Some of you may have seen Sky Katz rapping for Kanye West at the end of last month, while others among her fan base may already know her as Tess on Disney’s Raven’s Home. Either way, hers is a name you’re going to be hearing from for a long time in the entertainment world.
The multi-talented teen sensation got her start rapping on America’s Got Talent back in 2016, where judge Simon Cowell dubbed her “the coolest 11-year-old in the world.” Hip-hop runs deep in her family’s blood, as both of Sky’s parents were staunch fans of artists like Nas and Biggie Smalls growing up in Queens. They transferred that same love for the genre to their confident daughter, while raising her out on Long Island, where she spent her formidable years, before having to now split her time in Los Angeles.
The 14-year-old hyphenate kicks off 2019 with an explosive collaboration, as she teams up with burgeoning fellow NY rapper Lil Tjay for “Like This.” The potential bop finds Katz spitting a catchy hook, while the sneakerhead passes the ball to the Prince of New York, who glides over the uptempo production with ease for a slam dunk assist.
Sky says shooting the visual with Spike Tarantino was a pleasant experience. “We had such a fun time. Everyone there was hype and it was all good vibes. It was at the Brooklyn Zoo and that could be a playground for adults,” she says. “There were so many opportunities for visuals. It was hard work, but it came out dope and was worth it.”
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Check out the dance-heavy “Like This” video, premiering with Billboard, below. After the jump, the part-time basketball player details some of her bold career aspirations, the unlikely scenario that led to her rapping for Kanye West at a record store in Los Angeles, balancing being a child actress and a rapper, and much more.
How did you get your start in the entertainment world?
Sky Katz: I got my start on America’s Got Talent. I rapped on there in 2016. I’m currently [starring as] Tess on Raven’s Home, so that’s where most people know me from, or, more recently, a viral video of me rapping to Kanye [West].
What was your introduction to hip-hop?
My parents both grew up in Queens. They have a heart just full of hip-hop and introduced me to it. I just fell in love with it. I wanted to make music like the music they were introducing to me, and I wanted it to have that same fun effect I saw it have on them. They always had so much fun and felt the music. I want others to feel that with my music.
Who are some artists you listen to?
I love Biggie. I just got two records at Amoeba Records, Biggie’s Greatest Hits and Nas’ Illmatic. My manager got me a vinyl player from Urban Outfitters. I love Eric B & Rakim. Newer rappers, my favorite has always been Nicki Minaj. I love A$AP Rocky, Tyler, The Creator, J. Cole, and Russ. I could go on forever.
When did you start posting covers to songs online?
[Nicki Minaj’s] verse on “Monster” and Lil Mama‘s “Lip Gloss” were some of the first. This was over two years ago. I’ve always been rapping, but that kind of started everything.
Walk me through the creative process for your new video “Like This” featuring Lil Tjay.
My DJ has been [Tjay’s] family’s DJ for years. He said, “I showed Lil Tjay your music and he thinks your dope. It would be dope if you guys did a song together.” We reached out and set a studio date…which Tjay came six hours late to. My dad had work the next morning, but he still stayed. We ended up leaving at 3:30 a.m., which is typical for him, but not when I have school the next day. We knocked it out and set up a visual for it. I recorded two covers while I was waiting for him in the studio.
We hit up Spike Tarantino because I knew he would pop off on that. Then Tjay was even more late to that shoot. He came at the time we were literally supposed to be out of there by. I recorded a lot of my dope parts already. Everything happens for a reason. If he wasn’t late, we wouldn’t have gotten so many of the shots that we got. He came with it when he got there, so it’s not like he lacked. We had such a fun time. Everyone there was hype and it was all good vibes. It was at the Brooklyn Zoo and that could be a playground for adults.
There were so many opportunities for visuals. It was hard work, but it came out dope and was worth it. I’d want to work with Tjay again, but I’d tell him four hours before the scheduled time. The Prince of New York is what he calls himself. He holds his own and has a cool flow. He’s up next for New York.
Explain to me how you saw Kanye West out in Los Angeles and ended up rapping for him.
They have a farmer’s market with organic food and across the street is Amoeba Records. I picked up a J. Cole record one in my hand and then my uncle goes up to me, “That’s Kanye West.” You don’t know how to process that. He just happened to be there. I drop my J. Cole record and grab Ye. Then I bumped into him and he was so nice. Credit to him for being super nice.
We had a whole conversation and I tell him I’m on Raven’s Home. He asked me what I rap about. Finally, I was like, “Is it cool if my uncle records me rapping to you?” He stops me and says, “You have to rap to the beat that’s playing.” It was something by The Spinners. I listened to the beat and was like, “Okay, this is light work.” I had something I knew I was going to do. Then you see me processing in the video and I went to it right away.
I don’t get nervous. Even if you don’t, I feel like you would if you went up to Kanye, but I just didn’t. Everyone is a human being. He is a superhero, but they’re not any different than you, just maybe more talented. I kept it chill, but I bowed down to him because he is Kanye. It was a really cool moment. God was like, “Let’s sprinkle something magical in her day.”
I feel like I needed that. There’s certain things you need. From people’s perspective, sometimes they look at me and hear Disney and then think about a cartoon or Micky Mouse. People put a label on me like that. I don’t know why. I’m very proud to be on Disney, I’m not fighting it. That doesn’t mean I’m some little girl who’s not tough at all. I feel like I needed something like that to gain respect from certain people. I feel like i have to prove myself sometimes because people doubt me.
What do you have coming up in 2019?
Season three has more music coming up. It’s original music and it’s really cool. I have a song in the new Kim Possible movie that’s about to come out. It’s a new song that they’re going to play pieces of throughout certain scenes. I haven’t released it yet, but it has a nice part in the storyline. I worked with the Heavyweights. They rose to the occasion and make dope music. I recorded a new freestyle to Flipp Dinero’s “Leave Me Alone” and A$AP Rocky’s “Praise the Lord,” which was hard to flow to. I wanted to come up with a different sound from A$AP’s.
I’m going to have a show in New York at some point. I have another original song coming out called “Saucy.” I have season 3 episodes of Raven’s Home. I have a lot more performances later in the year. I also have campaigns with Nike coming up. I’m gonna have my own merch coming out soon too. It’s so freaking dope.
Could we get an album this year?
I feel like anything close to that would be a four-song EP that I drop. It’s not within my next few moves. My next three things I have coming are all just singles. I wouldn’t say it’s really soon. I have so many songs in the stash that I could make an album, but I want everything to be amazing. I’m not in a rush, I’m 14 and living life.
Do you run your own social media accounts?
I won’t let anyone touch my Instagram. I wouldn’t let anyone even like a single post. Everything has to be authentic to who I am and what I do. I’m a control freak, everything is me. Sometimes it’s a job and can get to be too much, but Instagram is my biggest platform and I’d be letting [my fans] down if I wasn’t active. I do so much of my social media for them.
Would you rather win an Oscar or a Grammy?
Acting and rapping both hold two different places in my heart. Neither outweighs the other, they’re both important to me. I started off with rap, but sometimes, I lean toward one direction, and then there’s times I go with the other. I couldn’t have one without the other. If I didn’t have Raven’s Home, I wouldn’t have the platform to release all this music. If I didn’t have all this music, then I wouldn’t have a lot of the fans I do. I’m grateful for both in different ways.
What are some of your career goals?
I want to tour at some point. I’ve done shows as part of Jacob Sartorius’ tour. You know what, I will tour and I will be in a movie. I have more award shows coming up. This quote is going to be me in 2019, “Every goal I attain, I set like 10 more.” I don’t know who said it, but that’s going to be me this year.