Discovered by
DJ Clark Kent, Ski was originally known as "MC Will-Ski" in the late 1980s. He began his recording career in one of
North Carolina's first hip hop groups
The Bizzie Boyz, alongside Mixmasta "D" (Dana Owens, also from NC),
Fanatic, and dancers Move & Groove. In the early 1990s, Ski moved to
New York City and was a member of the group
Original Flavor, the first group managed by future recording industry executive
Damon Dash. In the mid-90s, Ski was working on duo
Camp Lo's debut album
Uptown Saturday Night when Dash called him in to work on the debut album of his own artist,
Jay-Z. Jay-Z's album,
Reasonable Doubt, was released in 1996, marking Ski's first major production placement. Ski produced four tracks off the album, including the singles "
Dead Presidents" and "
Feelin' It". After the critical success of
Reasonable Doubt, Ski formed Roc-A-Blok Productions in affiliation with Jay and Dame's label,
Roc-A-Fella Records, working with Camp Lo and
Sporty Thievz. The producer crafted most of Camp Lo's debut, which dropped in 1997, and produced the
Fat Joe single "John Blaze"; Ski continued to work with Jay-Z, on his second album
In My Lifetime, Vol. 1 as well as non-solo albums and compilation projects, until 1998, when Jay released his third project
Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life without beats from any of his former producers except for
DJ Premier. Though Roc-A-Blok Productions had since folded, Ski remained somewhat active in music. Relocating to his home state of
North Carolina for a break from
New York City's fast-paced lifestyle, he continued producing for artists such as
Nature, members of the
New Jersey crew The Outsidaz,
Lil' Kim,
Foxy Brown,
Ras Kass and
Proof. The producer has also continued to produce for Camp Lo, providing most of the production for their second album ''Let's Do it Again
, as well as their third album, Black Hollywood''. In 2010, Ski linked back up with Dame Dash, joining the entrepreneur's
DD172 collective, subsequently nicknamed the 24-Hour Karate School. Since the foundation of the studio enclave, Ski has worked with
Mos Def,
Jay Electronica,
Jean Grae and others. On April 30, 2010, he announced that he would produce upcoming albums for Jean Grae,
Joell Ortiz, and
Ras Kass, as well as all but three songs on
Curren$y's third album
Pilot Talk. All of these artists were also later featured on the producer's solo debut, titled
24 Hour Karate School in honor of the collective. On July 14, 2012, Ski announced he had secured his own label deal, named "The Fresh Air Fund Music Group". ==Discography==