Urban Vault caught up with Massachusetts-bred, LA-based emcee/producer Skipp Whitman to ask him some questions about his recent release EL AYE and more…

Emcee/producer Skipp Whitman recently dropped his self-produced and Sebastian Ruiz-directed music video for ‘El Aye’, featuring Emmitt James and starring Melissa Vento. ‘El Aye’ appears on his album ‘Unfinished Songs Vol 1’ (UFSV#1), a collection of original freestyles and unfinished or incomplete songs and/or ideas.

Skipp has collaborated with Skyzoo and Grafh, and has opened for Kanye West, KRS-One, Talib Kweli, Kool G Rap, Nas and Guru. Skipp recently released visuals for SWUFSV#1 singles ‘Goodnight‘ and ‘Slow Down‘ as well as ‘Fireworks‘, a song from his album ‘Piece‘, composed, produced, written and recorded entirely by Skipp.

When asked about the inspiration behind the project, Skipp said, “’El Aye’ features my friend Emmitt James who is a dope MC and well-known performer around LA. I pretty much never collaborate but I think this one came off right”.

You have been releasing music and visuals at a heavy rate this year. What are the logistics of keeping that up? How much time and energy does it take out of you? Do you ever feel that keeping up the pace ever compromises quality?

Thank you. Yes, it’s been a zone. There’s something about deadlines that forces creativity that probably wouldn’t happen if I had 6 months to drop a video. The logistics can be insane sometimes. But, that’s the fun part. When it feels like everything is about to fall apart but it all comes together. Also, after working like this for a while, I’ve started to get more confident in operating under pressure. If anything, it gives me energy. It’s inspiring. I start thinking about videos now when I’m barely halfway through writing a song. So, the concepts and images sort of feed each other. I have been producing or co-producing all of the projects. So, I also cast, location scout, storyboard, and assist in final edits. I’m usually 2-3 videos ahead… So this buys me time for each to be SURE that the product is where I want it before thinking of sending it out. Being obsessive. Checking and double checking to make sure everything is perfect… But again, not with so much time that it gets stale. Then, many times the day after a shoot I’m already starting the next one. If I had the budget, I would do one every week.

What line of yours do you think you should go down in history for and why?

I can’t call it. That would have to be up to the listeners. The more music I put out, the less attached I am to the outcome of any one particular thing. Not that I don’t care about everything intensely. But, I’m less affected by whether something is received well or not. Because, like I said, I’m usually a few steps beyond any one thing creatively. Many times, when something resonates with people, it’s the last thing I would have expected, so I’ve stopped trying to predict or proclaim and let the listener(s) decide.

Artists gain inspiration from unlikely sources sometimes. What are who is one source of inspiration for you that we might not expect?

Musically, and I have said it before, Burt Bacharach and Herb Alpert are probably my two biggest inspirations. Their chord progressions and melodic choices and textures are second to none. I’m rarely directly inspired by other rap. I’m always cautious of being too influenced or effected my other rappers/producers and thus wind up sounding like them. I know it’s nothing new, but I especially dislike any rapper who is obviously trying to sound like someone else. Lyrically and creatively, I am most inspired by my own experiences which I guess wouldn’t come as a surprise. But. The cool thing about pulling from that well is it never stops. It’s always changing. Always different. And since I’m human. Any brutally honest experience that I express is hopefully relatable to or shared by any listeners or potential listeners and they can hopefully relate or at least understand.

How has the game changed since the days you first got into it?

The medium through which we listen has changed. CDs to online. Popular production has changed 180 degrees. Lyrics have gone from front and center to a novelty. But. At the same time, the business model for a ‘successful artist’ has also changed. When I started, if you weren’t signed to a major label and selling at least hundreds of thousands of copies you were most likely not making a living. Now, although popular ‘rap’ consumption has gone from Big L to Lil, there have also opened a zillion lanes – each with a potentially large enough fan base to fund a full time career. I feel like every week I come across a new rapper or ‘indie’ artist that I had never heard of but that has a ravenous fanbase and is most likely making their living off of what they love doing. Which for now, is my only goal. It’s a beautiful thing. Anything bigger than that is a lottery ticket.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of being a solo artist?

I love being solo. I wouldn’t have it any other way. I guess, initially, it’s like a muscle. If you’re part of a group, there is less that you are independently responsible for. Plus you have the benefit of constant collaboration. As a solo artist, you have to learn how to get an stay inspired. How to reach out for help when you need it, and know when you do and don’t need it. As a solo artist with no representation, you have to learn how to approach blogs, how to book shows, design graphics, assemble visuals, find new potential supporters .. How to release and hopefully make money from your music. And if you’re a solo artist with no producer. Then. There’s that. But. Once you know how. It’s like knowing how to hunt, gather, and cook. You can invite people to dinner sometimes, but if nobody comes through you’re not any less satisfied at the end of the meal. I can’t speak to too many benefits of being in a group .. Many of which I very well may be missing out on since I haven’t been in anything resembling a group in forever. But ignorance is bliss.

Thank you for your time and may you carry on making dope, fresh music…

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