Despite his upbringing in the Jacksonville neighborhood colloquially titled “Fairytale Lane,” hip-hop artist Sk8tie‘s (a.k.a. Khiry Bivins) early life was anything but whimsical.
Precocious-child-turned-rapper, seaman merchant, filmmaker, and streamer, Sk8tie channels lived experiences of perseverance and self-making through his introspective lyricism — and look not further than on songs such as “Cost Me Alot,” released in June of this year.
Sk8tie’s newest single reflects on his dedication to self-reliance throughout his music career, pouring heaps of his own time, effort, and money into being able to actualize his passion for making and performing his songs. His dedication thus far has snagged him performances all over the south and beyond, as well as features on World Star Hip Hop and The Social Hour radio show.
We were able to get a few words from Sk8tie regarding his songwriting process, the new track, future endeavors, and more.
What’s the story behind your artist name, and what does it represent or mean to you?
Sk8tie represents the person I became through everything I’ve had to go through. It’s more than just an artist name at this point. It’s an identity.
I’ve had different chapters in my life where I’ve had to figure things out on my own, and Sk8tie became the name attached to that journey. When people hear Sk8tie, I want them to think about somebody who isn’t afraid to be different, take risks, and create his own lane.
I’ve never really been interested in being a copy of somebody else. There are artists I respect and people who influenced me, but I want my story to sound like my story. That’s what Sk8tie represents to me—being comfortable enough with who you are to create your own path, even when nobody can see where that path is going.
You’ve talked about caring for your mother from a young age. How did that experience shape you?
That probably shaped me more than anything else I’ve experienced.
My mom had multiple sclerosis, so I had to grow up faster than I should have. I was a kid, but I was also learning what responsibility looked like. I had to understand things about life that a child shouldn’t necessarily have to understand yet. Then losing my mother when I was 14 was another major turning point in my life. When you lose somebody that important that young, it changes the way you look at everything. It made me realize how temporary life can be.
I think that’s part of why I’m so driven now. I know what it feels like to lose something you can never get back. So when I have an opportunity, I don’t want to waste it. And honestly, a lot of my music comes from that place. Sometimes I’m talking about money or ambition, but underneath that, I’m really talking about time. Time is the one thing you can’t earn back.
That’s one of the reasons “Cost Me Alot” means so much to me. Because when I say something cost me a lot, I’m not only talking about dollars. I’m talking about pieces of my life.
“Cost Me Alot” is very personal. What made you decide to open up like that?
I think I reached a point where I couldn’t tell the story without telling the truth. I’ve invested so much into music—financially, emotionally, physically, and mentally. I’ve spent my own money recording, shooting videos, promoting myself, traveling, and trying to create opportunities.
But the biggest cost wasn’t always money. It was time.
I’ve had to work as a merchant seaman and be away from home for long periods of time. I’ve missed things. I’ve sacrificed comfort. I’ve had to choose work over certain things because I knew I needed the money to keep building my dream.
So “Cost Me Alot” became me really sitting down and asking myself: What has this dream actually cost me? And the answer was a lot. But there’s another side to that question: Would I do it again? And I think the answer is yes. That’s what makes the song emotional for me. I’m acknowledging the price without saying I regret paying it.
What has been the most rewarding or exciting moment in your career thus far?
Honestly, the most rewarding thing isn’t one specific award or one specific performance. It’s watching something that I built from nothing start to become real.
I’ve had to invest in myself. There wasn’t a major label handing me a check or somebody financing every part of my career. I’ve had to figure out how to fund the music while still living my life. So when somebody hears a song like “Cost Me Alot” and connects with it, that’s rewarding because they’re connecting with something I sacrificed for.
Getting opportunities like this interview are exciting too because it means the story is traveling beyond my immediate circle. I’m from Jacksonville, and now I’m moving to Atlanta. I’m seeing my story expand geographically while I’m still carrying the same experiences with me. That’s exciting because I feel like I’m finally entering a different chapter.
You’re also a merchant seaman. What inspired that path, and what is it like trying to create music at sea?
Being a merchant seaman wasn’t me giving up on music. It was actually part of how I continued to fund the music. I understood that if I wanted to remain independent, I had to figure out how to finance the vision myself.
The job comes with sacrifices. You’re away from home. You’re working long hours. Sometimes you’re gone for months. There’s a mental challenge that comes with being away from everything familiar. But I learned something from it: you can’t always wait for the perfect circumstances.
That’s actually how I approach music at sea. I built a mobile recording setup so I could continue creating while I’m working. I’m literally taking my studio with me. There’s something almost symbolic about that to me. I’m out in the middle of the ocean, but I’m still working toward something that’s completely different from the life I’m physically living at that moment.
The sea is my workplace, but music is still my dream.
You’re also a streamer, filmmaker, actor, etc. You wear a lot of hats. Why do you juggle so many endeavors and is it a hard balance?
Because I don’t see myself as just one thing. I’ve always had a bigger vision for myself than just being a rapper. Music is probably the center of everything creatively, but streaming gives me a way to connect directly with people. Filmmaking gives me another way to tell stories. Business gives me another way to create financial independence.
And honestly, the merchant seaman job taught me something important: you can have more than one purpose at the same time. It’s definitely hard balancing everything. There are days where I have to work when I’m tired, create when I don’t feel inspired, and sacrifice free time. But I’ve realized that if you want an uncommon life, you have to be willing to do things that most people aren’t willing to do.
I’m trying to build a life where I eventually have the freedom to spend more time creating instead of constantly worrying about how I’m going to pay for the creation.
What else would you like people to know about Sk8tie moving forward?
I want people to understand that they’re not just watching an artist. They’re watching somebody build a life from the ground up.
I’ve had losses. I’ve had setbacks. I’ve had moments where things didn’t work out the way I wanted them to. I’ve had to work jobs while pursuing music. I’ve had to invest my own money. I’ve had to learn things I never thought I’d have to learn. But I never stopped. That’s probably the biggest thing I want people to know. I’m still here.
And I think sometimes people look at where somebody is and don’t understand how much it took to get there. “Cost Me Alot” is really a snapshot of that. It’s me saying, Look, this is what I’ve invested. This is what I’ve sacrificed. This is what I’ve lost. This is what I’ve learned. But I’m not telling the story because I want people to feel sorry for me.
So moving forward, I want people to know that Sk8tie isn’t finished. I’m building something that I hope will outlive me. I don’t just want songs people remember. I want a legacy people can look at and say, He really did this his way.
