Wastelandz, Queens legend Chyskillz passed away on 13 February 2018. Growing-up around the likes of Royal Flush, Neek The Exotic and Large Professor, Chy is said to have first gotten to play around with some SL-1200’s at the age of ten and never looked back. Looking through my interview archives, here are three quotes discussing his early years:
Large Professor: We used to go over to another kid’s house that lived up the block. Me, Chyskillz, Neek, a few of us would go up the block to my man Nori’s house, a Japanese dude. We used to go to his crib and make tapes. That was the whole time that we was finding records, like, ‘Oh shit! They used this for that record!’ There was a lotta energy going on at that time.
Al’ Tariq: In ‘79, my moms and dad separated. My mother moved to Queens, to Flushing. I lived a few blocks from Large Professor; Chylow that did the first Onyx album – Chyskillz – this is my man from growing up.
Large Professor: They had little demo studios, there was a mall down the block from me, Busy Bee, we would see Hurby [‘Luv Bug’ Azor] in there. Herby would be buying his gold and everything like that. Downstairs they had this little pre-studio recording thing with just a mic and a drum machine. For a second, that’s what that was. Other than that, we’d have to go over to my dude Rick’s crib or Chyskillz’ crib and he just be cutting up records for us to rhyme over.
Through his association with Jam-Master Jay, Chyskillz got the opportunity to provide beats for Onyx, Run-DMC, LL Cool J and Public Enemy, delivering some of the best examples of that horn-laden, heavy vibe mid-nineties NY sound that many are still misty eyed for, and his deconstruction of ‘Nautilus’ into the face-punching anthem that is Onyx’s ‘Throw Ya Gunz’ is forever etched into the rap timeline.
Download: A Tribute To Chyskillz Productions
Track listing:
01 ‘Throw Ya Gunz’ – Onyx
02 ‘Man Of My Own’ – Mic Geronimo
03 ‘Louder Than a Bomb’ [JMJ Telephone Tap Groove] – Public Enemy
04 ‘Freaky Flow’ – Shaquille O’Neal feat. General Sha and Mr. Ruffneck
05 ‘Mr Smith’ – LL Cool J
06 ‘International Currency’ – Royal Flush
07 ‘Mad MF’s’ – Rumpletilskinz
08 ‘Get Open’ – Run DMC ft. Onyx
09 ‘Livin’ Locd’ – Bo$$ feat. Onyx
10 ‘Bichasniguz’ – Onyx
11 ‘I’m Not The Herb You’re Lookin 4’ [Chyskillz Remix] – Class A Felony
12 ‘Hardcore’ – Shaquille O’Neal
I know some folks might argue against Onyx ushering in the dated shout-rap bandwagon, but you can’t deny Chy’s beats on Bacdafucup. He really doesn’t get enough credit for helping mold the sound of the NYC hardcore hip-hop renaissance in the early 90’s. Wish he had gotten more production work. “Shiftee” is a fucking masterpiece. R.I.P.
Damn. That Mr. Smith sample, i know i’ve heard it before. Just can’t recall at this moment.
I never understood why he didn’t produce anymore for Onyx…Does anyone know?? They could’ve used the production for their later albums.
Man, too soon. Chyskills was ill. When I finally heard Nautilus through in full for the first time, I heard it :) — he really flipped the right part for the ‘Throw ya Gunz’ beat. Rest in Power
Maye he rest easy but that play list isn’t too much to brag about. Whoever did music with Shaq should be shot!
He was a star to my ears. Agree about ‘Shiftee’ being his best beat. I’m assuming he did the dope remix as well, without checking. Rest In Power…
@God Supreme: Fair point but that would have been a nice cheque.
@Paul H and 3BM-Ark: I’m sure I meant to put ‘Shiftee’ on but forgot at the last minute.
@God Supreme: So then I guess Erick Sermon, RZA, Havoc, Redman, Rakim, and most of 90’s hip-hop should all be shot…
Look, I’m not saying Shaq was dope or anything, but I think that’s a bit of an extreme reaction.
@3BM-ARK: The remix was done by JMJ and some dude named Big Dex.
I’d take a check from Shaq any day. Why not? He wasn’t terrible and you knew what it was going into it.
Much better than ending up on the Deon Sanders album.
Nice one Robbie,any chance of a Matt Dike tribute?
R.I.P we losing way too many. SALUTE my Ghee.
Craig Mack yo…
so i’m not the only one who thought chyskillz was underrated… i always used to wonder what happened to him. i guess they only remember you when it’s too late
They didn’t want to pay him for his worth and he wasn’t settling
Not only did he take a big check and a bag from Shaq. Shaq had his own high end studio at his crib and chyskillz stayed their producing the album along with all the perks…
Producers never get their dues…but chyskillz did it because it was his passion…he was still dropping beats and selling them to unsigned artists…he was still working look at his fb page.
You forgot to put his best work and still a big hit..slam
@Paul H, was that the ‘Shytizon’ remix?
@3BM-Ark – Yeah, that’s the one.
@DJ Blendz – Buckwild used in for Bushwackas’ “Caught Up In The Game.”
ANYBODY WHO MADE MUSIC WITH SHAQ IS A FUCKING CORN-BALL SELL OUT! STOP DEFENDING CORNBALLS!
MENTIONING PEOPLE WHO ARE WORSE THAN SHAQ? I GUESS
THEY DIDNT HAVE DEF JEF AS A GHOST WRITER!
FAKE HIP HOP!
NONE OF YOU EVEN MENTIONED THIS GUY WHEN HE WAS ALIVE!
A.C. you are a cornball. He gets a pass, plain and simple. If Lonzo Ball wanted your beats, I’m sure you’d sell them. And Shaq’s album is better than anything you’ve ever put out. All 11 of your myspace albums.
the guy hyphenated corn-ball. he’s legit
@ Paul H
Thnx!
Rest in power Chyskillz and Craig Mack
YOU BOUGHT SHAQ’S ALBUM LOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!
YOURE A FAG FOR THAT HAHAHAHAHA!
I shit better Hip-Hop than that!!!!
“Caesar” youre whats wrong with Hip-Hop culture. I have done albums and you have done nothing. I am known from Cali to NYC!
Nobody knows you.
Yet you have 11 albums and nobody knows you… You’re a social media Susan. Forcing your product on unsuspecting folk. Performing at pay to play venues. Your whole persona is garbage. Reminds me of the 2000 indie era.
“I am known from Cali to NYC!” As is syphilis. This is Unkut. It’s Robbie’s site. This is not A.C. The Program Director’s AMA. A.C. The Program Director, don’t call us, we’ll call you ([aside] We wont be calling you).
After listening to the instro album of ‘Bacdafucup’, it’s a cohesive, dark jazz gem…
@3BM-Ark: I need to check that. The beats on the second record were great as well.
Agree Robbie, darker and lower…
I’am EL CHOPPO!
Ill producer, seemed like a good guy too, according to Prince Po and Large Pro. He is definitely unsung for his masterful work w/ JMJ on Bacdafucup and even the last legit Run DMC album. RIP Chyskills.