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SKITZ - BIO
"I grew up listening to Neil Diamond and Conway Twitty
and Andre Crouch. By grade 5, grade 6; I fell in love with
metal. Ozzy Osbourne was my life. You know Megadeth, Metallica,
AnthraxÖ"
Born Vaughn Bramble, Skitz has always been powered by an ear for the eclectic. The Toronto East (Scar-City) native grew up in a Caribbean-oriented home grounded by gospel greats and country crooners.
When acclaimed duo Erik B. and Rakim dropped Microphone Fiend in 1987, Skitz was lifted. Though just a young teen, he knew from that moment he was destined to bring his own Skitzophrenic style to rap. Immediately, he started putting pen to paper, spilling verses.
Skitz credits his early musical meanderings for his nomadic
technique. When labeled a hip hop artist of rock influence,
this artist never objected, but once warned: "Just don't
leave me there." In no time, he was shifting shape, moving
in a funked up direction with his writing.
"I believe the writing process is something that should
be quick, easy and painless. When you think too much it starts
to be contrived. You do what comes to your mind first, and
9 times out of 10 it's right. Simply because it felt right."
His first single Hiatus/Oasis was right on, propelling him
as viable artist in 2002. Following up with his EP, Work In
Progress (Sandboxx Entertainment), Skitz came at his listeners
from all sides. Singles "What" and "Understanding"
demonstrated his ability to throw voluble verses and produce
beats that pound the psyche.
In the fall of 2003, Skitz was also featured with Toronto's
up-and-going R&B trio, X-quisite in "How We Swing"
(Linus/Warner). It made headway on Toronto's urban radio,
later followed by his self-produced single "Don't It
Burn." Skitz' next track "What the Funk" secured
his win at the Flow 93.5FM Urban Showcase early 2004, a victory
over 50 noteworthy contestants. As part of the prize package,
Skitz joined with Toronto's platinum music producer Marcus
Kane in February for the single "Change The Game,"
slated for the 2004 Urban FLOWcase vol.III CD compilation.
The flurry of writing gained the lyricist recognition only
two years after the release of his first single. Skitz kept
it moving, gracing stages during Canadian Music Week and representing
Toronto in the finals of the Urban Star Quest talent competition.
"Performing to me is second nature. It's like breathing.
Above and beyond everything that has to do with music, that
is my most favourite place to be: on stage."
In cities across Ontario, the 6'5" artist has commandeered
the stage, leaving his crowds wired. In 2002, audiences in
Kingston, Kitchener, North Bay and Sudbury immediately took
to his lyrical agility. In September of 2003, Skitz performed
"Don't It Burn" on The Toronto Show, carried by
the city's newest television station Toronto1.
"Sandboxx came about because of industry folk. And
because of being put in that box. It came about when Jo-Twice
and I realized the need to take things into our own hands
and go on the road for ourselves and go it alone, because
people didn't understand our vision."
In 1999, Skitz and Jo-Jo Barrow (Jo-Twice) founded Sandboxx Entertainment. As an independent label, Sandboxx has been the launch pad from where Skitz has taken off. The lyricist has gleaned from his music background to write and produce tracks for his debut album, Renovations, due out in 2004.
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