Member Since: 9/29/2005
Band Website: angelfire/hiphop3/skee
Influences: Jay-Z, Bone Thugs, Swollen Members, Jurrasic 5, The Roots, old school Snoop, Talib Kweli, The L.O.X., Nas.....many others I can't think of right now!
Sounds Like:
NEW ALBUM REVIEWED IN THIS MONTH'S ISSUE OF THE WIRE!!Written by Matt Kanner - Thursday, 11 September 2008
‘Relentless’
by SkeeSkee is Aaron Ward, a Seacoast resident trying to expand the local hip-hop scene currently headlined by The Press Project. And he’s got a shot. “Relentless†is Skee’s second full-lengh album, following 2005’s “Fine Line.†Passionate from start to finish, the disc shows considerable promise.Rather than employing a full instrumental band like The Press, Skee relies on beats deftly manufactured by producer Scott Maclin, a.k.a. Maclinear. The resulting sound harkens back to the early days of hip-hop while maintaining a fresh edge. The album begins with Skee describing his intense approach to music.“You gotta attack it until you feel you’re getting close to accomplishing what you set out to do,†he says. “I mean, you gotta be flat out relentless.â€The spoken delivery of these opening words seems a little contrived, almost like a parody of an aspiring rapper. But the 14 songs that follow legitimize Skee’s efforts. The beats, often employing piano melodies, are inventive and ambient, and Skee’s lyrics are thoughtful and well-delivered.Skee explains his purpose for writing rhymes in “Certain Sound.†In addition to relieving stress and thrilling listeners, Skee says he raps to take his mind off the world’s endless troubles, from the war in Iraq to animal abuse and homeless children.“It’s all about how we use it, that’s what makes music / That’s what we’re here to provide, get used to it,†he raps.Skee’s influences consist of an array of big names in modern hip-hop, including everyone from Jay-Z, Nas and early Snoop Dogg to The Roots, Jurassic 5 and Talib Kweli. “Relentless’ includes guest appearances from several other up-and-coming MCs, including N.O.P., B.L.O. and D’cyple. Lauren Whitehouse also contributes vocals on “All I Can Be.â€Produced and mixed by Maclinear, “Relentless†is available at Bull Moose Music. Visit www.myspace.com/skeebone.
Record Label: Unsigned, but repping BombBaby
Type of Label: Indie