KrispyLakersNation
Twan Mack had been in the music industry for over 20 years, creating soulful and reflective hip-hop that spoke to listeners across generations. But, as hip-hop culture entered its 50th year, he felt a renewed sense of inspiration, a desire to create something to celebrate the art form and honor the pioneers whopaved the way.
He reached out to his friend and fellow artist, Skyzoo, with an idea for a collaboration. They had worked together before, but this time, Mack had a specific vision in mind. He wanted to create a record that would showcase their skills as emcees and highlight the timeless quality of hip-hop music.
Mack had been working on a new album, and he knew that Skyzoo’s voice would be the perfect addition to one of the tracks. He sent Sky the beat, a sinister-sounding Kareem City Music track, and asked him to write a verse that would complement his own.
Skyzoo was immediately drawn to the beat, and he spent hours writing and refining his verse. He knew that Mack had a reputation for creating thoughtful and introspective music, and he wanted to match that energy with his own words.
When they finally met in the studio to record, they were excited to see how their verses would fit together. Mack started off the track with his signature smooth flow, and Skyzoo came in with a powerful and poetic verse that showcased his lyrical prowess.
Listening to the finished product, they knew they had created something special. This was a record for true hip-hop heads, for people who valued the artistry of dope bars and beats. They had captured the essence of the culture and paid homage to the artists who had come before them.
And as the hip-hop renaissance unfolded, Mack and Skyzoo knew that their music would stand the test of time. They had proven that there needed to be a timeframe for providing quality music and visuals, regardless of their birth certificates. They had created a piece of hip hop history and were proud to be a part of it.
To give you some background on Twan, Mack had always loved music. Ever since he was a young boy growing up in Milwaukee, he would spend hours listening to his favorite records, trying to figure out how they were made. He was particularly drawn to hip-hop, a genre beginning to take hold in his city. Then, in 1981, when he was just 11 years old, he won his first talent show at Vincent High School while collaborating with Doctor B. It was a moment that would change his life forever.
Twan Mack began experimenting with making his beats and writing his rhymes as he grew older. He formed the Kali Tribe with two other emcees and began performing around Milwaukee. They quickly gained a following, and soon they were opening for national acts like Run-DMC and LL Cool J.
But it wasn’t until the Kali Tribe released their first music video that they truly broke through. The video was picked up by BET, making them the first Milwaukee rap group to receive national exposure. They even caught the attention of Shaquille O’Neal, who sampled their music on his debut album.
Despite their success, the Kali Tribe eventually disbanded. Twan Mack continued to make music, but he decided to strike out on his own as an independent artist. He released a series of underground hits, including “Marvelous” and “Born 4 This”, which garnered him a dedicated following.
His music caught the attention of the legendary group Arrested Development, who invited him to join them on tour as their opening act. Twan Mack jumped at the chance, and he has been a fixture on the hip hop scene ever since.
Now, with the release of his latest album “NO SAMPLES“, Twan Mack is poised for even greater success. The album features a collaboration with underground hip hop great Skyzoo, and it is set to drop on March 9th, which happens to be the anniversary of the death of the Notorious B.I.G. Skyzoo was a neighbor of Biggie’s in Brooklyn, and the release date is a tribute to the late rapper’s legacy.
Twan Mack is proud of his Milwaukee roots, and he is honored to have been a part of the city’s hip hop scene for over four decades. He knows that he is one of the founding fathers of Milwaukee hip hop and takes that responsibility seriously. But at the end of the day, he is just a kid from Milwaukee who loves making music. And as long as he can keep doing that, he knows he’ll be fine.
