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Mad Skillz
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From Where??
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February 13, 1996
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Richmond
*
Virginia
* Mad Skillz * From Where?? * February 13, 1996 * Richmond * Virginia
"From Where??"
Released on February 13, 1996, “From Where???” is the debut studio album by Richmond, Virginia’s own, Mad Skillz. This album was the first big break for a Hip-Hop artist from Richmond. The title is a play on the reaction Skillz often got when people learned he was from Virginia and not from New York or another East Coast rap region. The album was released on Big Beat/Atlantic Records with production by Skillz himself and big names in Hip-Hop like DJ Clark Kent, Large Professor, and J. Dilla.
"From Where??" Jacket
A custom varsity jacket to commemorate the 30th Anniversary of “From Where???” that will be released in the coming months. The jacket features:
Mad Skillz ‘s Logo with an image of the state of Virginia.
The number 96 on the sleeve for the year the album was released.
3.5 mics image to represent the album’s rating from The Source Magazine, arguably the most important Hip-Hop media outlet of the 1990s.
The inside of the jacket contains a map of Richmond, VA—Skillz’s hometown.
Adidas Superstar shoe autographed by DMC
From Mad Skillz’s personal collection. Skillz sites legendary group, RUN DMC, as one of his early influences in Hip-Hop. The group made the Adidas Superstars, also known as Shelltoes, one of the most iconic sneakers in Hip-Hop. This shoe is signed by group member, Darryl "D.M.C." McDaniels.
Mad Skillz served as an artist-in-residence and adjunct instructor through at the University of Richmond’s School of Professional and Continuing Studies. Skillz and liberal arts professor, Erik Nielson, co-taught a course called "The Voice of Hip Hop in America." The legendary rapper and social activist, Chuck D from Public Enemy, wrote a letter of recommendation to support Skillz’s endeavors in bringing Hip-Hop to higher education.
