Atlanta rapper Skinny-C presents his new single “MC”. Produced by Young Buck collaborator BeatGodz, “Blow Strong” is the new single from Never Hungry Always Thirsty Vol. 2: Back For Seconds, his new album featuring Monsta Luther King, Loc Barz, F1Phat, Skolar B, Shod Cooley, and Holly Crew as well as production from Nobody Famous, SMKA, and On A Heist. “MC” comes on the heels of previous singles “Blow Strong” (listen) and “Couldn’t Feel Better” (listen). Volume 1 featured Kingpin Skinny Pimp, Alan Z, Ms Green, and Slim Dub (listen), landed on Thisis50.com, The Source, On the Rise Magazine, Hip Hop Since 1987, Mad Fresh Daily and Holiday Season Live, and spawned a music video for the single “Buried Treasure” (watch). As a result of a series of grassroots performance and fan engagement campaigns through the Southeast, Skinny-C caught the attention of Kevin Nottingham & Hipnott Records with the EP 110 (listen) and has sold more than 10,000 combined digital and hard copies of his 2010 release Mixtape Muzik Vol. 1: INTREPID and Mixtape Muzik Vol. 2: RHAPSODY. Since then, Skinny-C has performed at the 11th annual June-teenth Festival and the 5th Annual Texas Summer Music Conference. “‘MC’ defines an emcee by using only words that begin with ‘M’ and ‘C’ sequentially within the verses,” Skinny says. “This one of the most creative concepts that I have ever come up with and surprisingly one of the easiest to write.”
How do you feel the new school of rappers compares to the old school?
Some are carrying on tradition, some are killing the culture. Majority of what’s mainstream is the latter. For those that are carrying on tradition are doing it well by giving you substance, thought provoking, and pushing the envelope by jeopardizing by speaking on what’s happening in today’s society. All in all, I’m still a fan of hip hop because there is a balance of dance music, backpack rap, trap music, and storytelling. As long as there’s a balance I am satisfied. But to get that balance you have to turn off the radio and dive into the underground.
As a rapper who sold a lot of hard copies, what’s your perspective on CDs today?
I like to keep CDs on deck for a few reasons. 1) Some supporters want you to sign the cd, or just simply keep it as a souvenir. 2) When I’m approaching a stranger with my work, I’d like them to have something tangible. I want them to be able to match the sound with some type of artwork. Everything is digital nowadays, so having a hard copy is rare, and I like being different. “I don’t fit in, stand out-outstanding”. But I don’t stick to strictly CDs, I’m digital also. 3) not everyone is attached to their phones like a Siamese twin, so some folks don’t save music on their phone. some don’t have an aux cord in their ride, just a good ol fashion cd player. some don’t want to go through the hassle of downloading. I don’t want to miss out on a possible fan/supporter/sale, so it’s always good to have multiple options on how they can get the music. You might tell someone where to download a digital copy and they never get around to it. But if you put a CD in their hand, they got right then and there.
What separates an MC from a rapper?
A rapper is great at putting songs together. Not necessarily the best lyricist and may lack in content. An MC can put songs together, has a way with words, can tell stories, controls the crowd, steps outside of the box and is able to capture the ear by doing something outside of the “norm”.
Where do you see your career in 20 years?
Either running my own label or an A&R. I want to discover new talent and put them on a platform to shine and better their families’ lives. I feel like majority of the artists getting on now don’t realize the power they have and are abusing the platform. What they rap about is being soaked up by the youth and applied. I want to be able to introduce the world to dope MCs who care about the culture, the community, and the future generations.
What advice do you have for upcoming rappers trying to replicate your grassroots success?
Go for it. There’s nothing better than having true fans. Fans that can actually say they saw you at the corner store slanging cds, shook your hand and took a pic with you. That’s real. That’s genuine love. People appreciate more if you’re face to face with them and give them a chance to feel your aura and get a sense of your personality. Those fans turn into (career) lifetime supporters, in return longevity for the artist.
Never Thirsty, Always Hungry 2 on Bandcamp
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