Skilla Baby Says Surviving a Shooting Made Him “More Evil” as Nas Backs New Album

Skilla Baby says surviving a shooting did not make him a gentler person. In a recent account of a difficult period in his life, the Detroit rapper said the experience hardened him and that resisting the urge to retaliate became a major personal struggle. He recalled being hit in the back and hand, with another bullet grazing his head. Rather than describing the incident as the start of his faith, he said that journey had begun earlier. “Getting shot really made me more evil,” he said, explaining that his first reaction was to want someone else to feel the pain he had experienced. The rapper said choosing not to seek revenge took a heavy toll. He described the effort involved in walking away as a serious demand on his mental health and energy. Music, he said, helped him through the period, and he credited his album with giving him something to focus on. Skilla Baby also pointed to the people who rely on him, including his mother, friends and employees. He said a prison sentence would affect more than his own future, making restraint important even when it was difficult. Although he now lives on the West Coast, he acknowledged that the quieter surroundings can feel dull compared with the place where he grew up, while adding that he values the distance for safety and work. His new album, The Price of Fame, took two years to complete. He said relationship problems and feeling creatively stuck made the process especially challenging. The title reflects what he considers the costs of success, including time with family, money, energy and mental well-being. Skilla Baby also revealed that Nas executive produced the project and contributed a verse. He said an A&R at his label helped connect them, and that Nas offered to work on the album after they spent time together in New York. The rapper recalled declining some invitations at first because he did not want to come across as pushing himself on the veteran artist.