Veteran rapper and songwriter Mad Skillz has had a versatile career. His debut album, released in 1995, contained underground classics like “The Nod Factor” and “Move Ya Body.”
In 2000, Skillz dropped an album for the legendary indie hip-hop label, Rawkus Records. The project featured the likes of Missy Elliot and CeeLo. By that time, Skillz had also been working as a ghostwriter, penning tracks for stars like Diddy and Will Smith.
Most recently, Skillz has toured the world as DJ Jazzy Jeff‘s MC and also as a solo DJ. Check out his must-have travel items below, and download his latest single “In a Minute” on DJcity.
Portable Phone Charger
“This is a must-have whenever I travel. It’s a no-brainer.”
Backup Hard Drive
“I have a drive that I back up with Carbon Copy Cloner so if I ever have a computer problem I can plug the drive into any computer and still play a set. And not only will I have all my music on the computer I’m playing with, but it will also look exactly like mine.”
Journal Book
“I’m old school in this manner: sometimes I actually like to write things down that come to me. I could put them in my notes on my phone, but there’s just something about seeing them in my actual handwriting. It’s everything from mix ideas, transitions, bookings, and things I have planned.”
“I like to capture moments and not be intrusive at the same time. The GoPro HERO3+ has never let me down for pictures and video.”
“They just work for me. They’re lighter, and they fit in my bag better than the 12 inches. They also stand up to normal wear and tear. I love them.”
Follow Mad Skillz on Facebook, Instagram, SoundCloud, and Twitter.
Related: A-Trak: Must-Have Items in My DJ Bag
The One, Rane’s first all-in-one controller for Serato DJ Pro, was a very successful product, but being a few years old, was starting to seem a little date...
Ever since Biz Markie (RIP) showed off his custom built 7-inch Technics 1200 turntables back in 2013, many DJs who love to play vinyl 45s have dreamt about...
These are DJcity’s most downloaded tracks of August 2025. Our monthly charts feature top downloads from around the world, plus regional charts for Latin...
Notable tracks that were added to DJcity this week. View them all here. Download the tracks below. (* indicates DJcity Exclusive) Sabrina Carpenter – Tear...
The performance features in Serato’s DJ software have been constantly updated and improved in the two decades, but their music library has remained largely...
Beatsource recently launched its DJ Exclusives program, which has been 20 years in the making. It’s built around an entirely new, never been done licensing...
*** UPDATE: check out our updated 2024 and 2025 playlists! Wedding season has arrived! DJcity’s Remix Director Sir Marcus has put together a list of...
Serato DJ Pro 4.0 Has Arrived - Join Us in LA to Experience It Firsthand Discover the biggest Serato update yet in an exclusive in-person event with the Se...
Wedding season is here! DJcity’s Remix Director, Sir Marcus, has curated an updated selection of must-have wedding remixes for 2025. This collection is pac...
These are DJcity’s most downloaded tracks of July 2025. Our monthly charts feature top downloads from around the world, plus regional charts for Latin, UK...