Mad Skillz

Donnie Shaquan Lewis, known professionally as Skillz or Mad Skillz, was born on June 2, 1974. His early life involved moves from Detroit, Michigan, to Fayetteville, North Carolina, and ultimately to Richmond, Virginia. He credits Run DMC for inspiring his interest in hip-hop during his childhood. His career began gaining traction when he secured second place in a national freestyle competition, which led to a recording contract with Atlantic Records under the stage name Mad Skillz. His debut album, ‘From Where???’ was released in 1996, alongside the single “The Nod Factor.” The album title notably referenced his Virginia origins, at a time when the hip-hop landscape was largely dominated by New York City and Los Angeles artists. While the album did not achieve significant commercial success, it marked his official entry into the music industry.

In the late 1990s, Skillz formed connections within Virginia’s growing hip-hop scene, specifically through a friendship with Magoo. This led to collaborations with prominent artists from his home state. He made appearances on Timbaland & Magoo’s albums ‘Tim’s Bio’ in 1998 and ‘Indecent Proposal’ in 2001. He also contributed to a remix of Aaliyah’s “Are You That Somebody” in 1998, alongside Danja Mowf and Lonnie B. In 2000, Skillz gained recognition for his single “Ghostwriter,” which alluded to his contributions to hits for other artists. His second album, ‘I Ain’t Mad No More,’ was recorded for Rawkus and signified a change in his stage name to Skillz. This album, though not officially released in the U.S. in its original form, was re-packaged as ‘Confessions Of A Ghostwriter’ in 2005. Skillz has cultivated a career characterized by consistent musical output, collaborations, and a commitment to hip-hop culture.

Skillz has continued to release music and diversify his career. His albums include ‘Made In Virginia’ (2014) and ‘I’m The DJ & The Rapper’ (2018), a compilation of self-written songs. He also returned to his original moniker, Mad Skillz, for some recent projects, and has expanded into producing and DJing. Demonstrating his dedication to hip-hop education, Skillz served as an artist-in-residence at the University of Richmond in 2018 and 2020, teaching a course titled “The Voice of Hip Hop in America.” His influence was further recognized on February 13, 2019, when Mayor Levar Stoney declared it “Mad Skillz Day” in Richmond, VA, celebrating the 23rd anniversary of his debut album. Most recently, Skillz received a 2025 Grammy Award nomination for Best Spoken Word Poetry Album for ‘The Seven Number Ones,’ marking a significant milestone in his career.