If I had a Nike endorsement deal, the commercial would probably look like this...

Check out the new visual...

New #SharpGotBars (9)

Did this #SharpGotBars in my favorite studio, the car!! Working on a new song produced by my guy #RichOnTheTrack. Check out the video.

New #SharpGotBars (8)

Had to do this one quick before the neighbors called the ‪#‎cops‬ on me. Lol. New ‪#‎SharpGotBars‬ ‪#‎Rap‬ ‪#‎Spit‬ ‪#‎Lyrics‬ ‪#‎HipHop‬ ‪#‎Flow‬ ‪#‎Emcee‬ ‪#‎Rhyme‬

New #SharpGotBars (7)

Check out the latest Sharp Got Bars. This is for all my folks bouncing back from injuries whether physical or emotional. Hold your head up and show them why you the number one draft pick! As long as there is breath in your body, you can win.

New #SharpGotBars (6)

Check out the latest Sharp Got Bars. I get very personal on this one, talking about my shortcomings and where I want to improve. Not typical in Hip Hop.

New #SharpGotBars Verse (5)

Check out the latest Sharp Got Bars. In this one, I spit about creating a trust fund for my grandkids (it will be a long time before I have any of those).

New #SharpGotBars (4)

Check out my latest verse for #SharpGotBars. Share if you feel it!

Now on iTunes 'Black White and Blue'

My new single "Black, White, and Blue" is now on iTunes. This song was recently featured on Fusion Network's documentary 'Black, White, and Blue' which discusses interactions between police officers and African Americans. Be sure to check the song out. You can also hear it on my soundcloud. Thanks for your support.

New Sharp Skills Song to be featured on Fusion TV

Photo by Char Beck

For Immediate Release:

Seattle, WA: Fusion TV will be airing a new documentary called Black, White, and Blue tonight, February 24^th 2015 at 6:00 PM (Pacific Standard Time). The documentary is about police brutality and race relations in America. Hip Hop artist, Sharp Skills, was hand selected by the progressive media network to craft music that would convey the emotions of such controversial subject matter. Gathering inspiration from his own personal experiences and the media’s recent spike in coverage on these topics, Sharp Skills created a song by the same name.

Sharp Skills holds no punches as he recites in one of his verses:

“Ain’t it interesting how the media kept on shining light on blacks killed by officers around the same timing/ when riots get incited/tyrants get excited/which justifies the killings of blacks and it keeps us quiet/ bullets flying into young minds like Al-Qaida pilots/drop us like some twin towers but I guess I’m bias.”

At a time in history where it seems like tensions between racial minorities and the police could get no worse, a documentary such as this could not be more relevant. Sharp Skills collaborated with the Florida based producer ‘Rich on the track’ who has done work with super producer Rodney Jerkins (Dark Child). Rich on the track shines in the production with dark melodic piano riffs and a dramatic bass line, which is his signature sound.

In addition to the documentary, Sharp Skills will release the song for digital download through his website sharpskillsmusic.com as well as iTunes and streaming on Spotify. Black, White, and Blue (the documentary) will be air on the following channels:

Satellite:

·         Dish Network- Channel 244 (SD only)

·         DirecTV- Channel 342 (HD only)

Cable:

·         Cablevision/Optimum- Channel 697 (HD), Channel 156 (SD)

·         Verizon FiOS- Channel 108 (SD only)

·         Available on other select cable systems (check local listings for channels)

IPTV:

·         AT&T U-verse- Channel 1206 (HD), Channel 206 (SD)

·         Google Fiber- Channel 105 (HD)

Streaming Media:

·         Available from select broadband Internet providers- Check with a provider for details

·         Apple TV- Fusion

       

About Sharp Skills:

Sharp Skills is an independent emcee whose music has been featured in the official film trailer for Takers, Slow Burn, hit television shows; Bones, America’s Next Top Model, and Nikita. He has featured Strange Music’s very own “Murs” on his song “Something to Say”. In 2011 he won Cal State Long Beach’s “Battle of the Beats” competition. He has won several competitions and awards including the Inside the Music (ITM) award for Best Male Emcee in 2007. Most importantly, he knows how to rock a crowd. His charisma, energy, stage presence, and high quality music makes him a favorite at various clubs, music festivals, and college campuses around the USA. Sharp Skills is also the owner/founder of the Rebel Firm, a multifaceted creative company which now consists of a music and book division.

New #SharpGotBars Verse (3)

New #SharpGotBars Verse (2)

Check out the latest Sharp Got Bars verse and share if you feel it! Thanks for the love and support!!

Sharp Skills in University Newspaper

Check out the piece Seattle Pacific University did on me. Very cool!
http://www.thefalcononline.com/2015/01/spu-alum-realises-potential/

Sharp Skills Spits a New Verse #SharpGotBars (1)

Check out the first edition of #SharpGotBars where I will be dropping a new verse every other week. Be sure to share if you like what you hear!!

New Music Video: Sharp Skills - If You Try ft. Gwendolyn Phillips

Today, Sharp Skills, a talented independent emcee hailing from Southern California has released a new music video for his single “If YouTry” featuring Gwendolyn Phillips (his mother). The song encourages men to dream and love again no matter what they face in life. The emotional chorus is sung by Sharp Skills’ mother who is a gifted Jazz and Gospel singer in her own right. Sharp Skills speaks on the significance of the video to him: “I wanted to write something that conveyed the pain that I’ve experienced while pursuing my dream of doing music, but also give hope too. When I wrote the song, I had a vision of my mom singing to me while I was real young not able to fully understand what she was saying. But it was my mom just pretty much telling me that I could be whatever I put my mind to at an early age you know. That was the premise of the whole video.”

The child (young Sharp Skills) in the video is played by his son, Philip Jr. “The song is super significant to me because I got to have both my mom and my son in the video. So it’s sort of multi-generational. I feel like this is something we’ll always have as a family.”

The Moon Buggee Productions video has a retro theme with fashion from the 1940’s and was shot in a rural California city. Musician extraordinaire, Laura D, makes a special cameo appearance throughout the video playing the drums while Sharp Skills raps.

To watch If You Try, click on the link below:

http://youtu.be/V6fTZxazZD4

About Sharp Skills:

Sharp Skills is an independent emcee whose music has been featured in the official film trailer for Takers, Slow Burn, hit television shows; Bones, America’s Next Top Model, and Nikita. He has featured Strange Music’s very own “Murs” on his song “Something to Say”. In 2011 he won Cal State Long Beach’s “Battle of the Beats” competition. He has won several competitions and awards including the Inside the Music (ITM) award for Best Male Emcee in 2007. Most importantly, he knows how to rock a crowd. His charisma, energy, stage presence, and high quality music makes him a favorite at various clubs, music festivals, and college campuses around the USA. Sharp Skills is also the owner/founder of the Rebel Firm, a multifaceted creative company which now consists of a music and book division.

If You Try ft. Gwendolyn Phillips is out now on iTunes:

http://smarturl.it/ifyoutry

Website/Social Media links:

http://www.sharpskillsmusic.com/

https://www.facebook.com/sharpskillstherebel

http://instagram.com/thesharpskills

https://twitter.com/SharpSkills24

Sharp Skills Dropping New Visual Christmas Day

I wrote the song "If You Try" over three years ago. I wrote it to encourage men who have a dream and feel the pressure to quit on it (or themselves) due to the pressure that life puts on us. If you have a dream in your heart, never give up on it no matter what life throws your way. Your dream or your vision is what keeps you going. It is oxygen to the human soul. I know how hard it is to grind and see minimal results. But all hard work brings a profit. That's in the Bible. So continue to work, trust God, and believe in what He has placed in your heart.

 The song features my mom, Gwendolyn Phillips, who brings that soulful gospel feel to the chorus. What's more, this song is probably my favorite on Anno Rebelio because it also encourages me every time I hear it. If you like the art work, I am printing up some limited addition posters (which I will autograph) and send to 20 people. If you hashtag #IfYouTry and you post yourself doing something inspirational on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, you will be entered in the pool for a chance to win the poster. Be sure to tag me so I know you did it.

Here are my pages so you can do that:

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

Sharp Skills featuring on New Pop Single called "City Lights" (Promo Video)

Check out Sam Knaak, producer and owner of Ear Witness Studios discussing the new single called "City Lights" featuring yours truly. Stay tuned for the official release.

Pics from Back To School Bash in Temecula, CA

This past Saturday, I had the privelege of perfoming at the Back 2 School Bash hosted by the Bridge in Temecula, CA. Good times. All photos courtesy of Aaron Crane.

With rock band Of Eyes That See

 

Pics From Summer Fest

Summer fest was dope. Rocked with my dude xlsrebelsx.
Shot out to Afro Black for the pics!

 

 

 

 

The Only Easy Day Was Yesterday

To be great takes a resilient mind. I am now fully persuaded that things don't get easier on the road of destiny, the traveler just becomes stronger and more determined. To fulfill a big purpose, one has to stop looking for the easy way out. There is no easy way. They have to be willing to take WHATEVER comes their way and somehow keep moving. And everyone just isn't "bout dat life."

Perfect Practice Makes Perfect (The Kevin Durant Principle)

I was inspired by an article that I read not too long ago about Kevin Durant's work ethic. You'll have to forgive me for not remembering where I read it, but in short, it discussed how he used to hate workouts earlier in his career. However, after he saw the results that came from the hard and extra work, he begin to embrace the pain associated with it. He said that he saw immediate improvement in his game when he put in the necessary effort beforehand. This has led to an ever increasing hunger to become better because he now knows the formula to do so. Great food for thought amd motivation for those on the same quest.