RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Richmond rapper and native Mad Skillz, or Shaqwuan Lewis, has been captivating audiences with his smooth lyrics and rapping style for more than 30 years. He's often credited for putting Richmond and Virginia on the map for hip-hop. And now, for the first time as an artist, he's celebrating a Grammy nomination for his latest album, "The 7 Number Ones." The album takes listeners through seven pivotal moments in the rapper's life that he says shaped him into the musician and man that he is today. And this time, instead of rapping, Skillz is slowing down the pace with spoken word poetry. "When something happens for the first time — it's a memory that stays with you..... good or bad. In that ideology, I had a project... I wanted to talk about seven things that happened in my life — that changed the trajectory of my life," Skillz told 8News Anchor Autumn Childress. "I think everyone can relate to it — and people listen and start thinking about their number ones." Skillz calls the album his most vulnerable yet. The seven-track project dives into Skillz on a deeper level, from the first time his parents met, to the first time he discovered hip-hop and fell in love, and becoming a father. In fact, he tells 8News, the project was so personal, he almost let fear interfere with its release. "When I listened to it, I thought this is too personal. Twelve hours before this came out, it was on the chopping block. Then I hit the button... and look where we are," Skillz said. Skillz was once nominated for a Grammy as a writer on Nicki Minaj's "The Pinkprint;" however, this is his first nomination as an artist. He says the moment was surreal, and is one that he shares with other creators from the 804. "I share this nomination with five other creators in the City that are amazing artists in their own right," Skillz said. "I'm probably more happy for them than I am with myself. Them participating in a Grammy album is huge — and its no better than to do with your homies and your friends from your hometown." "When we win this, it's a win for the city and the artists and creators," Skillz added, saying Richmond means everything to him. "It's home. It's a love for a city because I've been here for every facet. From "Richmond... to "Cap City" to "The R" to "RVA." I've seen this City progress and it's so many things for creators that we didn't have before." The final round for voting opened on Dec 12. The Grammy's will air in Los Angeles on Feb. 2, 2025. Skillz is hoping the project will encourage people to live in their truth. "Sometimes it's ok to speak your truth and be vulnerable," Skillz said.