Duane Walker Jr., better known as LA SkyyWalker (LA$W), is the wild card of hip-hop.
Based in Los Angeles, this raw and spontaneous singer/rapper contributes to the genre
in captivating ways. He freestyles on most of his songs in order to capture the unique
mood of any given moment and draws influences from artists such as Ice Cube, Pimp C,
Jay Z, and R. Kelly.
Although he was raised in a single-parent household in West LA, he frequently visited
his father in New York and Chicago, deeply analyzing the people and places
surrounding him. Partly due to his early nomadic lifestyle, LA SkyyWalker embraces hiphop from all regions. His all-encompassing love for music is demonstrated through his
diverse set of lyrics and sounds. Unrestrained by conventional genre standards, he
simply aims to get people on the same wavelength.
Although he’s been through many hardships, including the loss of family and friends to
gun violence, his music not only speaks to the struggle, but also the glories, failures, and
successes of life. His creation process is unparalleled. After growing tired of waiting on
others, he taught himself how to record and engineer to become self-sufficient and
ensure that his music is heard by those who care to listen. While confident in his sound
and message, LA SkyyWalker understands that his music isn’t for everyone, but is
committed to his devote audience.
When asked why he creates music, he responded with an Andre 3000 quote: “I can’t
afford to not record.”