Skyyhook Details Radio Work, Interviewing Sway & Having a Limited Social Life

Would you mind sharing a brief introduction for those who are not familiar with your work?

Sure! I am an editor at AllHipHop.com and TheUrbanDaily.com as well as an on air contributor for "The World Famous Wake Up Show" with King Tech, Sway and DJ Revolution on Sirius/XM's Shade 45. And after all of that (laughter) I am the General Manager of Skyyhook Radio which is a station that caters to Independent Hip Hop and RNB artists world wide! I'm excited because we will be relaunching the site in a few weeks!

You touched on your radio work. What do you enjoy the most about working in radio?

You know, it's funny because it really depends on the day that you ask me! I love being on Skyyhook Radio because anything goes! (Laughter) I'm able to play what I want and say what I want and I work with a crew of craziness! My team is so amazingly funny that they make each show a blast to work on! Some of them are very thoughtful and their shows are quite helpful to people and I love being a part of that too. I just like the creativity and freedom of it all. And when I get tweets from the other side of the globe from people who are listening...man...that just puts everything into perspective you know? It makes the hard work so worth it.

At the same time, I am also in love with my job on The Wake Up show as well. Breaking artists on a show that has broken most of our favorites...is a thrill! I still shake my head each week in disbelief that the fellas allowed me to be a part of their show!

King Tech has been the big brother/Hip Hop Radio God Father that I never had and it's truly been a blessing learning from the masters. Those three guys are so dope...I'm just honored that they thought my ear and judgement were good enough to be a part of what they do! I've been a fan forever and to have Tech and Sway as mentors and DJ Revolution spinning the music and artists that I recommend...it's like...how do I top that? I'm not sure that I can! (Smiles)

And I'd be super remiss if I didn't touch on the feeling that I get when an unknown or relatively unknown artist gets broken on our show and they first find out that we are playing them! There's nothing quite like that feeling of getting to hear their excitement and sometimes their disbelief! (giggles) It's like you can actually hear their smiles through the phone and you know for maybe the first time they feel like all their hard work is being recognized...they are so happy and I'm happy for them. It's a win win!

Congratulations to @RubiksMusic who was our feature tonight on @wakeupshow ! You have OFFICIALLY been broken sir! #Salute #TorontoHipHop

— Skyy Hook (@SkyyhookRadio) July 22, 2014

Recently you had the opportunity to interview Sway and ask him questions (talk about a role reversal haha). Can you describe the feelings associated with the process?

Ummm...the feelings associated with the process? Ha terror, nervousness and excitement all rolled into one! (laughter) I was scared man I won't lie! He's the master of the interview and he's my boss! So, I knew I had to get it right! I wrote and rewrote those questions about 40 or 50 times no lie! I actually decided on those particular questions in the Sirius/XM lobby! I just wanted to allow everyone to see the personal side of Sway. He works so freaking hard and so much...yet the public never really has the chance to see that side of his personality. So, I tried to ask things that would allow him to share a more personal part of himself. But yeah I was afraid! (laughter) There were a lot of deep breaths taken before, after and during that whole interview!





You also write for numerous sites. How are you able to balance radio, article writing and having a social life?

A social life? What is this you speak of? I know nothing of this! (laughter) Getting to have my dream career comes with a price. Unfortunately for me that price would be my social life. Sad but true. When you write seven days a week few have the patience to put up with you! I can't be too far from wi-fi and little things like that slowly grate on people's nerves. But I totally get it. I signed up for this not my friends etc.

Plus, Chuck Creekmur and Jerry Barrow have to be able to trust that I'm out here representing the right way...so that alone is reason enough for me not to be falling out of shows tipsy etc. Basically, I'm the biggest square that ever lived within Hip Hop...I'm aware of it and make no apologies for it you know? People are counting on me to have my stuff together 24/7 so I'm trying to live up to that the best way I know how. But I admit it would be nice to let go once in a while too! (Smiles)

A lot of artists focus solely on blogs to build their buzz. These same artists seem to disregard the power of radio. What advice would you share with these artists?

Hmm, I guess I would say that in today's world you have to be able to have your fingers in many pies at one time just in case one thing doesn't go the way you planned there is a back up waiting to go or already in progress. Artists spend too much time focusing on just one thing and it hurts them every time. They should really develop a team that has components that are good in various areas. Diversifying your strategies of attacking both the internet as well as the radio is the smartest thing you could do as an artist.

And in the end you are only as good as your team...if your team is full of people who know less than you do about the industry...man good luck! You need professionals who know how to get you out there properly.