Mad Skillz

Born Shaquan Lewis in Norfolk, Virginia, this freestyle rapper collaborated with numerous prominent figures in the genre yet stayed largely unrecognized beyond a dedicated circle of devoted hip-hop listeners. Initially gaining recognition under the name Mad Skillz, his exceptional rhyming abilities drew attention from industry peers, which led to a deal with Atlantic Records during the mid-1990s. Although expectations ran high and early notices were positive, his 1995 debut From Where??? made no commercial impression and quickly disappeared. After being released by Atlantic, he kept writing lyrics but vanished from public view for several years while preparing his follow-up project. By the early 2000s he had adopted the abbreviated stage name Skillz and was set to deliver his sophomore album. A planned agreement with the Blackhand label, run by fellow Virginia native Timbaland, never came to pass, prompting him instead to sign with Rawkus Records. In 2002 he issued I Ain’t Mad No More, which featured guest spots from the Neptunes, Timbaland, and Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliott along with production from Musiq Soulchild, Hi-Tek, Jazzy Jeff, the Supafriends, Notz, and Big Dog.