First Listen: Skee '19 Years'

Skee is a 19-year-old Artist from South London, who has slowly started to position himself as one to watch in the UK rap scene. He has steadily began to build momentum from a string of releases that include the Wu-Tang inspired ‘On Me (C.R.E.A.M)’, ‘Wray and Henny’ and ‘Empathy vs Sympathy (Interlude)’.

The South Londoner also sold out his first-ever show headlining alongside his band Wavey Collective at Notting Hill Arts Club.

Speaking to New Wave Magazine, we chat about the creative process behind the latest offering ‘19 Years’, working with his close friend That Producer Ryan, South London and his respect for Dave.

The first listen to ’19 Years’ immediately grasps your attention with the maturity and cadence of Skee when he’s rapping, despite not quite turning twenty yet, his tone is one of experience. On the beat, he also demonstrates an ability to be able to step back and put some distance from his home to observe and comment.

The track itself whilst relatable is an autobiographical account of life in South London told through Skee’s lived experiences.

Initial perception

“I’ll be real, the first person who really got me into rapping or writing my own bars were some of the artists from the Grime genre. So Skepta, Ghetts, Wretch 32 – watching their freestyles kind of got me invested in writing but once I properly started it was the Dave’s and the Stormzy’s.

I always knew that when I started rapping that I wanted to make a song about my 19th birthday or a song to represent how long I’ve been living for, probably because my favourite song by Dave is ‘My 19th Birthday’.”

Artist perception

I did actually write the song when I was 18 and it was going to be called 18 years but it didn’t get released in time so we had to change the title. It’s basically about what was happening in my life at the time, the people around me, some of the issues both the good and bad that we were facing.

When I had the idea in my head I didn’t see it as a challenge or a thing where I was going to replicate his formula in how he (Dave) makes his music and what he’s rapping about. It was more of a foundation.

I wrote it pretty quick, and it was in a session where we had already worked most of the songs that we had to record in that time.

I’ve always had that idea but I didn’t go into the studio thinking today is the day I write about it. It just kind of happened as I heard the beat. Originally the beat didn’t have the saxophone and there was a couple of lyrics that were different. (but) It really brings the track together, and now I can’t even imagine what the first version sounds like."

Visuals

Going with a visualiser, shot by Harry Tatem, rather than a full music video Skee explaining the concept behind it says

“we shot it on the same day we shot my last music video. But it’s literally me hanging outside my bedroom window rapping to the camera type of thing.

I got the inspiration from J.I.D, he released a freestyle where he was hanging out of his window rapping and thought it was a cool concept.

Also because the song is called ’19 Years’ and the song is about my life, I was thinking where else should I shoot it other than my home, the place where I grew up.”

Coming to the end of our chat, Skee mentions his love for detailed performance and preference for using bands in live shows. “when you have live instruments and live arrangements there’s so many avenues and levels you can take the song too.”

“There’s a difference between rappers and musicians”, he comments and his early interest in musicality and live instrumentation references his first ever sold-out headline show, where he performed with his band Wavey Collective at Notting Hill Arts Club.

It's also a glean into his openness with self-expression and of the type of musician he's striving to become and why we’re invested in seeing how the South Londoner’s career progresses.