artistspotlight

Wait, Who’s SK8?!

Nate Maloley, also known as SK8 first entered the spotlight in 2014. At first, he was known for music and his friendship with the music group Jack & Jack, who even made a song together in 2016. Flash forward to 2020, the Omaha artist is now part of the iconic group Taylor Gang, where he joined in 2019! It’s time to get a glimpse of SK8’s timeline in the music industry.

SK8 Before Entering Taylor Gang

In 2014, SK8 released his first single on all platforms, “Signs” with Sammy Wilk! A year later, he released the song “Little Bit”. These first two singles by the singer were performed at small venues with other artists (Yes! I was at one of those!). But the crowd grew, just like his music! 2016, he shared 2 new album with fans, “Skaterade” and “Late 2 The Party”! These were Sk8’s last albums before being signed to Taylor Gang!

SK8 performing in November 2014, photo taken by me!

Me and Sk8 in 2014, original fans showing love before making it big time!

New Steps In Taylor Gang

December 2018, Sk8 was signed to Taylor Gang with open arms! Singles on singles were released by the new signee in 2019, keeping fans on their toes! He made things that much more exciting with his collaboration with Wiz Khalifa in the song “Onme”! The two Taylor Gang artists made two more singles “Favelas” and “Role Models” Needless to say, their collaborations are fire!

Photo from SK8’s twitter with Wiz! https://twitter.com/skatemaloley/status/972963087488729088.

SK8’s latest release in the hip hop industry is “SkateSounds”, shared with fans early this year. The album features 6 different awesome tracks. Check out the link above to listen, whether you are familiar or not with SK8’s music!

Knowing who SK8 was before he signed to Taylor Gang, it’s exciting to see how far he has come! Although, his musical journey does not end here. Artists grow with their fans through music and experience. We are excited to hear more from SK8!

Sydney Geller | IG: @sydneyyyyy_g |

D Smoke Is Smokin

It’s time to learn more about D Smoke, from Inglewood, California. In 2019, Rhythm + Flow was released on Netflix. The show features Cardi B, Chance the Rapper, and T.I looking for the next hip hop superstar. D Smoke became the winner based on his content and overall talents. His music often includes him rapping in Spanish, making him stand out in the hip hop industry. Since the first season came to a close, it is time to take a closer look at where the winner is now.

Image credits to https://www.laweekly.com/up-in-d-smoke-from-reality-tv-to-real-deal/. Check out the link to learn more about D Smoke!

Reality Hits, What We Need to Know

After the first season aired, D Smoke has released both singles and albums for his devoted fans. He released his first EP “Inglewood High” in 2019, featuring 7 different songs. This year, he made a full album after much demand by his followers and his own motivation. His new album is “Black Habits”, which features more than double of the songs in comparison to the EP. Furthermore, both albums are available on platforms like Apple Music, Spotify, and Youtube Music.

D Smoke’s most memorable performance on Rhythm + Flow was “The Last Supper”, shown in the finale of the season. He starts off the song showing off his piano skills accompanied by his raps. The performance continues with amazing stage presence and catchy and memorable lyrics. Chance The Rapper, Cardi B, and T.I are amazed with the performance, which in turn made him the winner.

D Smoke has always been dedicated to creating songs about his life experience and finding a way to connect with his audience. He’s now is signed to the record label WoodWorks Records/Empire. The artist is sometimes compared to Kendrick Lamar based on his style and presence. Additional music and videos are yet to come, and we are excited to continue the journey with him.

Sydney Geller | IG: @sydneyyyyy_g |