Secret Agent 23 Skidoo facts for kids

Secret Agent 23 Skidoo, also known as SAS23, is a hip-hop artist from Asheville, North Carolina, USA. He won a Grammy Award for his music. Since 2008, he has been making hip-hop music especially for kids.

Before making music for children, he spent ten years touring the country as a rapper and producer with a group called Granola Funk Express. He released his first hip-hop album for kids in 2008.

Secret Agent 23 Skidoo has been a spokesperson for important reading programs. He promoted the New York State Library System Children's Summer Reading Program. He also worked with the US Library System Collaborative Summer Library Program in 2010. You might have heard his voice or seen him in commercials. These promoted summer reading at libraries across the country. He has performed for kids in many libraries and schools.

He also helps with charity music projects. He was part of "Many Hands: Family Music for Haiti." This project helped people after the 2010 Haiti earthquake. He also contributed to "Science Fair," an album that supports science and engineering education for girls. This album won a Parents' Choice Award. In 2018, Skidoo helped create Hold Tight, Shine Bright. This album raised money for immigrant children. He also performed at the Camp Fire Benefit Jam to help Californians affected by wildfires.

Albums and Their Messages

Secret Agent 23 Skidoo has released many albums. He had ten No. 1 radio hits on XM/Sirius Kids Place Live! He has performed at big events like Kidzapalooza and Austin Kiddie Limits. He also played at the Winnipeg Folk Festival and the Smithsonian Museum.

Early Albums

He released his first two albums, Easy (2008) and Underground Playground (2010), on Happiness Records.

• Easy encourages kids to be themselves. It helps them overcome fears and appreciate family. It also teaches about healthy living and having fun.
• On Underground Playground, he encourages kids to respect what makes them unique. He wants them to live life to the fullest. Songs include “Ride the Butterflies” and “Speak the Truth.” The national Fids and Kamily poll ranked Underground Playground as one of the best kids' albums of 2010.

Grammy-Nominated Albums

Make Believers was released in 2012. Its themes include curiosity and individuality. It also teaches that love is stronger than fear.

• "Magic Beans" tells the classic Jack and the Beanstalk story in a new way.
• "Hot Sauce" encourages kids to try new things.
• "Gotta Be You" talks about being the kind of person you would want as a friend.
• "Back Home" is a song for everyone who has a pet.

The Perfect Quirk came out in 2015. This album was nominated for a Grammy Award.

• The album starts with the song "You're It."
• "Imaginary Friend" introduces a special character. It helps listeners think in new ways. This song also inspired an animated film.

Infinity Plus One was released in 2017. This album won a Grammy Award for Best Children's Album. It has a space theme. The album even includes real sounds from space. These are electromagnetic signals from Earth. The Voyager spacecraft recorded them in 1977.

Recent Albums

Wake up the Dream was released in 2018.

Books

Secret Agent 23 Skidoo has also written books:

• What's It Like In The Stars (2007)
• Weirdo Calhoun and the Odd Men Out (2015)
• Word Is Born (2021)

Awards and Recognition

Secret Agent 23 Skidoo has received several awards for his work.

• At the 59th Grammy Awards, he won a Grammy for Best Children's Album. This was for his album Infinity Plus One.
• His album The Perfect Quirk was nominated for Best Children's Album at the 57th Grammy Awards.
• His book Weirdo Calhoun and the Odd Men Out won a Silver award. This was at the 2014 Moonbeam Awards.

Discography

• 2008 Easy
• 2010 Underground Playground
• 2012 Make Believers
• 2014 The Perfect Quirk
• 2016 Infinity Plus One
• 2017 Mozartistic (with Asheville Symphony Orchestra)
• 2018 Wake Up the Dream
• 2020 The Figments of Polyglot: Mixtapes 1-12
• 2021 The Beat Bach Symphonies (with Asheville Symphony Orchestra)

Collaborations

Secret Agent 23 Skidoo has worked with other artists on albums and songs.

Collaborative Albums

• 2010 Many Hands: Family Music for Haiti
• 2011 All About Bullies, Big and Small
• 2012 Science Fair
• 2018 Hold Tight, Shine Bright

Collaborative Songs

• 2011 – “Look Both Ways” with Egg
• 2011 – “Froggie Went A Courtin’” with Joanie Leeds and the Nightlights
• 2011 – “Cooperate” with Sugar Free Allstars
• 2014 – “Together” with Moona Luna
• 2014 – “You Are Beautiful” with Robbie Schaefer
• 2015 – “I <3 Ur Face” with Josh and the Jamtones
• 2018 – “Are You Afraid of the Dark?” with Lucy Kalantari and the Jazz Cats
• 2019 – “Rock This World”, with Mista Cookie Jar
• 2019 – “Shadow” with The Pop Ups
• 2019 – “Everybody’s Crazy” with Formidable Vegetable
• 2019 – “Leaders of the World” with Renee & Friends, Addi Rose and Amelia Dektor
• 2020 – “Laugh At Life” with Secret Agent Hi-Fi