Sky Katz

An 11-year-old rapper from Long Island who appeared on “America’s Got Talent” this year is now spitting bars for a good cause.

Sky Katz, of Melville, has released a powerful new track, titled “Long Way to Go,” in hopes that it helps put an end to the gun violence that’s been sweeping the country.

“I wanna know…if we care about each other could we spare one another, ” she sings. “Can’t stand when we suffer. Could we stand up to trouble, could we handle the struggle, it’s a long way to go.”

The young MC’s lyrics are laid over news clips of President Obama announcing past shootings in the U.S. — including that of Fort Hood in 2009 and the 2011 shooting in Tucson — as well as gun violence protests nationwide.

The song will be featured on Katz’ new album, slated for release in 2017.

The middle-schooler appeared on “AGT” over the summer and nearly made it to the live rounds before being sent home during the second night of the “Judge’s Cuts.”

“You have the whole package,” Howie Mandel told her after her performance. “Not only do you have swag, you have talent. You are a beautiful young lady. You have style. You are going places.” - Chris Perez

Some rappers go Old School. Melville’s Skylar Katz goes to grade school. And Wednesday night on “America’s Got Talent” (NBC/4, 8 p.m.), the 11-year-old rapper who wowed the judges last week is going out there to school them again.

She’d already taught her parents a lesson in chasing one’s dreams. “Unbeknownst to me, Sky submitted a video of herself” to the show’s casting people, says her mom, Frann Katz, a homemaker raising three older kids with her husband, Mike, a podiatrist. “A couple of weeks later, my husband was driving to work and got a call from a producer wanting to follow up. It took him a while to think it wasn’t a friend pulling a prank.”


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From that beginning, “we went to the Queens College audition in November for the panel there,” Frann recalls, referring to the Nov. 14 tryouts where 1,600 singers, dancers, musicians, acrobats, novelty acts and others all strutted their stuff. “Once you impress them there, they invite you to come audition in L.A.,” she says. - Frank Lovece

Having hit the ground running following her stint on this past season of "America's Got Talent" where she dazzled judges all the way to the third round, 11 year old rapper and NY's own Sky Katz has been hard at work making stops on prominent Radio and TV outlets performing and telling her story from her powerful new original track titled "Long Way to Go" denouncing gun violence to her upcoming debut album set to drop in 2017!

Hailing from Long Island NY, Hip-Hop Pioneer and BMI Recording Artist Sky Katz has been hitting the ground running in the music industry since discovering her talent and passion for rapping at the age of 5. Sky has kept the momentum up ever since with her dynamic, witty, and energetic style with an old school chemistry.

Fueled by her insatiable thirst to bring back old school Hip Hop and make a mark in the industry with influences from Hip Hop greats like Nicki Minaj, Drake, Nas, Rakim, and many more in the game, Sky Katz has honed her craft with a very appealing presence and has garnered a very good buzz and following that continues to expand through anyone who discovers her.

With her recent appearance on America's Got Talent, she wowed the panel judges (and audience) with her single "Fresh". Her single "Haters" (A re-vamp of Biz Markie's "Just A Friend") followed suit shortly after, which received critical acclaim and positive reception worldwide. Shortly after this, she obtained thousands of followers from across the globe on her Instagram and YouTube pages, and is currently focused on driving her career forward. With the media taking immense notice- she's made recent appearances on featured on Live It Up! With Donna Drake, Verizon FiOS 1 - Long Island's "Rick's Rising Stars", This Is 50, Pix 11 Morning News, Fox 5's Good Day NY, and has been interviewed by LUCID Magazine, JamSphere, TV Grapevine, 92.3 AMP Radio's ASTRA On the Air, Newsday, the New York Post, and will be featured in an upcoming issue of TIME Magazine for Kids! - Music News Desk