Skillz

Skillz (formerly Mad Skillz, born Shaquan Lewis in Richmond, Virginia) is an African-American rapper. known as a talented freestyle rapper, Skillz has not received widespread acclaim outside of the hip-hop community, but with

Skillz (formerly Mad Skillz, born Shaquan Lewis in Richmond, Virginia) is an African-American rapper. known as a talented freestyle rapper, Skillz has not received widespread acclaim outside of the hip-hop community, but within it is considered one of its best performers.

He first made a name for himself by finishing in second place in a national freestyle competition in 1995, which resulted in a recording contract with Atlantic Records. Skillz' Atlantic debut, From Where???, and its single, "The Nod Factor", were released in 1995, but sank without a trace. In the late-1990s, he allied himself with fellow Virginia natives Missy Elliott, Timbaland, and The Neptunes. He made appearances on Timbaland's albums Tim's Bio in 1998, and Indecent Proposal in 2001; Timbaland made plans to sign Skillz to the Blackhand label he was developing, the label failed to materialize. He along with Danja Mowf and Lonnie B, members of Mad Skillz' Supafriendz collective, also appeared on a remix of Aaliyah's hit single "Are You That Somebody" in 1998.