Patience and determination lead Richmond native to first Grammy win

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — A Richmond musician has received his first Grammy after working on the album of a fellow Richmond-native rapper.

Richmond-native Shaqwan Lewis, also known as rapper “Mad Skillz,” took home his first Grammy award for “Best Spoken Word Poetry Album” at this year’s 68th annual Grammy Awards.

The album showcases several musicians from Virginia’s music scene, including producer Alexander Mack, who helped bring the Grammy-winning project to life. Mack described the win as the culmination of years of hard work, dedication and patience.

“I still haven’t really wrapped my head around it,” Mack said. “I woke up and spent about three hours just looking at the ceiling, trying to figure out what life is. I know this is a historical time for Virginia.”

The 32-year-old musician has been steadily building his career for years, performing at college shows and collaborating with fellow artists since 2017. Two years later, a key opportunity arrived when Mad Skillz took notice of his work.

“I was in my parents’ basement working on a song and got back on Instagram,” Mack recalled. “I saw that he had followed me. Of course, I knew who Skillz was, especially if you’re from here.”

In 2025, Mack joined the project, describing the recording process as one large jam session rather than a carefully planned production.

“None of that music was planned when we went in,” he said. “That’s the most unique thing about this album.”

Mack credited Mad Skillz for curating the creative environment that made the album successful, saying the artist carefully selected musicians and producers who worked well together in the studio.

Reflecting on his journey, Mack shared advice for aspiring artists hoping to break into the industry.

“You never know who’s watching you, so always keep working,” he said. “Life can change quickly. Being consistent and never giving up really matters.”

The ceremony featured achievements from other Virginia artists including Pharrell Williams winning the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award to legendary rap duo “Clipse” taking home best rap performance. Country artist Shaboozey took home best gospel-country song.