Skeme is making a name for himself not only in the West Coast, with the release of the Cali-themed album Ingleworld on December 17th. It's been quite a few years coming for Skeme, who has released a slew of mixtapes to get his name circulating prior to the release of his studio LP.
On Pistols & Palm Trees, the rapper's second mixtape, already found him collaborating with familiar faces like Ty Dolla $ign, Nipsey Hussle, Kendrick Lamar and Dom Kennedy, who these days join Skeme among L.A. rap royalty. He even had production from Boi-1da. Following that project, Skeme kept going with The Statement, and most recently, right before dropping Ingleworld, he came through with Bare With Me.
With Ingleworld, we find Skeme at his most polished and cohesive yet, while remaining true to his L.A. roots. Among the stand-out tracks are collaborations with Boi-1da. Specifically, "Bullets."
"Bullets" has yet to really receive a push from Skeme, but it definitely stands out and has been named a favorite by fans. The quick-paced record with looping melodies from Boi-1da finds Skeme in venting mode. We decided it was about time to connect with Skeme for a Track Breakdown, and considering how dope "Bullets," it was an obvious choice.
Learn a little more about the creation of the record from both Skeme and Boi-1da by checking through the galleries above. If you've yet to hear the cut, press play below. Download Ingleworld here.
FROM SKEME'S PERSPECTIVE
On how Skeme got two Boi-1da beats on "Ingleworld":
Boi-1da been my guy since Pistols and Palm Trees so we been solid. He showed love again this time around and those two were the product of that.
On how the track's title, "Bullets," came about:
I usually don't plan titles of the song at all. I literally just start listening to the beat and go wherever it takes me. So after the song was recorded I figured that was the catch line of the song so I named it that afterward.
On if he knew immediately what he wanted to do with the record when he heard the beat:
Yeah. As soon as I heard it I saw a video in my head that matched the beat. The beat was sent to me by 1da. I hit him as soon as I heard Schoolboy Q's "Yay Yay" and told 'em I needed something like that ASAP!
On Los Angeles' reaction to "Ingleworld":
LA's been extremely receptive to it. Ingleworld has taken it to the next level standing behind it all the way. In a sense I've been deemed the poster child for the city so I'm proud of that whether or not the project was successful. Thank God it was a success though.
On calling himself the "people's champ" in "Bullets" & being a West Coast favorite:
I can actually say I've been known in the streets out here before reaching success in music. But it definitely has elevated since the album dropped. I think at the moment everything has just been certified.
On when he decided to focus completely on music & leave street life alone:
I made that decision a couple years back. I've gotten enough of that side of life, so all my focus is put into music at the moment. The references in the music are mostly based off my past.
On the line "first come the money, then come the pussy, then come them haters" & if he has an abundance of haters:
For sure. It's funny to me most of it comes from people from the city that I don't acknowledge. Then the other folks who hate on it are just computer junkies so I can't do much else but laugh about it.
On if he really did this record in one take:
Yes.
On if he writes his lyrics down or does them spontaneously:
I do a bit of both, this one was all energy and a walk through.
On his favorite/verse line in "Bullets":
My favorite line in the song is actually the "Fuck yo trap I'm paid off rap" line. It's always a guy gettin' street money that wants to compare his "stunt" level to mine and I laugh at it. I definitely made more money out of music this year than the majority of folks getting street money.
FROM BOI-1DA'S PERSPECTIVE
On how he discovered/met Skeme:
I met Skeme a few years back, a friend of mine by the name of Hadi introduced me to basketball player Baron Davis when he was in Toronto, and we got into conversation about music, and he brought up Skeme, I had never heard anything about Skeme at the time, but knowing that Baron was one of the people that found The Game, I took his word, and flew out there to work with Skeme. Met up with him and vibed out, and after handing him a few ass whoopings in 2k he played me some music and the rest is history.
On if he keeps an eye out for upcoming rappers:
I always keep an ear to the street for any underground up and coming rappers, a few guys that are on my radar right now are Rocky Fresh, Skeme, Vic Mensa, OB, just to name a few.
On how the beat for "Bullets" actually came about:
Haaa! Can't even remember what was going on with me when I made this beat, but I was probably just in the studio vibing out as per usual, just a regular day in the office lol.
On the other track Boi-1da produced on "Ingleword," "No Time":
"No Time" was a track me and one of my young jedi producers Sevn Thomas were working on, something with a new West Coast feel, thought it would've been some cool stuff for Skeme to get on so I sent it on over to him.
On the equipment he used to make the beat:
I use FL studio to make this track, I don't really use anything to make music with, I mostly do everything within that program.