 — —
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List of singles, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
US US
R&B 		US
Rap
"One for the Money"
(Royce da 5'9" featuring Skillz and Diamond D) 		2012 — — — TBA

References

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  1. ^ "Mad Skillz". Last.fm. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  2. ^ Allmusic From Where??? review
  3. ^ "Episodes - Hip-Hop Confessions". Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  4. ^ a b Monroe, Jazz (November 8, 2024). "Grammy Nominations 2025: See the Full List Here". Pitchfork. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
  5. ^ "'Mad Skillz Day' honors Richmond rap legend". February 13, 2020.
  6. ^ "iTunes - Music - Made in Virginia by Mad Skillz & Bink". iTunes. December 30, 2014. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
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