Name of Artist/Band and where are you from?
My name is Skaz One, I’m a solo hip hop artist, though I am also the co-owner of DCK Records, an independent label in Sanfrancisco, CA and I perform with my business partner, another artist named Mantis.
How did you break into the music industry?
When I was 15, I started rapping and freestyling with my friends and found I had a talent for it. By the time I was 18, I was in the studio recording my first solo album, which dropped in 2009. After two solo albums, I decided to go into business with my friend and start DCK Records about a year ago. We have one artist officially signed to the label and six official label releases, including albums and mixtapes from myself, Mantis and our artist, Dreidel. All underground Sanfrancisco hip hop artists.
What made me decide to get into hip hop was that I wanted to leave my mark in the world. Since I found I was talented in rap, I decided that would be the way I would make my mark. One good adjective to describe my music would be Ambitious.
Do you write your own songs? If so, what are your songs about and where do you draw your inspiration?
I write all of my own material for my songs. I’ve never had anybody ghost write for me, I don’t believe in it, though it makes some people a lot of money. Also, all the artists on my projects write their own material and it is all original and copywritten. A lot of my songs are about personal life experience, which is also where I draw much of my inspiration from. I also draw inspiration from other rappers I’ve looked up to growing up, such as Eminem, Equipto, Vinnie Paz or Big Pun. I could add a lot of names to that list, those are just some of the main ones.
What project are you currently promoting and is it available for purchase?
I currently have two albums available to the public. These CDs are entitled “That’s Life” and “That’s Life 2 (Dead, In Jail or Famous).” They are available on itunes and in local Bay Area record stores and other online stores too. The current album I’m promoting is not available yet, but it is scheduled to come out March 6, 2012. Its called “Generation RX” and it features underground rappers such as Celph Titled, Prince Po, Sunspot Jonz and many more.
Are you looking for an independent label deal or a major label deal?
As far as a deal goes, thus far I’ve done everything independently. I would love to get my label under the umbrella of a larger label in order to have more money for promotion and distribution and equipment. I’d sign with a major label if the contract was right, but at the same time, I’ve heard from some reliable sources that a major label deal isn’t always the best way to go in the rap industry. I would also sign with one of the larger independent labels, but again it would also depend on the contract.
How would you define the word “success”? (Career-wise)
I would define the word success in my music career as being able to live comfortably only off of the money I make selling my music. To be able to have my job and the thing I love to do be one and the same. I think a lot of people dream of doing what they love for a living and that would be success in my opinion.
What is your biggest career embarrassment?
My biggest career embarrassment. That’s a hard one. It would have to be my video “Broken Clock.” Unfortunately, I didn’t use the best people to film and edit it and we rushed it, so it bombed pretty hard on youtube. That was embarrassing. But at least I’ve never been booed off stage or anything like that.
Most memorable moment in creating one of your records?
I think my most memorable moment making a record was going to record with Tha Jacka (of Mob Figaz). He’s a big local star in the Bay and I listened to him and his group a lot growing up and it was crazy to work with him and meet him. Like it was my first time working with anyone big in the industry and I was young and star struck. Overall it was a great experience and it gave me confidence in working with more artists with big reputations.
who has been the most influential person in your music career?
The most influential person in my music career in Eminem. When I was a young kid he inspired me to rap and showed me that a white guy can break into the industry. Also Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin have been huge influences on the way I do business in the industry. They had the original model for hip hop business and it really does work.
Who is your celeb look-alike?
When I’m unshaven and got my hair grown out kinda long like a skater, people say I look like Jack Black. But usually I look just like Jerry Ferrara (he plays “Turtle” on Entourage). A bunch of my friends even used to call me Turtle because of it.
what was your first job?
My first job was as a Video Tech at Lieberman Productions in San francisco. Working on promotional videos and infomercials mainly. I worked there for about a year and a half.
What is your worst FEAR?
My worst fear is probably heights. I get really bad anxiety and vertigo especially in air planes or on the top floors of tall buildings. So I’m not a big fan of planes, elevators, skyscrapers, helicopters or scaffolding, which sucked when I had a job as a house painter.
What is your guilty pleasure?
My guilty pleasure would have to be smoking weed. Even though I’m not that guilty about it and I live in California, so I got myself a cannibus card, so now even the cops cant find me guilty of it. But I love smoking weed and it’s obvious in my music and so it is for sure my guilty pleasure.
What artists would you love to work with?
Artists I would love to work with, that would have to be Eminem firstly and also Papoose. I think it would be an honor to work with Jay Z or Too Short. It woulda been great to work with Big Pun, Cougnut, Tupac or Mac Dre, but unfortunately, I wont ever get that chance. Rest In Peace.
Any advice or lessons learned in the music industry that you would like to share with other indie artists?
I would tell other up and coming artists to do as many performances and shows as you can and also auditions. The more one does shows, the more exposure you are able to get. Also, don’t only do show in your hometown, branch out to other cities and even to other state and other countries if you can manage it. I would also tell artists to do a lot of online promotion, keep up with all your social networking sites. Make sure you have your mixtapes up for download and get your CDs into online stores like itunes. Most people get all of their music off of the internet these days, so you need to be on there. The last piece of advice I would offer up is to give people a chance. Work with the people that want to work with you, if you charge them that’s fine, but give everyone a chance, don’t just write people off. You never know when that person maybe the person that gives you your big break. Extend the same respect to other artists that you would want shown to yourself.
What is the number one thing you hope people get out of your music?
I hope people enjoy my music. I really hope they like to listen to it and that they vibe with it. It would be great if my message got across to everybody, but I know from experience, that probably wont happen. But I try to reach as many people as I can. Especially with this upcoming project, Generation RX, there is an important message about drug use among my generation in this country and we need to stop killing ourselves and be more healthy. Pills cant solve all of everybody’s problems.
Where can people get in touch with you?
People can find me at my website which is: skazonehiphop.blogspot
Facebook Fanpage: Skazone
My record label’s website is dckrecords.com
We have FREE mixtapes available on bandcamp.com. I’m currently doing shows locally in the Bay Area, CA mostly at clubs and venues in Sanfrancisco.
For booking or collaborations email zcasciato@gmail.com. You can also just search “Skaz One” on youtube or on any search engine. And follow me on Twitter @SkazOne.
Thanks for the support and shout outs to The Gas Mask Colony, Mantis and my manager Alex H a.k.a. “Glider” and to Gina Rodriguez at Gin One Designs. Peace.
