Sky Balla
Defines Lifestyles of the Hoodrich & Famous
Defines Lifestyles of the Hoodrich & Famous
New Mixtape
Exclusive with Sickamore
Exclusive with Sickamore
San Francisco, CA — After years
of building his own empire in the Bay Area, San Francisco native Sky
Balla joined forces with New York-based Empire City Records in 2005 to get
his music to the nation. The venture is already proving to be a major move for
Sky Balla, as he is on the verge of releasing his first project with the
label, Lifestyles of the Hoodrich & Famous.
of building his own empire in the Bay Area, San Francisco native Sky
Balla joined forces with New York-based Empire City Records in 2005 to get
his music to the nation. The venture is already proving to be a major move for
Sky Balla, as he is on the verge of releasing his first project with the
label, Lifestyles of the Hoodrich & Famous.
Known for his ability to bring
fresh new talent to the masses, A&R and I Can Make You Famous
CEO Sickamore is presenting Sky Balla’s Lifestyles of the Hoodrich
& Famous. The project contains 15 exclusive tracks with guest
appearances from Young Jeezy, Bleu Davinci, Juelz Santana, Jim Jones, The Game,
Hell Rell, Fabolous and the late Bay Area icon Mac Dre. Original production
from Nu Jersey Devil, J$Money and Cozmo is also featured.
fresh new talent to the masses, A&R and I Can Make You Famous
CEO Sickamore is presenting Sky Balla’s Lifestyles of the Hoodrich
& Famous. The project contains 15 exclusive tracks with guest
appearances from Young Jeezy, Bleu Davinci, Juelz Santana, Jim Jones, The Game,
Hell Rell, Fabolous and the late Bay Area icon Mac Dre. Original production
from Nu Jersey Devil, J$Money and Cozmo is also featured.
The Empire City Records team
recently filmed the video for Sky Balla’s bass-laden single “Big Boy
Things (Big Pimp),” which will be the catalyst for his upcoming full-length
album due out this Fall, Every Penny Counts. The video was
filmed on location at a mansion in the Hollywood Hills, a private studio in
New York City, and various hot spots in Sky Balla’s current home of
Las Vegas. A portion of the filming took place with the participation of the
King Of Cars, the Las Vegas auto mogul with the #1 reality series on the A&E
network.
recently filmed the video for Sky Balla’s bass-laden single “Big Boy
Things (Big Pimp),” which will be the catalyst for his upcoming full-length
album due out this Fall, Every Penny Counts. The video was
filmed on location at a mansion in the Hollywood Hills, a private studio in
New York City, and various hot spots in Sky Balla’s current home of
Las Vegas. A portion of the filming took place with the participation of the
King Of Cars, the Las Vegas auto mogul with the #1 reality series on the A&E
network.
Known far and wide for his
entreprenurial aptitude, Sky Balla is ready to take on the world with his
natural swagger and distinct music. “Ths situation is a beautiful
thing, and I’m going to maximize the situation to the fullest
capacity,” he says. “This is the biggest mixtape to hit
the streets in 2006, and the upcoming album is monumental. You’re
getting my best work ever, and I put my heart into it with a lot of hard
work and dedication. It’s a struggle to bubble.”
entreprenurial aptitude, Sky Balla is ready to take on the world with his
natural swagger and distinct music. “Ths situation is a beautiful
thing, and I’m going to maximize the situation to the fullest
capacity,” he says. “This is the biggest mixtape to hit
the streets in 2006, and the upcoming album is monumental. You’re
getting my best work ever, and I put my heart into it with a lot of hard
work and dedication. It’s a struggle to bubble.”
To hear “2-Step” and “Real
Talk” f/ Juelz Santana and Jim Jones, go to www.tygereye.net/skyballa and
www.skyballa.net
Talk” f/ Juelz Santana and Jim Jones, go to www.tygereye.net/skyballa and
www.skyballa.net
For more information on Sky
Balla and Empire City Records, go to www.empirecityrecords.com and www.myspace.com/skyballa
Balla and Empire City Records, go to www.empirecityrecords.com and www.myspace.com/skyballa
Tracklist for
Lifestyles of the Hoodrich &
Famous
Lifestyles of the Hoodrich &
Famous
1) Big Boy Things (Big
Pimp) Intro
2) H.U.S.T.L.E.R.
3) Bigga Room f/ Bleu
Davinci – prod. By J$Money
4) Cook It Up
5) 2-Step – prod. By
Cozmo
6) So Gangsta f/ Young Jeezy
7) I’m Rich
Bitch
8) Me and You (rmx)
9) Pimpin’ Ain’t Dead f/ Mac
Dre (R.I.P.)
10) My Story f/ The Game
11) I See You Ni**as – prod,
By Nu Jerzey Devil
12) Cartier Lenzes
13) Direct Connect f/ Hell
Rell
14) Mr. Me 2 (rmx) f/ Fabolous
15) Real Talk f/ Juelz Santana
and Jim Jones
Pimp) Intro
2) H.U.S.T.L.E.R.
3) Bigga Room f/ Bleu
Davinci – prod. By J$Money
4) Cook It Up
5) 2-Step – prod. By
Cozmo
6) So Gangsta f/ Young Jeezy
7) I’m Rich
Bitch
8) Me and You (rmx)
9) Pimpin’ Ain’t Dead f/ Mac
Dre (R.I.P.)
10) My Story f/ The Game
11) I See You Ni**as – prod,
By Nu Jerzey Devil
12) Cartier Lenzes
13) Direct Connect f/ Hell
Rell
14) Mr. Me 2 (rmx) f/ Fabolous
15) Real Talk f/ Juelz Santana
and Jim Jones
About Sky
Balla
Balla
Whoever said “it’s hard out here
for a pimp” never met Sky Balla. As the West Coast spokesman of the “I’m Not a
Rapper” movement, Sky Balla exemplifies the hustle and flow that are absolutely
essential in today’s rap game. Sitting on a self-made fortune, the young Bay
Area boss figured out early on how to make the industry work for him.
for a pimp” never met Sky Balla. As the West Coast spokesman of the “I’m Not a
Rapper” movement, Sky Balla exemplifies the hustle and flow that are absolutely
essential in today’s rap game. Sitting on a self-made fortune, the young Bay
Area boss figured out early on how to make the industry work for him.
The guest list for his new
mixtape project, Lifestyles of the Hood Rich & Famous, reads like a
who’s who of A-list emcees with appearances from The Game, Young
Jeezy, Fabolous, Juelz Santana and the late, great Mac Dre. Along with
his new video for the first single “Big Boy Things,” Sky is setting
the pace for his upcoming Empire City Records/Strictly Bizness debut album,
Every Penny Counts, which is due out this Fall.
mixtape project, Lifestyles of the Hood Rich & Famous, reads like a
who’s who of A-list emcees with appearances from The Game, Young
Jeezy, Fabolous, Juelz Santana and the late, great Mac Dre. Along with
his new video for the first single “Big Boy Things,” Sky is setting
the pace for his upcoming Empire City Records/Strictly Bizness debut album,
Every Penny Counts, which is due out this Fall.
The reality of how to succeed in
life has never been an issue for Sky Balla. He learned early on growing up in
impoverished Fillmore section of San Francisco that he needed to tap into all of
his God-given talents in order to achieve his dream of becoming an emcee. “I
started rapping because it was something that I loved,” he says. “I saw young
African-Americans from the ghetto that were just like me making a whole lot of
money. They were like living legends and icons of my community.”
life has never been an issue for Sky Balla. He learned early on growing up in
impoverished Fillmore section of San Francisco that he needed to tap into all of
his God-given talents in order to achieve his dream of becoming an emcee. “I
started rapping because it was something that I loved,” he says. “I saw young
African-Americans from the ghetto that were just like me making a whole lot of
money. They were like living legends and icons of my community.”
Beyond just having the natural
gift for gab, Sky Balla learned how to make valuable connections at a young age.
When he was just 16-years-old he joined forces with two other local kids to form
a group called Tha Gamblaz. Under the guidance of Bay Area superstars San Quinn
and JT the Bigga Figga, Tha Gamblaz debuted on JT’s local smash album
Operation Takeover in 1997.
gift for gab, Sky Balla learned how to make valuable connections at a young age.
When he was just 16-years-old he joined forces with two other local kids to form
a group called Tha Gamblaz. Under the guidance of Bay Area superstars San Quinn
and JT the Bigga Figga, Tha Gamblaz debuted on JT’s local smash album
Operation Takeover in 1997.
Later that year, Master P
snatched up Tha Gamblaz for his West Coast Bad Boyz, Pt. II album which
went on to sell over a million copies worldwide. “After that I knew it was
serious,” remembers Sky. “I really had to stay focused and step my game all the
way up. I knew it wasn’t just a dream anymore – it was becoming reality at a
young age. I was 17 on a platinum record.”
snatched up Tha Gamblaz for his West Coast Bad Boyz, Pt. II album which
went on to sell over a million copies worldwide. “After that I knew it was
serious,” remembers Sky. “I really had to stay focused and step my game all the
way up. I knew it wasn’t just a dream anymore – it was becoming reality at a
young age. I was 17 on a platinum record.”
Riding high off his new-found
success, in 1998, Sky Balla decided to drop out of high school and split from
his teenaged group in order to pursue a solo career. He started to work on his
first album, but got sidetracked when he realized he could raise even more
revenue starting a business revolving around his “ladies of luxury.” “That’s
when I was really in the streets pimpin’ for real,” says Sky. “I had to switch
up the hustle. I was always a fly young dude and never had a problem with the
ladies, so I figured hey, if these ladies want to go the extra mile for me, why
not put them in the position to make a lot of money?”
success, in 1998, Sky Balla decided to drop out of high school and split from
his teenaged group in order to pursue a solo career. He started to work on his
first album, but got sidetracked when he realized he could raise even more
revenue starting a business revolving around his “ladies of luxury.” “That’s
when I was really in the streets pimpin’ for real,” says Sky. “I had to switch
up the hustle. I was always a fly young dude and never had a problem with the
ladies, so I figured hey, if these ladies want to go the extra mile for me, why
not put them in the position to make a lot of money?”
Sure enough, pimping paid off
and the money started pouring in. Being the business man that he is, the young
Balla invested his cash into studio time and promotional materials to promote
his first official solo album, Mobb Report . For two straight years,
Sky acted as his own executive, publicist and marketing manager. Using the
industry contacts he collected as a youngster, Sky set up recording sessions in
Miami, New York and San Francisco with Scott Storch, Lil’ Flip, Keak Da Sneak,
Noreaga and a slew of other well known rappers and producers. “I only pressed up
10,000 copies of Mobb Report ,” he says. “But that got me further
than a lot of people who sold 100,000 units, because the contacts I have now are
priceless.”
and the money started pouring in. Being the business man that he is, the young
Balla invested his cash into studio time and promotional materials to promote
his first official solo album, Mobb Report . For two straight years,
Sky acted as his own executive, publicist and marketing manager. Using the
industry contacts he collected as a youngster, Sky set up recording sessions in
Miami, New York and San Francisco with Scott Storch, Lil’ Flip, Keak Da Sneak,
Noreaga and a slew of other well known rappers and producers. “I only pressed up
10,000 copies of Mobb Report ,” he says. “But that got me further
than a lot of people who sold 100,000 units, because the contacts I have now are
priceless.”
With his name being mentioned on
message boards all over Hip Hop cyber space, industry insiders started to take
notice of Sky Balla’s movement. Soon, representatives form the New York
City-based Empire City Records picked up on the Bay Area’s next best thing.
Within a couple of weeks they had negotiated a deal to create his debut album
with the label, Every Penny Counts.
message boards all over Hip Hop cyber space, industry insiders started to take
notice of Sky Balla’s movement. Soon, representatives form the New York
City-based Empire City Records picked up on the Bay Area’s next best thing.
Within a couple of weeks they had negotiated a deal to create his debut album
with the label, Every Penny Counts.
Packed with true-to-life
accounts of Sky Balla’s everyday hustle, Every Penny Counts showcases
the smooth player’s pop appeal. Well known producers like Shawty Red, who
produced the majority of Young Jeezy’s platinum debut, and Hi-Tek who tracked
“Real Ni**a” perfectly compliment Sky Balla’s laid back flow. In content and
delivery, Sky comes across as confident on tracks as he does on the street,
demonstrating a balance that is hard to come by in today’s trend-driven market.
On his first single “Big Boy Things (Big Pimp)” Sky breaks down his less than
humble existence: “Before rap, I was moving big ‘caine / Pimpin’ hard on
them hoes for real spittin’ big game.”
accounts of Sky Balla’s everyday hustle, Every Penny Counts showcases
the smooth player’s pop appeal. Well known producers like Shawty Red, who
produced the majority of Young Jeezy’s platinum debut, and Hi-Tek who tracked
“Real Ni**a” perfectly compliment Sky Balla’s laid back flow. In content and
delivery, Sky comes across as confident on tracks as he does on the street,
demonstrating a balance that is hard to come by in today’s trend-driven market.
On his first single “Big Boy Things (Big Pimp)” Sky breaks down his less than
humble existence: “Before rap, I was moving big ‘caine / Pimpin’ hard on
them hoes for real spittin’ big game.”
With an early Fall release
looming for his Empire City Records/Strictly Bizness debut, Sky Balla isn’t
going to let up until it’s payday. “I can’t wait ‘til the day when I get that
real big check where I can tell all the girls I’m done,” he explains. “Daddys
done, you’re out the game. We finally made it!” Pimpin’ sure is easy.
looming for his Empire City Records/Strictly Bizness debut, Sky Balla isn’t
going to let up until it’s payday. “I can’t wait ‘til the day when I get that
real big check where I can tell all the girls I’m done,” he explains. “Daddys
done, you’re out the game. We finally made it!” Pimpin’ sure is easy.
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