Interview with BIG SKEEM by Rago Magazine

BIG SKEEM from Lancaster, Pennsylvania – USA.


Thanks for taking the time out to do this interview for Rago Magazine. Where are you from and what’s the Hip-Hop scene/industry like there?


Definitely, I appreciate y'all getting at me to do this interview. I'm from Lancaster P.a. which is a small city outside Philly and Reading P.a. The scene out her is...well, I'mma be real with u...oversaturated. Everybody's a rapper and everybody sounds the same...They all took Young Gunz & Cassidy's style of rappin and killed it. I try to have my own sound so no matter where I'm at nobody can automatically say "oh he's from here"...I switch it up...feel me.



How long have you been rapping and what or who influenced you to pick up the microphone and start writing?


I been doin this since about 12 years old, but I started takin it serious and goin hard at it around 15. I was influenced by artists like 2Pac, Big L, Bone Thugs, Biggie, Beanie Sigel, Jadakiss, Nas...too many to name...


When did you get your first break and was there anyone person who helped along with your music career?


I wouldn't say I had a big break yet but I was helped mainly by my parents who were my first supporters and my man DJ Herk who sat down and told me the importance of makin hot music and not followin what everybody else does. He also gave me the beats for my main singles "smash off" featuring Peedi Crakk & It's Easy Featuring Stack Bundles which he later showed me how to get my music heard outside the city...mixtapes, radio, internet, labels...etc. O yea and Geolani's been helpin allot lately with the mixtape slots and gettin me some beats...Good Look G!!!


What have you released so far and what has the response been like?


So far I dropped my first solo mixtape "By any means necessary" back in September 05" which has had a great response everywhere I take it...


What would say is the most popular track that you have released to date?


Mmmm....probably "Smash Off" featuring Peedi Crakk because that was the song that broke me into radio and the mixtape scene...It was also picked up as a white label B-Side to Tony Yayo's "So Seductive" and Teairra Mari's "Make her feel good" which were 2 huge records at the time.


What producers do you work with?


I've worked with allot. Off top I can say DJ Herk, Phoenix, Lokken Load Ent, Ghost, Capp N Kidd Wonder, Dirty Bird, Metro Beats, Digital Product, Afficial Beats, Cellz (that joint ain’t out yet), Masar. I know I'm forgettin some but ask me that question again next time.


What studio do you record in?


I record at allot of spots. I did my main singles at Milkboy recording but other tracks are normally done in home studios.


What artists have you collaborated with and what’s the most memorable collaboration that you have recorded?


So far I got joints with Stack Bundles, Peedi Crakk, Ali Vegas, D.O.E., Big Cas, Rain, Geolani, Dashah, Phene, Montega, Dino West, Freeway, Delilah. Hopefully I can double that this year. Most memorable was probably with Peedi cuz dude chilled in the studio for hours and really chopped it up and let everyone hear his new mixtape months before it dropped. He gave me ideas to make the song better too.


What’s your label situation? Who you signed to and do they have distribution?


Right now I'm unsigned. I am a member Of Team Afficial which is dominating the internet heavily at the moment with a strong following to the whole movement.


What are your views on the mixtape game? Is it saturating the marketplace with bootlegs or are they creative masterpieces to help rappers blow?


Mixtapes are the key to any unsigned rapper/artist. It can help get your name and music in places it might never have gotten without that slot from that certain DJ. It is oversaturated tho in the respect that everybody is rapper now and bullshit is gettin on these cd's instead of the real talent due to DJ`s chargin outrageous prices to get on them...but the talent will always outshine the garbage so it's only a matter of time.


With so many rappers in the game how are you planning to make noise and get noticed?


I'm just gonna be me and let the music speak for itself...these days too many people are tryna be something they're not which only makes you look like everybody else. That shows you right there how creative you are, if you cant be you as a person how do you think you're music will be accepted?


Have you featured or hosted any mixtapes?


I'm gettin ready to host DJ Sureshot's next mixtape. I been on allot of mixtapes in the past year from DJ Diggz, Envy, DJ Lust, Ophax, SureShot, Makasi, DJ Meddafore, DJ 4Sho, Digital Product, DJ Block, White owl, DJ 151, Dub Floyd, DJ Legacy, DJ Mello, DJ Dub


Are you working on new material?


Oh Yea always...I try to get new material out as much as possible.


Have you done many live shows or tours? Tell us more about your live show.


I've done a few. Could be more tho. I did a show with Jr Writer last year and opened up for artists like Jin, Drag-on, Jacki-O, Dirtbag and a few others...


What’s been the most memorable gig and why?


Not the biggest gig but most memorable had to be my 12th grade talent show. That was the first time I performed in front of over 100 people and saw how much the crowd was feelin me. That right there was a feelin I can't even explain.


Any tips for someone just coming into the game?


You gotta do something to separate you from the others...whether it be style, production, delivery whatever just be different and do it for you not because you wanna be like everyone else cuz like I said the bullshit always shines through sooner or later.


Any major plans for 2007? Anything big in the pipeline?


Basically I'm just goin hard at these mixtapes and features and anything else that pops up I'm open to.


What radio stations in your area are supporting your music?


Stations that I know of are 99.3 kiss fm which is a top 40 station and power 99 the #1 hip hop station in Philly...Also Sirius radio.


‘Big name’ collaborations seem to be the way for ‘underground artists’ to get more exposure. Do you plan to do this?


Already did that...lol...Yea it helps allot. People that might not check your music at first might give it a second look since you got the big name. But be prepared to spend some $$$ don't look for the easy way out and blend ya shit wit someone else cuz once word gets out that it's a fake it could really hurt the credibility of any real tracks you do in the future. Real talk.


Have you done any music videos to promote your latest release? If so what TV Stations have played it and who made the video?


Not yet.


How are you finding the My Space.Com revolution? Love it or hate it? What are your views?


LOVE IT. It really helps you link up with people and different contacts you might of never knew without it. Example: that’s how I met Geolani. But people can't think that this is makin moves hand to hand in the streets promotin is still the best way to get known.


Do you have a My Space page or a website?


Yup. www.myspace.com/bigskeempa


What other rappers are you feeling at the moment?


Pretty much anybody who is hot but I'd have to say Stack Bundles, Jeezy, Hell Rell, The Monopoly (2 new cats outta Philly),Young Hot (outta Philly), Joey Jihad (outta Philly), Rain, Geolani (the whole Team Afficial), Jay-Z of course, Tru Life, Gillie Da kid, Ransom (A-Team) too many to name...depends on my mood...


Describe your style in 5 words.


Real, Creative, Significant, True, HOT...lol


Do you a direct link for people wanting to buy your music on-line?


You can download my mixtape for free on my myspace by clicking the cover. You can also download my 3 singles cdq & dj free at www.djherk.com/BIGSKEEM


Would you ever sign to a major label?


Yea if the paperwork and money is right.


Do you have a manager or booking agent?


Nope!!! I grind on my own...so anybody looking for bookings or features get at me direct at bigskeem@yahoo.com


Do you know anything about the UK Rap scene? Heard any UK Hip-Hop?


I aint even gon lie I don't know to much besides S.A.S but I'ma brush up on some more this year. Yall let me know who's hot.


Why should people buy your music?


Because it's all me, no one is tellin me what to say or write it's 100% Skeem either love it or hate it but you can never say it's fake.


Any shout-outs or anything you wanna add?


First off shouts to Rago magazine for throwin ya boy in there!!!! Also shouts to DJ Herk, Geolani and the whole Team Afficial and my P.A. squad Da Rotten and Half-The-Hustla appreciate all the support...And I cant forget all the mixtape DJ`s and producers that show love...GOOD LOOK!!!! 07" LET'S GET IT!!!!


Interview by Tricksta
www.myspace.com/trickstawolftown
www.myspace.com/ragomagazine


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