Monday - July 10, 2006 by Janeé Bolden

Miami, FL artist Skam2? has rocked the mic with Eminem and Raekwon and drawn up some of the sickest artwork in hip-hop history for A Tribe Called Quest, D12 and the X-ecutioners. With over a decade under his belt as a commercial artist and soon to be released music projects in the works Skam2? is definitely a Player to Watch.

Skam started creating art when he was only three-years-old and the largely self-taught designer/illustrator entered the commercial art market when he was just fifteen.

"Black Moon came down here...they did an instore and I went there with my book like 'Yo wassup, check my shit out.' I've done so much sneaking into places, backstage or VIP sections - clubs when I was too young-with nothing but my book. Most gigs I got were from lugging my book around. You never know who you are going to run into," explained Skam,.

Though Skam's interaction with Black Moon didn't pan out (management balked at paying $200 for a logo he designed) he quickly began to develop relationships within the music industry.

"A lot of people on the underground grew up on Transformers and comic books. Generally there is a love for art for a lot of the people [making music]. It's when you deal with the more corporate side that you will bump heads," Skam told SOHH.

Early in his career Skam learned that industry rule #4080 applies for visual artists just as it does for rappers. Responsible for nearly all of the artwork for A Tribe Called Quest's fourth album Beats, Rhymes and Life, Skam counts the experience as his most memorable, but not his best.

"There were a bunch of highs and lows," Skam told SOHH. "It was their first album right after Midnight Marauders and he (Q-Tip) didn't want to do the lady with the African stripes or the logo. I was a teenager at the time, I almost didn't take the job because I was struggling to come up with something."

Right before the meeting where Skam planned to back out of the project he came up with the concept that eventually became the finished album.

"I did the cover, the inside, the only thing I didn't do was the three photographs of their faces. They made hats, this, that and the third and I didn't get none of that shit. I got a copy of the album from some dude that collects records and he gave me ten like 'Damn I don't believe you didn't get this.' They did the special hologram cover and they didn't send me that shit. I was hot."

While Skam was paid for the job, it wasn't as substantial as he felt he deserved.

"What I was getting for that whole album - the cover, the back, the insert and the logo - I got for doing two logos for Naughty by Nature. I almost didn't do it but my family and friends pushed me and it was good because it opened the door for some other shit."

Still Skam chalks up such occurrences as part of paying dues. In another instance he recalls, "I did some shit for Naughty by Nature and they paid this guy Andre Tanaka to scan it. He took my art, scanned it, took off my name, put his name and ran full ads in The Source. He actually kind of messed it up, it didn't even look as good as the original."

His talent has provided upsides as well, with art opening avenues for Skam, who is an avid skateboarder and rapper (his first single "365" featured Eminem and is referenced on Em's "Stan").

"From me knowing people from doing my artwork, the artwork was an in," Skam explained. "When you come to people like 'I rap' - it's like 'Word, you do? That's f***in great, like there is not a million of you.' But when it's 'I do art' if people respect what you do and are not completely 'industrialized,' and have an open mind, they will look at you as someone who artistically has vision. Those people get to know you, as opposed to giving music to people that don't know you."

Skam2's Play-o-graphy

Projects

Same Difference OWD- Old World Disorder, SKAM2? and Shadowman

The Skronik: Lost Episodes - "A lot of stuff that the beats got sold, sessions got lost, goodies - one joint I did with Em that people from Rawkus had me taken off the song ... a lot of goodies for the fans"

www.myspace.com/skam2

Watchlist

Black Violin - hip-hop violinists who've done shows with FortMinor, have performed with Alicia Keys, did some stuff on Paris Hilton's album.

Dejah- hip-hop and reggae artist

Mystic- Female rapper/singer. New album coming out

Anonymous- from Hustle Boy

Ill Bill- MC

La Coka Nostra- Ill Bill, Danny Boy, DJ Lethal, Goretex, Slaine, Big Left, Optimus, Mr. Kaves, Willy Dynomite, Cee kay and Germs

Beatdown- "the illest drummer alive" drummer from FortMinor

Quote of the Year

"Practice Truth and Fear Nothing."