The Whap Whap DJ who peaked at No. 100 on the hot 100 with a Nicki Minaj remix or Crocodile Teeth may be drawing battle lines with those comments he made in an interview with “On The Radar Radio.“
“I think I am the leader of like the new generation, based off what stats are saying and shows,” he remarked.
“alotta mah flows have been stolen, alot of my tactics that I teach in interviews have been stolen, I am not even saying tis been stolen,” he says with a pseudo America accent.
“Younger artist are taking my moves, taking my moves and doing what I teach them and i applaud them,” he continued.
“I am doing the work and its all about me doing the work, cause I been doing the work over the years i bene releasing alotta music. I been like putting in the work, bodies of work, I am the only person that like release a mixtape with 35 , 37 tracks going crazy,” he affirms.
Last October Skillibeng dropped is second album Crocodile Teeth and music producer Johny Wonder said Skillibeng will bridge the gap between dancehall and hip hop.
The album got disappointing reviews, but Wonder insisted that he is the one who will spark interest in dancehall again for North American markets and that Skillibeng’s presence in the music industry is the missing piece of the puzzle.
“Skillibeng is a great artist that bridge the gap”. Wonder proclaimed.
Since the “Brick Pon Brick” artist came on the scene a few years ago he has scored several international features with his catchy, slow rhymes including a remix of Whap Whap with French Montana and Fivio Foreign.
Bobby Shmurda and platinum selling British rapper, dancehall DJ Stefflon Don have used his slangs and punchlines for their own songs.
His first album released last June “The Prodigy: Ladies Only Edition” sold 25 copies in pure album sales in the United States in its first week, according to data provided to World Music Views by Luminate. Total consumption from pure album sales plus stream equivalent albums was 300 units.
The album’s total streams from audio and video in the US for the period May 28 to June 10 was 381,000, according to MRC Data.
Still, Skillibeng’s Crocodile Teeth The Album has 12 songs with a star studded line up of rappers which include, Bobby Shmurda, Lil Zach, Rich The Kid, and Stefflon Don.
With a singular Billboard hit and handful of Jamaican YouTube No. 1s the St. Thomas DJ has made successful stops in the U.K. and the US at the Wireless and Afropunk Festivals where he was well received by thousands of eager fans outside of his core base.
His presence has been felt among the Hip Hop and Afro-fusion artist who have embraced him onstage. With Whap Whap, Crocodile Teeth, Coke, Bad Man, Hot among crowd favorites. He performed twice – first as a solo act and again with Billboard chart topper WizKid. The two kicked it at a Wireless Fest after-party following their performances.
Big Wiz, #DjTunez & #SkilliBeng At Cave Birmingham 🦅#Wizkid pic.twitter.com/p8CTuWqcXU
— 𝐂𝐇𝐈𝐌𝐌𝐈𝐄𝐄 👁️🗨️ (@ChimmieeHQ) July 9, 2022
As far as Skillibeng’s dancehall generation go, Shenseea also made her debut at Wireless Festival wearing a Shenyeng Dragon logo-inspired outfit, performing her local and international hits including the Gold-certified single Blessed.
Meanwhile Last month Mr. Vegas, gave advice and support to the Brik Pan Brik artists.
The veteran Billboard charted singer gave advice to Skillibeng on how to improve his performance.
“You selecta, you haffi a go over to him too much time, a dead spot that innah show, and when you a talk to him it a come over back pon the mic, its coming over back on the mic and the people can hear your discussion with the selector” he said about Skillibeng’s live performance.
“So hear wah you do, seen, when you a talk to your selecta you make him know we nuh go stage so fi rehearse, we rehearse before we go stage show.” he continued.
Senior VP of A&R at RCA Records, Skane Dolla, tells Billboard that “I was familiar with Skillibeng prior to meeting him in Jamaica, but once I met him, I knew right away that Skilli was a ‘MUST SIGN’ for RCA.”
Skilling signed a publishing and record deal with RCA records last year.
“Working with Skillibeng in the studio and observing his musical range, alongside his other A&R’s (Karl and Tariq), confirmed his potential to be a global star. His talent, style, and sound are unique and dynamic, and I’m excited to collaborate with Skilli on this next phase of his career,” Skane added.
Watch Skillibeng full interview on Radar Radio here.
