Check out this new mixtape from VA's own Skillz called "Design Of A Decade", which features dude spitting over some classic 90's instrumentals and we aint talkin' the typical, played out 90's beats...but some of those forgotten gems from the golden years of hip-hop. Also, be on the lookout for dude's upcoming studio album "Million Dollar Backpack" featuring collabos with The Roots, Common, Talib Kweli, & Freeway and is scheduled to drop July 8th on KOCH.

Here's a quick little introduction to the tape from Skillz's blog...

"Now I don’t do that many mixtapes, I think I may have like 5 or
6 to my credit. Maybe because I just dont really get inspired to spit over whats
hot right now and leak it to the world. I feel like doing something special when
I do something, something that will stand out from what else is being at the
moment. Picture me rapping over Lollipop right now?? LOL, aint happening homie!
So I came up with this idea to do a mixtape series on decades of music. I had to
start with the 90’s cuz that music influenced me the most. And when I started
pulling songs it was a zillion, I couldn’t decide on which ones that I wanted to
do. So these songs are me paying respect to the cats who inspired me. I still
get in the car and pick a week where I just listen to one artist all week
whenever Im in the car so I can remember how I felt when I first heard those
songs. Like last week I listened to Eric B & Rakim all week long, every
song, every album. It helps to inspire me ya know? I can’t get inspired by what
I hear on the radio. I titled the songs by their initials so you wont know what
I did over until to hear the actual song, so check it out, ride with it (it
plays perfect in a ipod) vibe to it and hopefully I can make you feel the way I
felt while making it. Shout to Cannon & J. Period for making it with me…look
out for future volumes cuz I can do these joints all day long!! LOL! Make a
playlist and rock out to…"

01. Design Of A Decade (Intro)
02. L.I.K.W.I.T. (Feat. Boogie & Big Shot)
03. F.P. (Feat. Phonte & Lil Roc)
04. N.G.B.A.T.D.I.
05. Dreams
06. B.O.B.
07. D.D.W. (Feat. Boogie, Doubt Gotcha & J. Black)
08. Design Of The Mixtape (Interlude)
09. G & G
10. T.D.N.
11. W.O.F.T.H.
12. G.U.G.O. (Feat. Wax)
13. F.E.A.
14. Spittage
15. F.F. (Feat. Garnett)
16. I.R.P.
17. Design Of A Decade (Outro)