Skee-Lo

Antoine Roundtree (born March 27, 1975), better known by his stage name Skee-Lo, is an American rapper. He is best known for his 1995 song, "I Wish", which became a hit in several countries and reached No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100.[5] He is considered to have been a one-hit wonder.[6]

Skee-Lo
Skee-Lo Performing at the 2010 Seattle Hempfest
Background information
Birth nameAntoine Roundtree
Born (1975-03-27) March 27, 1975[1]
Chicago, Illinois, U.S[2]
OriginLos Angeles, California, U.S.[3]
GenresHip hop
Occupation(s)
  • Rapper
  • Record producer
Years active1994–present[4]
LabelsSKEELO MUSIK, LLC.

His first single "I Wish" became a hit on radio and TV during the summer of 1995 with a number one MTV video directed by Marty Thomas that won many nominations and wins from VMA Awards worldwide. The song was well known for its lack of explicit lyrics at a time when gangsta rap was very popular.[2] His debut album of the same title was released shortly thereafter, earning him two Grammy nominations for both the album and single. Afterwards he stopped his rapping career before coming back to release a new album in 2000 and another in 2012.[7][8] He has been living in Los Angeles since 1990 and is married to his wife, Stacy, and has two children.[6]

Career

Born in Chicago, Illinois, Skee-Lo later relocated to Poughkeepsie, New York, then moved to Los Angeles, California when he was twelve.[8] He graduated from high school in Moreno Valley before moving back to Los Angeles in 1993 and attending El Camino College. He converted to Islam around this time and joined the Nation of Islam.[7] He first started rapping in 1983.[2]

Skee-Lo's debut album I Wish was released in 1995, which he first started working on in 1993. The album was a huge success. One of the singles, "Top of the Stairs", was featured in the ending credits as well as the soundtrack to the 1995 film Money Train.

He quietly "retired" from rapping five months after the album's release because of a dispute with label Sunshine Records. Skee-Lo claims Sunshine Records took all the credit from the album's success, and he did not make a single cent from it. This was first revealed in a 2012 interview with L.A. Weekly, and he further said "So I refused to shoot any more videos, promote or record music. I'm not their slave. I wasn't working for free." After many years he eventually won the rights against the label in court.[7]

Skee-Lo recorded a cover of the Schoolhouse Rock! song "The Tale of Mr. Morton", which taught sentence structure (subject, verb and predicate). The song appears on the 1996 compilation album, Schoolhouse Rock! Rocks.[9]

In 1996, Skee-Lo became a VJ for both MTV's The Beach House and The Grind.

He also co-wrote "I'll Be Your Everything" by boy band Youngstown. The song is featured on the 1999 Inspector Gadget movie soundtrack.

He returned to the music scene in 2000 with a new single I Can't Stop, which would be the titular track on his second album released in 2001.[10]

In January 2010, Skee-Lo returned from a musical hiatus with the EP "Overdose" where he collaborated with record producer Michael DeBarge

In 2011 he wrote "Burnin' Up" as part of the soundtrack of the 2013 horror movie Killer Holiday from Lionsgate Entertainment. MTV produced a music video directed by Marty Thomas that was filmed at actor Howie Mandel's house, which was rented by his son to MTV without Mandel's knowledge.[11] It was released under his own indie label, Skeelo Musik.

Skee-Lo made a guest appearance on a track called "Now You See My Life" with former Hollywood Undead rapper Deuce from Deuce's album Nine Lives in 2012.

Skee-Lo released his third album, Fresh Ideas, on his own label Skeelo Musik, via iTunes on November 13, 2012.[7] It appeared in stores July 9, 2013.[12]

Discography

Albums
Year Album Peak chart positions Certifications
US U.S. R&B
1995 I Wish 53 37
2001 I Can't Stop
  • Released: 2001
  • Label: Epark Music Production
 – –
2012 Fresh Ideas
  • Released: November 13, 2012
  • Label: Skeelo Musik
 – –

Singles
Year Single Chart positions Certifications Album
U.S. Hot 100 U.S. R&B U.S. Rap UK
1995 "I Wish" 13 33 8 15 I Wish
"Top of the Stairs" 112 – – 38
1996 "Holdin' On" – – – –
"Superman" – – – –
2000 "I Can't Stop" – – – – I Can't Stop
2001 "At The Mall" – – – –
"Bounce Back" – – – –
2013 "Vibe is Right" – – – – Fresh Ideas

Music videos
Year Video Director
1995 "I Wish" Marty Thomas
1995 "Top of the Stairs" Marty Thomas
1996 "Holdin' On" Marty Thomas
2001 "At The Mall" Marty Thomas
2011 "Burnin' Up" Marty Thomas
2013 "Vibe Is Right" Henry Zavala
2015 "Raw"
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References
  1. "Skee-Lo". Music.kngine.com. Archived from the original on March 21, 2012. Retrieved 2012-04-25.
  2. "Skee-Lo". Jeff Pearlman. 2013-02-06.
  3. "Skee-Lo". GRAMMYconnect. Retrieved 2019-11-08.
  4. "RESPECT. Interview: Skee-Lo Reminisces on Classic Hit Song, Gives NBA Playoffs Predictions". Respect. 2018-05-10. Retrieved 2019-11-08.
  5. O, Dave. "Skee-Lo Interview". Round Trip With Dave O. Round Trip With Dave O. Archived from the original on 2013-02-16. Retrieved 2013-01-03.
  6. "Hanging Out With Skee-Lo, Who's Now Kind of a Baller". LA Weekly. 2013-08-08.
  7. "Skee-Lo Wished He Was a Little Bit Taller. Then He Promptly Retired". LA Weekly. 2012-01-18.
  8. "Five Best Songs From Skee-Lo's 'I Wish' Album". The Boombox.
  9. "Skee-Lo Raps 'The Tale of Mr. Morton' - Soundcheck". Soundcheck.wnyc.org. 2013-02-07. Retrieved 2016-01-19.
  10. "Skee-Lo – I Can't Stop". Discogs. 2001.
  11. "When Howie Mandel's Son Rented Out the House for a Music Video Shoot". 2012-05-24.
  12. "Musicmogul Entertainment | Home". Archived from the original on August 23, 2013. Retrieved September 10, 2013.
  13. "Recording Industry Association of America". RIAA. Retrieved 2012-04-25.
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