E-A-Ski

E-A-Ski is a pioneer of West Coast hip-hop. As one of the first artists signed to No Limit Records, he released 1 Step Ahead Of Yall on the Richmond, California-based label in 1992. Ski was also a producer on the first full-length TRU (known then as The Real Untouchables) album, Understanding The Criminal Mind and Master P’s second album, Mama’s Bad Boy. Soon he and fellow producer CMT began working with artists outside of No Limit, producing such songs as “Trigga Gots No Heart” by Spice 1 for the Menace II Society soundtrack and the “Playa Hata” single for the Luniz.

E-A-Ski continued work as a solo artist as well, his song “Blast If I Have To” from the Friday soundtrack was released as a single in 1995 and shortly after he recorded “Mr. Ski & Dr. Dre” AKA “Split Personality” with Dr. Dre.

In 2001, E-A-Ski began producing Richmond duo The Frontline and provided a sound that would allow the group to receive airplay on San Francisco radio station KMEL, a station that rarely featured local artists in time slots outside of Sway’s late-night weekend program, The Wake Up Show. Ski’s work with the duo during the “New Bay” movement in the Bay Area helped shape the sound of The Hyphy Movement that would follow. After The Frontline split, Ski continued producing songs for Locksmith, who was one-half of the duo.

E-A-Ski continues to produce and record as a solo artist, recently producing “Rebel Music” by MC Ren and releasing “Wake Em Up” featuring Tech N9ne and Too $hort.