SKY BALLA (February 2004) | Interview By: SGV

      Dubcnn.com had the chance to talk with San Francisco emcee Sky Balla, who was just featured as the Unsigned Hype in the Source Magazine. In this interview, he talks about his Mixtape, up coming album, possibilities of touring, thoughts on Latin Hip Hop, who he'd like to collab with, his thoughts on President Bush and much more. Feel free to send any feedback regarding the interview to: sgv@dubcnn.com
 

Huge thanks to Sky Balla for taking time out to answer the questions fans wanted to know! (Interview was done by email in February of 2004)

Questions Asked By : SGV

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dubcnn.com: Yo we got Sky Balla right here. What up Sky?

Sky Balla: You already know. I'm grindin playa. What's poppin’?


dubcnn.com: Trying to help bring the West back

Sky Balla: We never left!


dubcnn.com: haha

Sky Balla: I'm tryna bring it to the frontline.


dubcnn.com: Gotta love that mentality. So you were an original member of the Gamblaz right?

Sky Balla: Yeah. Back in the days. Founding member.


dubcnn.com: Was this before the GLP days?

Sky Balla: Naw, during…


dubcnn.com: You were in GLP?

Sky Balla: Off top


dubcnn.com: I ain’t popped in my GLP tape in a hot minute.

Sky Balla: Haha


dubcnn.com: So how old are you? You had to have been like 17, 18 around then. Im assuming you about 27?

Sky Balla: I'll be 25 this month on the 25th.


dubcnn.com: Oh ok, You still young.

Sky Balla: Believe that pimp.


dubcnn.com: Thats whats up.

Sky Balla: Young, with a grown man bank account.


dubcnn.com: You still fuck with Seff and D-Moe?

Sky Balla: Off top, Them my big homies.


dubcnn.com: How about JT and San Quinn?

Sky Balla: Fillmoe 4 life.


dubcnn.com: I hear that…

Sky Balla: Fashigady


dubcnn.com: Tell the people about Never Broke.

Sky Balla: That's my new mixtape I'm droppin wit my nigga DJ I-Podd. Straight heat for the streets. And that's the name of my big cousins clothing line, Never Broke.


dubcnn.com: Never Broke clothing?

Sky Balla: Yes sir.


dubcnn.com: Where can the peeps check that out?

Sky Balla: It will be in stores nation wide sometime this year.


dubcnn.com: Oh ok

Sky Balla: Its guarenteed to be a house hold name.


dubcnn.com: Whens the Mixtape dropping?

Sky Balla: In February featuring The Game, Young Buck, E-40, Eminem, Lil Flip, 50 Cent, Dollar Sign, The Committe, San Quinn & Keek Da Sneak


dubcnn.com: Sounds tight, What about the album? Whats the album called?

Sky Balla: Off top!! Mobb Report, the album is pressed up and ready to drop, I'm just trying to establish a distribution deal.


dubcnn.com: Hows that stackin up? Whos on it?

Sky Balla: The Game, Juelz Santana, Mac Dre, Lil Flip, E-40, N.O.R.E. San Quinn & Messy Marv, Keek Da Sneak, Notorious Big. Its stacked up like my like a bitch with fake tits.


dubcnn.com: haha. Production?

Sky Balla: Fire


dubcnn.com: Who’s on the beat?

Sky Balla: Scott Storch, Tone Capone, Cozmo, Sean-T, Rob Lo.


dubcnn.com: Heat! Doing a video?

Sky Balla: Yes sir, Soon.


dubcnn.com: Oh tight.

Sky Balla: I'm waitin on my big homie to get out the feds.


dubcnn.com: Who’s that?

Sky Balla: Mack Millions.


dubcnn.com: Oh ok. So who you feeling? Favorite artist at the moment?

Sky Balla: This young hot nigga from the San Francisco Yay Area named Sky Balla!!!


dubcnn.com: haha

Sky Balla: haha


dubcnn.com: You a foo.

Sky Balla: Besides me…


dubcnn.com: Yea…

Sky Balla: Jadakiss And Banks.


dubcnn.com: Oh ok

Sky Balla: T.I., too. The funny thing is I been bumpin T.I. shit years ago before any nigga in Cali.


dubcnn.com: You were bumpin I’m Serious?

Sky Balla: Yeah, I’m Serious, was my shit. Same with Jay-z, I was listening to that nigga before he was even poppin’. My older god sister turned me on to Jay-Z "Reasonable Doubt."


dubcnn.com: You weren’t bumpin' Hawaii Sophie?

Sky Balla: I kept "P.I.M.P" on repeat in my whip. Naw no Hawaiian Sophie.


dubcnn.com: That’s vintage Jay-Z.

Sky Balla: That’s cool.


dubcnn.com: All time fav?

Sky Balla: 2Pac


dubcnn.com: Least favorite?

Sky Balla: Chingy


dubcnn.com: haha

Sky Balla: For real I'm serious!


dubcnn.com: Any reason?

Sky Balla: Nope.


dubcnn.com: hahahaha What’s in your whip right now?

Sky Balla: haha. Sky Balla "Mobb Report", The Game "Documentery", Jay-Z "Reasonable Doubt", Dre "Chronic 2001" 2-Pac "All Eyes On Me", Scarface "Untouchable."


dubcnn.com: Oh ok

Sky Balla: That's in my disk changer…


dubcnn.com: That’s tight.

Sky Balla: Yup


dubcnn.com: Being from the Bay, but being down with Game, how do you feel about all the shit going on with Messy Marv, Guce and Yuk going at G-Unit?

Sky Balla: No Comment


dubcnn.com: Ok. I respect that. You gonna hop on any other mixtapes?

Sky Balla: That's not my beef. I'm tryna get these M's daddy! I'm gonna be on too many mixtapes.


dubcnn.com: Like what?

Sky Balla: Go to my web site you can see every project I've been featured on. www.skyballa.com Click on releases. From albums to mixtapes…


dubcnn.com: Oh ok That’s tight.

Sky Balla: Thanks.


dubcnn.com: You gonna do any shows?

Sky Balla: Yeah soon.


dubcnn.com: Nationwide?

Sky Balla: Yes sir.


dubcnn.com: By yourself? With someone else?

Sky Balla: I’ma probably piggyback a few niggas tours.


dubcnn.com: Ok. You work with Balance and the New Bay dudes?

Sky Balla: Not yet, Balance is my nigga. We gonna do some shit so quick so fast.


dubcnn.com: That would be a hard ass collab.

Sky Balla: Fasho! Believe that, Playa.


dubcnn.com: How about servicing radio...Gonna have anything on rotation soon?

Sky Balla: Yeah I'm pushing my 1st single "Put It In Da Air" Featuring The Game. DJs need 2 jump on the record and stop sleeping on it!


dubcnn.com: haha. Tell the DJs man, this is your chance.

Sky Balla: "Put It In Da Air" is a classic record playa, some real Bay to L.A. West Coast Shit.


dubcnn.com: Who you lookin to fuck with?

Sky Balla: The same people lookin to fuck with me!


dubcnn.com: haha. I feel that!

Sky Balla: True Story!


dubcnn.com: What nationality are you?

Sky Balla: Black/Puerto Rican & Dominican.


dubcnn.com: Latinos reppin!

Sky Balla: Black & Brown Baby!


dubcnn.com: How do you feel about the Latin Hip Hop game?

Sky Balla: Reggaton is taking over playa.


dubcnn.com: Took long enough to get to the States.

Sky Balla: No took long enough to get to the West Coast.


dubcnn.com: haha.

Sky Balla: They been bumpin that shit in Miami and NYC.


dubcnn.com: Man I was bumping Reggaeton back in like 97, 98. I’m from Honduras.

Sky Balla: Oh boy!


dubcnn.com: We been bumpin that shit.

Sky Balla: Cool. Early!


dubcnn.com: haha. Thats whats up.

Sky Balla: Yup


dubcnn.com: You dig any Latin artists?

Sky Balla: Pitbull. I wanna do a joint with dude.


dubcnn.com: Oh for real? That would be hot.

Sky Balla: Yup…


dubcnn.com: Anyone else?

Sky Balla: Fat Joe, N.O.R.E, J-Lo, Shakira, Talia, Nina Sky.


dubcnn.com: Shakira fell off!

Sky Balla: So what she won't fall off my dick ha!


dubcnn.com: haha What are you thoughts on Bush?

Sky Balla: Fuck Bush! Fuck Bush! Vote Sky Balla for President!


dubcnn.com: haha Sky Balla in 08?

Sky Balla: Oh boy!


dubcnn.com: haha Yo so Game did some big numbers, can we expect something similar from you?

Sky Balla: Damm that's a lot to ask from a nigga who ain’t signed but anything is possible.


dubcnn.com: Haha Do some Lil Flip indi numbers then!

Sky Balla: Exactly! What I have in mind pimp. I'm getting $8 a CD so I'm a be good with sellin’ just 10,000 units ya dig.


dubcnn.com: Thats what the West needs!

Sky Balla: Oh please believe that, and I got the Bay on my back.


dubcnn.com: Thats a lotta weight. But you got the support out there.

Sky Balla: Definetly. Its more than music its more like a movement they need be in tuned with!


dubcnn.com: So do you consider yourself apart of the New Bay?

Sky Balla: No!


dubcnn.com: You're not?

Sky Balla: Nope


dubcnn.com: Ok

Sky Balla: I am the Bay.


dubcnn.com: haha! Thats whats up.

Sky Balla: I'm an Original Bay Area boss who been on the scene since 1996 when most niggas was still playin at the Boys Club.


dubcnn.com: Haha Do you fuck with the Frontline and them?

Sky Balla: Balance is my nigga.


dubcnn.com: Oh ok. I’d like to hear ya’ll together.

Sky Balla: Me 2


dubcnn.com: Aight so Plug the albums, mixtapes, shows, everything you got.

Sky Balla: www.skyballa.com "Mobb Report" the album "I'm Rich Bitch" pt.1 "Never Broke" pt.1.


dubcnn.com: Any dates for them to be dropping?

Sky Balla: not yet


dubcnn.com: Aight! Well Congrats on getting the Unsigned Hype in the Source by the way.

Sky Balla: All my fans, Dj's, Radio Stations, Record Stores, Magazines.


dubcnn.com: Big ups!

Sky Balla: All my niggas on Lock Down. All My down ass Bitches. Shout out to the whole San Francisco Bay Area West Side for life.


dubcnn.com: No doubt! Thanks for your time homie!

Sky Balla: Its nothin to a boss! Anytime.


dubcnn.com: Peace!


Sky Balla: 1