2009. On February 17, 2010, Skeme released his third official mixtape, All Rap'd Up, hosted by DJ Ill Will. During those early years, he forged friendships with Los Angeles-area rappers such as Kendrick Lamar, Nipsey Hussle and Dom Kennedy. On October 19, 2010, Skeme released his fourth official mixtape Pistols and Palm Trees. He recorded the entire mixtape at Top Dawg Entertainment's studio in Carson, California. It featured collaborations with Tyga, Ty Dolla Sign, Dom Kennedy and Kendrick Lamar. On the strength of that mixtape, Skeme begun building his buzz. 2011–2013: The Statement and Alive and Living On May 19, 2011, Skeme released his fifth mixtape The Statement. It featured collaborations with Casey Veggies and Dom Kennedy, with production by Boi-1da, Bink! and The Futuristiks, among others. Later that year, on November 29, Skeme released his sixth mixtape Before My Next Statement. With basketball player Baron Davis, Skeme started a Los Angeles-based entertainment management company named L.A. UNFD. Then he signed a one-album deal with RBC Records to release his debut studio album. On October 10, 2012, Skeme revealed that track listing for his debut album, titled Alive & Living. The album contained guest appearances by Iggy Azalea, Schoolboy Q, Kendrick Lamar, Dom Kennedy and Problem. The album's production was handled by Boi-1da, The Futuristiks, DJ Mustard, THC, and DJ Dahi. The album was then released digitally on October 16, 2012. It was supported by the singles "Ain't Bout Dat Life" and "Kidz With Gunz", the latter which featured Schoolboy Q. In April 2013, Skeme told Bruce Smith of HipHopDX that he was in talks with Top Dawg Entertainment about signing to their record label. He commented on it saying, "It's yet to be seen where exactly I’m gonna go. I'm just trying to make the right move. The next move has to be the best one. [...] With that being said, I am very close to TDE, them is the homies, and we are in heavy talks. It could be something." He later stated that he chose not to sign to TDE, out of the concern he would get lost in the mix, or overshadowed, wanting instead to remain independent and build his brand more. Skeme also revealed that he had been in talks with Def Jam Recordings, Universal and Roc Nation about record deals during 2013. However, he stated that he was in no rush to sign to