| Skammadix |
Lee: Introduce yourself to the readers that are hearing about you for the first time, and tell us about the first few
years that you started making music. I heard a few beats on your myspace page that go back to 1996, how long
were you involved in making music before that and back then who were your influences production wise?
Skammadix: My name is Skammadix and I am a musician\producer from Long Beach, Long Island. I have played in
bands for many years prior to making hip hop beats. I can play many instruments such as, piano, guitar, bass and
drums. My foray into music started at the age of 13 when I first started to teach myself how to play the guitar. A friend of
mine had shown me a few chords and how to read guitar tablature, and I took it from there. We started a band and
needed a drummer so I took it upon myself to learn how to play drums. Then, we started recording ourselves on a little
Tascam 4 track and felt some piano and keyboards would help fill out the recordings. I then started taking piano
lessons and advanced quickly through them in about a year. After learning the basics, I started to teach myself classical
pieces and figuring out how to play along with popular songs on the radio. Learning the classical pieces made the
technical aspect of my playing very advanced, so playing along with popular music was rather easy. We then started
overdubbing piano and keyboard parts over our music. This was really the beginning of what I do right now.
years that you started making music. I heard a few beats on your myspace page that go back to 1996, how long
were you involved in making music before that and back then who were your influences production wise?
Skammadix: My name is Skammadix and I am a musician\producer from Long Beach, Long Island. I have played in
bands for many years prior to making hip hop beats. I can play many instruments such as, piano, guitar, bass and
drums. My foray into music started at the age of 13 when I first started to teach myself how to play the guitar. A friend of
mine had shown me a few chords and how to read guitar tablature, and I took it from there. We started a band and
needed a drummer so I took it upon myself to learn how to play drums. Then, we started recording ourselves on a little
Tascam 4 track and felt some piano and keyboards would help fill out the recordings. I then started taking piano
lessons and advanced quickly through them in about a year. After learning the basics, I started to teach myself classical
pieces and figuring out how to play along with popular songs on the radio. Learning the classical pieces made the
technical aspect of my playing very advanced, so playing along with popular music was rather easy. We then started
overdubbing piano and keyboard parts over our music. This was really the beginning of what I do right now.
As far as the beats from 1996, it was around 1994 that I started to make beats on a simple Yamaha QY-70
sequencer. Growing up on rock music and then being exposed to hip hop during the golden era had a profound effect
on me. Hip hop was very musical back then and I took an instant liking if not love to it. The producers that really made
me want to make hip hop beats were : DJ Premier, Q-Tip, The Beatminerz, Large Professor, Marley Marl, and Havoc
of Mobb Deep. These remain my influences to this day along with some of the newer cats like Madlib, J-Dilla, and
believe it or not, Necro.
sequencer. Growing up on rock music and then being exposed to hip hop during the golden era had a profound effect
on me. Hip hop was very musical back then and I took an instant liking if not love to it. The producers that really made
me want to make hip hop beats were : DJ Premier, Q-Tip, The Beatminerz, Large Professor, Marley Marl, and Havoc
of Mobb Deep. These remain my influences to this day along with some of the newer cats like Madlib, J-Dilla, and
believe it or not, Necro.
L: You've also created beats inspired off of Nintendo theme music. Tell
us about some of the games that you've sampled. Do you still got a NES?
S: The Flashbacks Vol. 1 - Nintendo Power EP was started out of me
becoming to "serious" about what I'm doing now. I felt like I needed a little
break from grinding on beats and I needed to do something for me. I felt
like this project would be a nice little diversion and it would be fun. As far as
the games I sampled they were - Metroid, Rush 'n Attack, Castlevania 1 & 2,
Metal Gear and Mike Tyson's Punch Out. Unfortunately my NES is not in
working condition, so I need to send a shout out to whoever created that
NES Emulator and all of those ROM's. Whoever you are, You're a good
person.
us about some of the games that you've sampled. Do you still got a NES?
S: The Flashbacks Vol. 1 - Nintendo Power EP was started out of me
becoming to "serious" about what I'm doing now. I felt like I needed a little
break from grinding on beats and I needed to do something for me. I felt
like this project would be a nice little diversion and it would be fun. As far as
the games I sampled they were - Metroid, Rush 'n Attack, Castlevania 1 & 2,
Metal Gear and Mike Tyson's Punch Out. Unfortunately my NES is not in
working condition, so I need to send a shout out to whoever created that
NES Emulator and all of those ROM's. Whoever you are, You're a good
person.
Majesty & Skammadix
L: You're also one of the producers on the upcoming release
American Hunger. How did you link up with MF Grimm and
Day By Day Entertainment? Also, what is your definition of
American Hunger? For the next person that might be
interested but has yet to hear about this triple cd (American
Hunger) that is set to be released on the 27th of June, in one
sentence, based off of what you know so far, what would you
tell them?
S: I linked up with MF Grimm through Majesty. See, the thing
about working with Grimm is crazy. I have been listening to him
since '92 when he was dropping those 12"s on Fondle 'Em
records. Then when Kool G. Rap's 4,5,6 album dropped I knew
Grimm was a force to be reckoned with. So overall, it was an
amazing experience for me to be a part of American Hunger.
Not only that, but it was really special for me to be in the lab with
Grimm, Majesty, Mez, Ravage, Block McCloud and Infinite EVOL
during the session for my track "Elevate" on the album. Mind
blowing to say the least.
American Hunger. How did you link up with MF Grimm and
Day By Day Entertainment? Also, what is your definition of
American Hunger? For the next person that might be
interested but has yet to hear about this triple cd (American
Hunger) that is set to be released on the 27th of June, in one
sentence, based off of what you know so far, what would you
tell them?
S: I linked up with MF Grimm through Majesty. See, the thing
about working with Grimm is crazy. I have been listening to him
since '92 when he was dropping those 12"s on Fondle 'Em
records. Then when Kool G. Rap's 4,5,6 album dropped I knew
Grimm was a force to be reckoned with. So overall, it was an
amazing experience for me to be a part of American Hunger.
Not only that, but it was really special for me to be in the lab with
Grimm, Majesty, Mez, Ravage, Block McCloud and Infinite EVOL
during the session for my track "Elevate" on the album. Mind
blowing to say the least.
My definition of American Hunger can't be laid out simply. It's a bunch of
things to me. It's Grimm's message to the world, it's history in the making,
it's an amazing project that was made for the fans not for the industry (3 cd's
for the price of 1? Who does that?), it's Grimm letting people know that he's
here and here to stay, and last but not least, I look at it as the snowflake
hitting the top of the mountain and starting the snowball running downhill as
far as my career as a producer goes.
As far as what I know about American Hunger so far summed up in one
sentence? This is easy. I'll keep it to 2 words. Amazing and Historical.
L: Other than American Hunger what other projects have you been a part
of or are you currently working on?
S: The projects I have been working on right now are pretty involved. As far
as just music, I have 4 beats on Majesty's Omega Project,a couple of beats
going on DVS' mixtape, 3 beats submitted for the new MIC album, 1 beat for
MechaGodzilla AKA Ravage's album, and 1 beat going on Mez's album. I
also have a track with Breez Evaflowin' and Majesty and another with DVS,
Mez, Majesty and Final Outlaw which will probably be on DVS' mixtape as
well.
things to me. It's Grimm's message to the world, it's history in the making,
it's an amazing project that was made for the fans not for the industry (3 cd's
for the price of 1? Who does that?), it's Grimm letting people know that he's
here and here to stay, and last but not least, I look at it as the snowflake
hitting the top of the mountain and starting the snowball running downhill as
far as my career as a producer goes.
As far as what I know about American Hunger so far summed up in one
sentence? This is easy. I'll keep it to 2 words. Amazing and Historical.
L: Other than American Hunger what other projects have you been a part
of or are you currently working on?
S: The projects I have been working on right now are pretty involved. As far
as just music, I have 4 beats on Majesty's Omega Project,a couple of beats
going on DVS' mixtape, 3 beats submitted for the new MIC album, 1 beat for
MechaGodzilla AKA Ravage's album, and 1 beat going on Mez's album. I
also have a track with Breez Evaflowin' and Majesty and another with DVS,
Mez, Majesty and Final Outlaw which will probably be on DVS' mixtape as
well.
| Majestyforthekids.org Event |
The main thing I have been working on outside of music is Majesty For The Kids. We have devised a plan to help send 10
kids to college. Majesty and myself will be hitting every high school freshman class in the 5 boroughs in 2008 with an essay
contest. The top 10 essays that are submitted will be printed in a book and sold. All of the proceeds from the book will go
towards sending those 10 kids to college. We also have sponsorship packages which will be available shortly. The website
( www.majestyforthekids.org) should be launched on June 15th where we will be able to take donations. We also will have a
1-800 number as well to get into contact with us. I am also producing a Majesty For The Kids album with a lot of top
underground hip hop artists on it which will be sold through the non profit Majesty For The Kids charity and available only
through there. The proceeds of this album will also go directly towards funding the program.
Also, I have just accepted a 50% stake in Overthrow Entertainment. Keep your eye out for us. We have a lot going on. It's not
going to be just a record label. We are going to encompass many things.
kids to college. Majesty and myself will be hitting every high school freshman class in the 5 boroughs in 2008 with an essay
contest. The top 10 essays that are submitted will be printed in a book and sold. All of the proceeds from the book will go
towards sending those 10 kids to college. We also have sponsorship packages which will be available shortly. The website
( www.majestyforthekids.org) should be launched on June 15th where we will be able to take donations. We also will have a
1-800 number as well to get into contact with us. I am also producing a Majesty For The Kids album with a lot of top
underground hip hop artists on it which will be sold through the non profit Majesty For The Kids charity and available only
through there. The proceeds of this album will also go directly towards funding the program.
Also, I have just accepted a 50% stake in Overthrow Entertainment. Keep your eye out for us. We have a lot going on. It's not
going to be just a record label. We are going to encompass many things.
L: Tell us about other genres of music that you are into? If
you created a soundtrack of the first 15 years of your life
what five songs would we definitely find on Skammadix cd?
S: Musical tastes.. This is could be a long answer, but I'll keep
it short. I listen to everything pretty much. If it's good, I'll listen to
it. Be it Jazz, Rock, Metal, Hip Hop, World Music, Alternative,
Punk (Real Punk not watered down punk), to Hardcore, I'll give
it a listen at least once.
The 5 songs you would definitely find on a CD about my life
would be :
1. It's A Shame - Kool G. Rap
2. Memory Lane - Nas
3. Corduroy - Pearl Jam
4. 10 Years Gone - Led Zeppelin
5. Bucktown - Smif 'n Wesson
Not that these songs describe me in any way, but they were an
intregal part of my life through different stages and they all hold
a place in my heart and mind, day in and day out.
you created a soundtrack of the first 15 years of your life
what five songs would we definitely find on Skammadix cd?
S: Musical tastes.. This is could be a long answer, but I'll keep
it short. I listen to everything pretty much. If it's good, I'll listen to
it. Be it Jazz, Rock, Metal, Hip Hop, World Music, Alternative,
Punk (Real Punk not watered down punk), to Hardcore, I'll give
it a listen at least once.
The 5 songs you would definitely find on a CD about my life
would be :
1. It's A Shame - Kool G. Rap
2. Memory Lane - Nas
3. Corduroy - Pearl Jam
4. 10 Years Gone - Led Zeppelin
5. Bucktown - Smif 'n Wesson
Not that these songs describe me in any way, but they were an
intregal part of my life through different stages and they all hold
a place in my heart and mind, day in and day out.
| For more interviews also visit the Repview [Interview] section of this website at leehiphopshow.com/repview [click here] |
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Skammadix | The Representation Community
© 2006
Skammadix | The Representation Community
© 2006