BACKGROUND

Skilf started rapping in 2000 during the UK garage era. “Those days were fun, cruising around listening to Pure Silk, spitting at house party’s with a 10 pound Argos mic.” As time went on he became more serious about it and started getting booked for London club nights at venues such as Aquarium, WKD, Enigma, Rococo and Mint Bar one of which was a warm up set for UK rap artist Asher D.

In 2003 he moved to Brighton to study at Sussex University, it was here that Skilf found his feet in UK rap, and his music career began to accelerate. After discovering Brighton’s thriving drum ‘n’ bass scene, he hooked up with DJ’s DLM, Unison, Neo and MC Bobby B working under the collective name ‘The Alchemists.’ Skilf adapted his honed garage style to drum ‘n’ bass and started by playing at student bars, outdoor raves, house party’s etc. A few months later he was getting booked for big drum ‘n’ bass nights in the city supporting the likes of Andy C, DJ Zinc, Pendulum, Dillinja, Grooverider, Mampi Swift, Nicky Blackmarket, DJ Marky and MC Dynamite to name a few.

Skilf recalls “I remember when my brother played me 'The Changing Of The Guards' by Bob Dylan, that track really changed the way I thought about music, I just sat there in my own world taking every word in”. It was at this point that Skilf’s own writing began to change dramatically; he practiced rhyming on slower UK rap beats and allowing his true thoughts and emotions to unfold. Skilf’s writing style became a lot more conscious and conceptual with a metaphorical edge, allowing his personality to shine through in the music.

I was at this point that Skilf recorded some of his earliest work with DJ Subzero, Dom and Crookedman, the tracks were very raw and unpolished UK rap, but captured the true essence of a young artist trying to find meaning through music. In 2005 Skilf released his first 12” white label - the '9 Months EP' which was sold at various independent record shops around the south. Over the next two years Skilf recorded a shed load of UK rap material, his various influences and different experiences made for a very unique sound. In 2007 everything came to a head and indi lablel Clandestine Cultivations released his debut UK rap album ‘Original Visions.’

Since then Skilf has featured on: ‘The Brighton Hip Hop Festival’ CD for 2007, a collaborative project called ‘DJ Downlow Presents – The Connection’ and released his single ‘Slow Me Down’ (feat Michelle Ericsson) which received storm reviews and a lot of airplay. He has appeared on the same bills as Ghostface Killah (Wu Tang Clan), Tim Westwood, Kidz In The Hall, Sway, Task Force, Killer Keller, Phi Life Cypher and was a resident at Dub Pressure (Brighton’s monthly dubstep night).

Skilf is now part of Astro-Physics, a hip hop/funk/drum ‘n’ bass band who play live versions of Skilf’s solo tracks and other original UK rap material. They have been performing up and down the country and will be releasing their debut EP ‘Big Bang Theory’ in the near future.
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To book Skilf for a live event please email: bookings@riztonerecords.co.uk


INFLUENCES

Creed, Viper, Unknown, CKP, Luck and Neat, Sparks and Kie, DJ EZ, Pay As You Go Cartel, Heartless Crew, Asher D, Mega Man, Tousa, Peck, Flirta D, Durrty Goodz, Dizzee Rascal, Wiley, Kano, Ghetto, Akala, Eminem, Mike Skinner, Sage Francis, Immortal Technique, Biggie, Tu Pac, Nas, Busta Rhymes, Wu Tang Clan, Outcast, Blackalicious, The Roots, Common, Non Phixon, Jedi Mind Tricks, Louis Logic, Talib Kwali, Saul Williams, The Fugees, Foreign Beggars, Roots Manuva, Jehst, Task Force, Phi Life Cypher, Gwilo, Baraka, Skibba D, Mc Dynamite, Bob Dylan, The Doors, Radiohead, Johnny Cash, Muse, Arctic Monkeys, Red Hot Chilli Peppers and so many more.


AIMS

It's difficult to sum up my ultimate goal... I started rapping for a bit of fun and to impress the ladies! Never thinking that one day it would become such a massive part of my life. As a music artist I think you have to be enjoying what you do because as soon as you lose that, the music you're making begins to suffer. Not a day goes by when I'm not doing something music related (unless I'm hungover!) I get so much pleasure from the whole process every step of the way; from writing, to recording and producing then finally releasing and performing my tracks. So my aim is to keep doing the thing I love most, churning out consistantly good material, and sharing it with the people who want to listen.