Sha Skillz Introduces The Mic Controllers

"I want to try to do what I feel some of the great record men do... break new artists" mused Sha Skillz, citing the likes of Berry Gordy, Stax Records and Puff Daddy as his inspiration to be a "great record man. His first attempt at achieving such a feat is "Sha Skillz Introduces The Mic Controllers" a 10 song showcase of 8 artists over 10 of his beats. This interview is a reflection of that process and what's next for Sha Skillz.
 

Get a preview of some of the tracks on this mixtape, exclusively on Mixtapekings.com: 

 

MTK: What was the thought process going into the "Mic Controllers" project?
 
Sha: While living in Brooklyn I would produce the neighborhood aspiring rappers and singers. After a while, I got a good collection of songs competed. So I said I should try to do something with it.
 
One day I came home and it was like almost on a whim. I compiled songs that I thought might be good enough. And  proceeded to go through the process of getting it on to the internet. It seem like it began to take on a life of its own in a sense.
  
 MTK: How did the relationships with the artists who appear come about?
 
 Sha:  I  was introduced to everybody from being the local neighborhood producer .Everybody knew I made beats. Somebody would tell somebody else  "I know this kid who makes beats" and they'll bring 'em by my crib. Some of them I knew for a long time. Some of them I met through other people. John Jones is a singer, he sings "Street Life" on the cd. I knew him when he went to The School Of Performing Arts in Manhattan. When we started writing together he was just developing, now he a excellent singer and songwriter, he is definitely ready for the world, check out his cd " John Jones Loves Smile, I produced a few songs on it, the album is really tight. He's probably the artist on the cd that I knew the longest.
   
MTK: Is there going to be a follow up to "Mic Controllers"?
 
 Sha: That's in the process right now. Some of the same artists are going to be on it. I think it's going to be much better because now i'm more focused. When I listen to it [The Mic Controllers] I be like I could've tightened that up. I could've done that better. A lot of things could've been tightened up. But at the end of the day it just turned out to be what it is. On part two, I'm thinking let's fine tune it to the maximum. No sloppyness, from the performances to the mixes it's going to be right where I believe it should be.  I was in the studio last night with Dun Wright and a M.C. from East New York named Young Jims.  Tango, got another joint, and  John Jones,and I already got tons of songs. Sha Skillz Introduces The Mic Controllers Part 2 will be coming around very shortly.
   
 MTK: "My Life" is one of the songs that stood out amongst the rest, are there any plans to continue working with Stash A Mill?
 
Sha: I would like to but he's locked up right now. Aint no option to work with him. He's in jail right now. That song right there.....what he spitting in that song, that's him. He from out of Bushwick & Bedstuy. I knew him for a long time, through his cousin. Me and his cousin was real tight. At the time of recording My Life Stash was in a depressed state of mind, his lyrics express exactly what he was feeling at that moment. He got himself in some shit that he's going to have to see through. I don't think he's going to be recording for a minute.
   
MTK: What's your approach with artists when you have them in the studio? Do you already have beats for them or do you build something together?
 
Sha: It happens different ways. Sometimes I give them a pre made beat, so we're not sitting around all day brainstorming. Once we get a good performance on tape from there I usually  remix and tighten up the track on my own.  When they come back and listen they be like "Damn you changed it up." or  "Wow you flipped it " When It's done , I just want them to say "You flipped it. It sound better than what it was before." Always a step up, not a step back. That's usually how it goes down.

 

Sometimes we start with a hot  track  and we just roll with that track, if it ain't broke don't fix it. But more often, the track gets changed up.
  
MTK: I noticed that the artwork has sort of a throwback feel. Was that intentional or indicative of what you feel you bring to the table?
  
Sha: I draw. I always been into art. I used to go to school for art. Graphic design is something that I enjoy doing on the side. Instead of hiring somebody I decided to execute the vision I had in my mind. I wanted something that represents what the cd is about; mic controllers, MCs. MCs stands for mic controllers so I wanted to represent somebody who's a mic controller. For me coming up, the M.C. was on the corner rhyming at the block parties, or jamming on the corner or park. So I wanted to take it back to that essence. That's why I put this dude with a mic in his hand, standing on the corner rhyming. That's the streets right there. That's what it was when I was coming up.

 

The next cd cover is pretty much going to run with the same character. A little bit different but I'm going to try to use that character to identify this particular product, so when you see part two it's not so far away from part one.
   
MTK: How long have you been making beats?
 
Sha: I've been making beats for a long time.  I'm a musician. I play several instruments. Guitar is the instrument that I really focus on and try to be proficient in. Understanding music helps when making beats.
  
MTK: In regards to making beats do you prefer software or hardware?
  
Sha: I'm a hardware guy. I use reverb, sound generators and compression hardware. I also use a hardware mixer as well as a computer, I integrate software and hardware. Both of them are essential to me. I tried working strictly in the computer and the results were okay but I prefer the additional support of physical equipment.

 

I like to touch the knobs. I like to mess with the effects unit looking for the right effect. I like patching In stuff. The period that I came from, that's what it was. You couldn't afford to buy a 24-track machine and put it in your bedroom.