Via Kevin Nottingham
Probably best known for his work on the timeless classic, Reasonable Doubt, Ski has remained a fan favourite when it comes to production in hip hop. When his name is mentioned, ears are raised and interest peaks. His remarkable intuition for “great sound” is amongst some of the best ever in hip hop because that’s what he has simply done since the days of Original Flavour; make great sounding music. Once known as “MC Will-Ski,” the now known as Ski (or Ski Beatz) has become known for his affiliation with Sporty Thievz and more so, his classic production for Camp Lo’s Uptown Saturday Night. We got to chat with Ski and snap out a quick interview (Thanks Jonathan!). We touched on a variety of topics from Jigga’s work ethic circa Reasonable Doubt and even some unreleased tracks, Camp Lo’s most recent (and classic) stuff including a Back Uptown album (Uptown Saturday Night throwback sound), Blueprint 3 news, New York’s hip hop state, his relationship with Clark Kent, the Sporty Theivz, and a possible Ski/Mos Def track in the works? Plenty of goodies after the cut.
To start things off, we’ll kind of get to your most known work with Jay-z on Reasonable Doubt. Are there any unreleased Jay-Z songs from the Reasonable Doubt sessions that you never put out?
SB: Yeah man, we did tons of stuff that didn’t make it on the album. I wish I still had them songs. We most of that earlier stuff on adats.
Is Jay-z really something special in the studio? All of the stories we hear about him rhyming on the spot, are they true? Any interesting stories about that whole album process that you might want to share?
SB: Jay is amazing in the studio, magic happens every time he’s in the booth. Man I got so many studio stories I don’t nowhere to begin. The most memorable story was Jay and Biggie at D&D studios Jay in one room Biggie in the other just being around those two at that time was legendary.
Did you like “Dead Presidents part 3?? Were you approached to help out with it?
SB: It was cool, but no, I was not approached for that one.
Your whole competition with Clark Kent was well documented for the “Politics as Usual” beat. Did you have a good relationship with him even before and during the Original Flavor days? What other producers back then and even know did you have a good relationship with?
SB: Yeah me and Clark go back before O[riginal]Flav[or]. I was in a North Carolina based group call the “Bizzie Boyz” and we use to open up for a lot of the bigger name acts that came in to town. That’s how I met Clark. I was cool with all the producer back then Primo, Lord Finesse, Beatminerz, Mark Spark, Fanatic, Buckwild, Show Biz, Donald D, Pete Rock, everybody
Moving away from Hova and RD for a bit, but we’ll come back to him later, are you interested in grooming and mentoring new and upcoming producers? Especially since this site is littered with production talent, I’m sure cats would love to know, but I mean, time for that is a hard thing to give up, no?
SB: I’m always willing to help people in general. I mean someone took the time to help me so its only right to help others producers who are on the come up.
The reason why I ask this is because of this dedication one had to another back in the day. In hip-hop today, the idea of a rapper doing an album with only 1 or 2 producers is the exception, rather than the norm. Back in the 80s and 90s, the reverse was true. Do you think it’s better to have 1 or 2 producers on an album, or 7 or 8 like what’s being done today?
SB: Definitely 1 or 2. Thats what gives a classic LP that sound that most LPs are missing today.
