Born and raised in Selma, until placed into foster care (due to child abuse and drug abuse) by Oregon state, it seemed as if Skribbal (birth name: Gabriel Griffie) was destined to turn out much like the majority of the youth of the small, drug-infested town. However, being placed into the foster home would prove to be beneficial. Skribbal would soon be relocated to the Los Angeles County, in California, to live with his grandparents, who had agreed to take him in. It was there that he would find his love for family, music, and most importantly, his love for God!
2007 was the year that Skribbal began to take himself seriously as a hip hop artist. With several independent demo releases throughout 2007, it was 2008’s “Social Experiment” mixtape that would get people talking. It was this initial release that would get Skribbal known as a well-focused, driven Christian hip hop artist. With guest appearances by the likes of Playdough (Deepspace5) and Philly-native B.e.r.i.d.o.x. – Skribbal was able to gain substantial radio play and an ever-building fan base. Not only was he now a recognizable artist (or as he’d prefer, “music minister,”) he was soon voted as the second most influential Christian hip hop artist out of Oregon, by nearly 14, 000 people.
With a strong release under his belt, Skribbal began to perform at venues, clubs, churches and various performing spots. Since gaining a name for himself, he has shared the stage with such well-known (and respected) artists such as Slug (of Atmosphere), Sage Francis, and Pigeon John. The opportunity would soon rise for Skribbal to open for Grits…however, because of the situation at the time, it was unable to happen.
It was in the summer of 2009, that underground hip hop artist, Illustrate, would offer Skribbal a record contract for Rezurrected Muzic. Now, with a label backing him, Skribbal is well on his way to reaching more and more with his passionate lyrics and his love for spreading the word of Christ to the youth…really, to anyone who will take the time to listen.
“I found God in the summer of 2006. I really didn’t start taking my Christianity seriously until, I’d say, about late 2007. Not to say that I’m a perfect, tender loving Christian who walks around with a Bible and says ‘bless you’ all the time! I’m human, and there’s not one day that goes by that I don’t sin. But, the difference between being a Christian, and being a Christian who is dedicated, is acknowledging your sins and asking for God’s forgiveness. The difference between who I was, even in 2008, and has drastically changed, because I have allowed God to work my heart. I love making music, but I’ve come to realize that if I’m putting more work, attention and focus on it, and placing God second, the music has to go…at least until I get myself straight and place God above everything.”
