Secret Agent 23 Skidoo facts for kids

Secret Agent 23 Skidoo is a Grammy Award-winning hip-hop musician from Asheville, North Carolina, United States. He creates and performs hip-hop music especially for children. He has been making music for kids since 2008.

Before he started making music for kids, Secret Agent 23 Skidoo toured for ten years as a rapper and producer. His first hip-hop album for children was released in 2008.

He is also the official spokesman for the New York State Library System Children's Summer Reading Program. He also speaks for the US Library System Collaborative Summer Library Program. You might hear or see him on the radio and in TV ads across the country. He encourages kids to join summer reading programs at libraries. He has performed for children in libraries and schools all over the United States.

Secret Agent 23 Skidoo also helps with music projects for good causes. He was part of "Many Hands: Family Music for Haiti" after the 2010 Haiti earthquake. He also contributed to "Science Fair," an album that supports science and engineering education for girls. This album even won a Parents' Choice Award. In 2018, he helped with Hold Tight, Shine Bright, an album to help immigrant children. He also played at concerts like the Camp Fire Benefit Jam to help people affected by wildfires in California.

Music Albums

Secret Agent 23 Skidoo has released many albums. His first two albums, Easy (2008) and Underground Playground (2010), were released on Happiness Records. He has had ten songs reach No. 1 on the XM/Sirius Kids Place Live! radio station. He has performed at big events like Kidzapalooza, Austin Kiddie Limits, and the Smithsonian Museum.

Album Themes

His first album, Easy, encourages kids to be themselves. It also helps them overcome fears, appreciate family, live healthy, and have fun.

On Underground Playground, he teaches kids to respect what makes each person special. He also encourages them to live life to the fullest. This album includes songs like “Ride the Butterflies” and “Speak the Truth.” The national judges for Fids and Kamily poll ranked Underground Playground as one of the best kids' music albums of 2010.

Make Believers was released in 2012. This album talks about being curious and unique. It also shares the message that love is stronger than fear. Songs like "Magic Beans" give a new look at classic stories. "Hot Sauce" encourages kids to try new things. "Gotta Be You" reminds us to be the kind of person we'd want as a friend.

The Perfect Quirk came out in 2015 and was nominated for a Grammy Award. The album starts with "You're It." "Imaginary Friend" introduces a unique character and new ways of thinking. This song even 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 and even includes real sounds from space. These sounds are electromagnetic signals from Earth recorded by the Voyager spacecraft in 1977.

His album Wake up the Dream was released in 2018.

Books Written

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

Awards and Recognition

At the 59th Grammy Awards, Secret Agent 23 Skidoo won a Grammy for Best Children's Album. This award was for his album Infinity Plus One. Before that, 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 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