Today, April 18, marks the 22nd birthday Ski Mask The Slump God, one the very best young artists in South Florida's bursting rap scene.
Since dropping his first mixtape, Drown in Designer, last spring, Ski's become one the most talked-about rappers in the Gunshine State. With an endlessly agile flow, Ski gained a big portion his national exposure while rapping alongside his fellow South Florida rapper, XXXTentacion, as a part Members Only.
Having been streamed millions upon millions times by the summer 2017, Ski Mask was ready to take his next step towards rap stardom. He did just that when he dropped his YouWillRegret mixtape on June 29, 2017. Acting as a showcase for the skills he'd shown a ton times prior, Ski's project only added to an already sizable buzz. A bit later, Ski linked up with fast-rising director Cole Bennett and popped up in New York City's Time Square for his ultra-zany "Catch Me Outside" video, which, course, promptly blew up.
In the months since, Ski Mask's continued to build his buzz by dropping occasional tracks and hinting at new projects. One those projects was an unnamed effort with a "loved producer." If you didn't know, that beloved producer is Timbaland, a production legend Ski Mask lists as his favorite. The other is Beware the Book Eli, a mixtape that was supposed to drop at the tail end 2017, but has since been delayed. It will include a collab from Busta, though, so at least there's that.
On the more unfortunate side things, Ski Mask The Slump God has apparently been dealing with some serious health issues. On March 21, 2018, the rapper revealed that he had been affected by a health condition that will eventually require him to get surgery over his heart. A short time later, Ski Mask took his doctor's advice and canceled his European tour.
While things haven't always been rosy, Ski Mask maintains a positive demeanor no matter what, and that, along with his skills on the mic, make him a special presence in the hip-hop community. Salute.
Happy Birthday to Ski Mask The Slump God, and here's to many, many more!