He first made a name for himself by finishing in second place in a national freestyle competition in 1995, which resulted in a recording contract with Atlantic Records. Skillz' Atlantic debut, From Where???, and its single, The Nod Factor, were released in 1996, but sank without a trace. In the late-1990s, he allied himself with fellow Virginia natives Missy Elliott, Timbaland, and The Neptunes. He made appearances on Timbaland'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, the label failed to materialize. He along with Danja Mowf, Lonnie B, and Patrice O'Neal, members of Mad Skillz' Supafriendz collective, also appeared on a remix of Aaliyah's hit single "Are You That Somebody" in 1998.
More recently (2000) Skillz is known for his tell all single "Ghostwriter". In which he names (but edits) artist for which he has written hit singles. With lines like 'I'm a ghostwriter, I'm the cat that you don't see/I write hits for rappers you like and charge 'em a fee'. Un-edited versions of the track have not surfaced but Skillz is known to do a live performance in which he includes the names. One artist that openly admits Skillz has written hits for them is P. Diddy.
From 2002 through 2009 Skillz has done a year end "Wrap-Up" song that encapsulates the events of the prior 12 months. Pop radio will recognize him more for this as the hilarious comedic lyrics are timely & funny. During the last years Skillz has claimed each to be his last doing this track.
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 afore mentioned LP was never released in the U.S. and re-packaged with additional tracks as Confessions Of A Ghostwriter in 2005.
A client for the Mama's Boys management company which also includes Musiq, Skillz has been a featured artist at okayplayer.com, run by ?uestlove of The Roots.
The Jam
Skillz Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The styles I be inkin' get you hyper when I get and attack tracks
Bruise and snooze on the wack
My crew's in the back, gettin' blitzed like a slow quarterback
No introduc's needed, this be the jam
Which occurs everytime that the mic hits my hand
Now understand, me not makin' MC's sweat
Is like seein a brother sellin the Final Call chillin' in the short set
Makin' cheese like grill, here to test a nigga's mic skills
When I rhyme REAL heads get the shivers
Here comes that nigga name Shakwan, signed sealed and delivered
To your tape deck, CD's and crossfaders
Beats be hard like blowin' bubbles with Now or Laters
Don't front, like you don't know who I am
Fully equipped to mic rip, brother here comes the jam
When the mic hits my hand, you know I'm gonna slam
Money you'll be like, oh shit! That's the jam
When the mic hits my hand, you know I'm gonna slam
Kid you'll be like, oh shit! That's the jam
When the mic hits my hand, you know I'm gonna slam
Yo you'll be like, oh shit! That's the jam
When the mic hits my hand, you know I'm gonna slam
And you'll be like, oh shit! That's the jam
Now if you wanna play around don't play with me
You can play with AIDS, I'm puttin' H's in your IV's
Bum raps over drum taps; rappers jumpin' up in my face
Like the ground was covered with thumbtacks
I'm in your face like mace, take a taste
Make a crowd vibrate, like a device on my waist
Skillz Mad, will he be bad? Ask your dad
Don't front, he know about the skills that I had
Or should I say got 'cause my mic still hot
Back up it's Shakwan' I'm lettin off verb shots
I take MC's, wake 'em up out they sleep
Pour ammonia in they face, slap 'em with some microphone techniques
After that, niggaz retire, 'cause I'm iller
And my lyrics are thicker than Richard Pryor
One time for my crew, two times for the fam
Givin crews sun tans, make way for the jam
When the mic hits my hand, you know I'm gonna slam
Yo you'll be like, oh shit! That's the jam
When the mic hits my hand, you know I'm gonna slam
Money you'll be like, oh shit! That's the jam
When the mic hits my hand, you know I'm gonna slam
You'll be like, oh shit! That's the jam
When the mic hits my hand, you know I'm gonna slam
Yeah you'll be like, oh shit! That's the jam
Yeah, the jam has arrived so all that garbage can walk
Before I personally interact with that ass like Box Talk
So pass the steel when I flex on the reels
You know the deal that nigga Skillz be up in dips like Massengil
Douche, ass toosh, who get loose
Funk money times five gettin' live call a truce
From Compton to Maine I tear, niggaz out the frame
I don't battle I show niggaz how to play the cryin' game
Like last November, when your man got dismembered
It was me I ate his meat, and it lasted through the winter
So enter, cause yo I been, bombin' since
Ninety-one when I started destroyin MC's confidence
So peace, to the real MC's
Kalonji the Mindbenda and my man Lonnie be
Javon, Little Rock, Big Street my man
Fuckin' 'round with Skillz you get caught up in the jam
When the mic hits my hand, you know I'm gonna slam
You'll be like, oh shit! That's the jam
When the mic hits my hand, you know I'm gonna slam
Yo you'll be like, oh shit! That's the jam
When the mic hits my hand, you know I'm gonna slam
You'll be like, oh shit! That's the jam
When the mic hits my hand, you know I'm gonna slam
You'll be like, oh shit! That's the jam
When the mic hits my hand, you know I'm gonna slam
You'll be like, oh shit! That's the jam
When the mic hits my hand, you know I'm gonna slam
Yeah you'll be like, oh shit! That's the jam
When the mic hits my hand, you know I'm gonna slam
And you'll be like, oh shit! That's the jam
When the mic hits my hand, you know I'm gonna slam
You'll be like, oh shit! That's the jam
The song "The Jam" by Skillz is a classic hip-hop track that showcases his lyrical prowess and confidence in his abilities as an MC. In the first verse, Skillz calls out other rappers who think they're the best by asking them who gave them their ego and telling them that his rhymes have more power to excite listeners. He also introduces his crew, who are getting drunk in the background. Skillz then declares that he doesn't need to make other rappers sweat because his talent speaks for itself.
In the second verse, Skillz continues to flex his lyrical muscles, warning other rappers not to underestimate him and comparing himself to a deadly disease. He also references the physical pain that some rappers may feel when listening to his music, saying that his rhymes can cause vibrations like a device on his waist. Skillz concludes the song by shouting out his crew and other MCs that he respects in the hip-hop community.
Overall, "The Jam" is a confident and boastful hip-hop anthem that showcases Skillz's lyrical talent and his ability to create hype and excitement among listeners.
Line by Line Meaning
Now who done passed you a diaper and got you thinkin' you the shit?
Who made you think you're great?
The styles I be inkin' get you hyper when I get and attack tracks
My rap styles make you energetic when I attack tracks
Bruise and snooze on the wack
Ignore and put to sleep the weak music
My crew's in the back, gettin' blitzed like a slow quarterback
My friends are at the back relaxing and getting drunk
No introduc's needed, this be the jam
No need to introduce, this is the groovy song
Which occurs everytime that the mic hits my hand
This song plays every time I hold the microphone
Now understand, me not makin' MC's sweat
It's useless if I don't make other rappers nervous while performing
Is like seein a brother sellin the Final Call chillin' in the short set
It's like a practicing Muslim wearing revealing clothing
Check the drill when you see me write your will
Prepare yourself before I write about you
Makin' cheese like grill, here to test a nigga's mic skills
I'm here to test the skills of other rappers
When I rhyme REAL heads get the shivers
I give chills to real hip hop lovers when I perform
Here comes that nigga name Shakwan, signed sealed and delivered
Here comes the rapper known as Shakwan, ready to perform
To your tape deck, CD's and crossfaders
My music is available on all formats
Beats be hard like blowin' bubbles with Now or Laters
My beats are tough and hard like the candy Now and Laters
Don't front, like you don't know who I am
Don't pretend like you don't know me
Fully equipped to mic rip, brother here comes the jam
I'm ready to destroy the microphone, get ready for the song
When the mic hits my hand, you know I'm gonna slam
When I hold the microphone, i'm going to perform well
Money you'll be like, oh shit! That's the jam
People will be delighted about the song and say 'Oh Shit!'
Kid you'll be like, oh shit! That's the jam
People of all age groups will say 'Oh Shit!'
Yo you'll be like, oh shit! That's the jam
Everyone will say 'Oh Shit!' while listening to this groovy song
And you'll be like, oh shit! That's the jam
People will be amazed by this track
Now if you wanna play around don't play with me
If you want to get serious, then do it right
You can play with AIDS, I'm puttin' H's in your IV's
Don't play with me, I'll make your life hard with my music
Bum raps over drum taps; rappers jumpin' up in my face
Weak music on drums is useless and fake rappers are annoying me
Like the ground was covered with thumbtacks
Annoying as if there are thumbtacks everywhere
I'm in your face like mace, take a taste
My lyrics are sharp and fresh, try it yourself and taste it
Make a crowd vibrate, like a device on my waist
Make the audience excited like the device on my waist
Skillz Mad, will he be bad? Ask your dad
Ask your senior if I'm angry or bad
Don't front, he know about the skills that I had
He knows that I possessed great skills
Or should I say got 'cause my mic still hot
Maybe I should use present tense because my mic is still hot
Back up it's Shakwan' I'm lettin off verb shots
Be careful, here comes Shakwan spitting verb shots
I take MC's, wake 'em up out they sleep
I take weak rappers, and help them improve their skills
Pour ammonia in they face, slap 'em with some microphone techniques
I make them realize their potential using my teaching techniques
After that, niggaz retire, 'cause I'm iller
After that, those rappers retire because I'm simply better
And my lyrics are thicker than Richard Pryor
My lyrics are so dense and well-composed like Richard Pryor's jokes
One time for my crew, two times for the fam
One shoutout for my friends, two shoutouts for my family
Givin crews sun tans, make way for the jam
Making people excited and truly giving them something to cheer about
Yeah you'll be like, oh shit! That's the jam
Everyone will say 'Oh Shit!' while listening to this groovy song
Yeah, the jam has arrived so all that garbage can walk
This amazing track has been released and now lesser music should be boycotted
Before I personally interact with that ass like Box Talk
Before I apply physical punishment like a boxer would do
So pass the steel when I flex on the reels
Give me the microphone when I'm in the zone
You know the deal that nigga Skillz be up in dips like Massengil
You know how good I am, my skills are like Massengil
Douche, ass toosh, who get loose
Shower, clean ass, and be free
Funk money times five gettin' live call a truce
My music is so funky, it makes you want to dance
From Compton to Maine I tear, niggaz out the frame
From Compton to Maine, people know me well and respect my abilities
I don't battle I show niggaz how to play the cryin' game
I don't engage in battles, I teach rappers how to rap
Like last November, when your man got dismembered
Just like last November when my music got so popular that people couldn't stand it
It was me I ate his meat, and it lasted through the winter
It was actually my music that knocked him down and overpowered him for a long time
So enter, cause yo I been, bombin' since
So, come and enjoy the music, I have been making great songs since forever
Ninety-one when I started destroyin MC's confidence
Since 1991, I have been breaking down the confidence of other rappers with my performances
So peace, to the real MC's
I respect the true hip hop lovers
Kalonji the Mindbenda and my man Lonnie be
I respect my colleagues Kalonji the Mindbenda and Lonnie
Javon, Little Rock, Big Street my man
I respect my friends Javon, Little Rock, Big Street
Fuckin' 'round with Skillz you get caught up in the jam
If you mess with me, I will make you a part of the amazing music
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: D. LEWIS, JAMES DEWITT YANCEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind