Play-N-Skillz

The duo known as Play N Skillz comprises brothers Juan "Play" Salinas and Oscar "Skillz" Salinas, who operate as flexible producers and part-time rappers across modern rap, R&B, pop, and dance genres. Born and raised in Irving, Texas, the pair started recording in their mother's apartment, stirred up local interest, and achieved national exposure in 2004 through their contributions to Lil' Flip's U Gotta Feel Me, which reached the Top Five on the Billboard 200. Later that same year Universal signed the Salinas brothers as artists, resulting in the July release of their single "Freaks," a Krayzie Bone and Adina Howard collaboration that climbed to number 69 on the Hot 100.

In the following years the Dallas natives attained major success via Chamillionaire's "Ridin'," a chart-topping pop single awarded the 2006 Grammy for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group; they also handled production on Lil Wayne's "Got Money," a 2008 Grammy nominee whose parent album Tha Carter III earned Best Rap Album. Play N Skillz subsequently issued several mixtapes and crafted tracks for Bun B, Pitbull, and Slim Thug. During the mid-2010s their work spanned trap to reggaeton, highlighted by the charting club singles "Not a Crime -- No Es Illegal," which featured Daddy Yankee, and "Si una Vez (If I Once)," assisted by Frankie J, Becky G, and Kap G.