Skipper

Richmond, California’s Skipper has proven himself to be the secret weapon within the storied Heartbreak Gang that also includes Iamsu!, Sage The Gemini, Kehlani, P-Lo, Jay Ant, and others. He collaborated as part of Loverance’s #2 Rap chart hit “UP!” and the HBK Gang’s “Never Goin’ Broke,” which has nearly 10 million streams on YouTube and Spotify, respectively. This energy redefined the young Cali sound. After being a crucial part of his clique, Skipper and his laid-back, relatable style gears up for his latest project, Prezidential, due February 2.

As a teenager, Skipper began his career as a member of a dance crew with lifelong friend and HBK member Kool John & Loverance. Influenced by artists like Curren$y ,Lil Wayne, Drake, Ma$e, and Ludacris, Skipper often made his own renditions of Rap songs on the radio. Approaching 20, he dabbled deeper in Rap, recording songs that the HBK Gang members could play at the crew’s legendary Bay Area theme parties called “Shmopfests”. “All my friends were doing music, and I caught the bug,” recalls Skipper. “We were making music to play at the parties and try to get people to dance to. The music actually started to catch on. As the parties started getting bigger, the music started reaching outside of the party; it spread to radio stations, club DJs, and stuff like that.” By 2010, one of Skipper’s earliest verses soared on the charts. “After ‘UP!’ started climbing, I was amazed. I never had this much notoriety or attention. It came from us just being ourselves. I realized that I need to take this seriously and do something with it. That turned things around for me.” Although party music was Skipper’s initial motivation, the Bay artist expanded his songwriting, style, and brand.

After two Fader-acclaimed volumes of W.E.T. and 2015’s The Thrill, Skipper fine-tuned his skills and message. “I have this unique perspective and mentality of ‘keeping it player.’ That’s my thing. It means not letting things get to you and having a level head and state of mind in all you do. Be strong, and don’t be afraid, especially to be yourself.” That mantra translates to Skipper’s videos, including “That’s My Word,” which approaches 1 million views. It finds the ambassador of the ShmopLife lifestyle movement in his environment. He easily adapts to all situations.

After two years focused on family and personal matters, including an ill step-father, Prezidential is the first volume in the “Skip4Prez” series. Among the four upcoming video singles, “Don’t Care” confronts social media haters. “For me, it adds fuel to my fire and makes me want to go harder to change perceptions,” Skip’ says. Follow-up video single “Nah” is a lyrical showcase of his newest flows, rhyme patterns, and a sound that the artist describes as “next level.”

Skipper has been a game-changing roleplayer in a crew that renovated the post-Hyphy Bay Area music scene. “I know I’m not the most-known out of everybody in HBK, but I feel that I have a really strong track record. I feel that every time that I have an opportunity, I take advantage of it and show up and show out. That built a reputation for myself. I’m trying to continue that and establish myself as a household name,” he says with the Gang’s full support.

Skipper campaigns with a distinct sound, style, and message that all can feel. “Keeping it player” goes presidential to as this versatile voice aims to be one of Rap’s commanders.