LIL SKIES
African-American (father), White American (mother) — biracial
Quick Facts
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Lil Skies — heritage & background
Lil Skies Ethnicity, Race & Heritage: Is He Mixed Race? Full Background Explained
Quick answer: Yes — Lil Skies is biracial. His father, Michael Burton Jr. (rapper "Dark Skies"), is African-American, while his mother, Shelby Foose, is White/Caucasian. He was born and raised in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania.
Is Lil Skies Mixed Race? Is He Biracial?
Yes — Lil Skies is biracial. He was born to an African-American father and a White mother in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. His mixed-race background is visible in his appearance and has been discussed in media coverage of his background.
What Is Lil Skies' Ethnicity?
Lil Skies' ethnicity is biracial — African-American on his father's side and White/Caucasian on his mother's. He grew up in Waynesboro, a small town in south-central Pennsylvania, in a creative household. His father is a rapper known as "Dark Skies" who introduced him to music from a young age.
Lil Skies has spoken openly about the difficulty of his upbringing — including the period when his father suffered severe third-degree burns in a chemical plant explosion. Despite these challenges, his mixed heritage and musical upbringing combined to produce one of the more distinctive voices in modern rap.
Father's Side: African-American Roots
Lil Skies' father, Michael Burton Jr., performed under the rap name "Dark Skies" and was a struggling musician in the Waynesboro, Pennsylvania area. He is African-American and introduced his son to the recording studio from an early age, writing and recording music with him as a father-son project. In 2010, Michael suffered third-degree burns in a chemical explosion at a Rust-Oleum plant near Williamsport, Maryland — an event that tested the family deeply. Lil Skies and his father later recorded a joint album called "Father-Son Talk." Michael Burton Jr.'s parents (Lil Skies' paternal grandparents) have not been publicly identified.
Mother's Side: White American Roots
Lil Skies' mother is Shelby Foose, a White American woman. Her importance to her son's life is commemorated in Lil Skies' debut studio album, released in 2018 and titled "Shelby" — named directly after her. Specific details about Shelby Foose's family background and grandparents have not been publicly documented.
Grandparents: A Complete Picture
Paternal Grandfather: Unknown — African-American heritage.
Paternal Grandmother: Unknown — African-American heritage.
Maternal Grandfather: Unknown — White American heritage.
Maternal Grandmother: Unknown — White American heritage.
Lil Skies in His Own Words
"My dad had me in the studio all the time. He's the reason I started rapping. Everything I do is for my family." — Lil Skies, various interviews
Lil Skies has consistently credited his father's influence as the driving force behind his musical career. The depth of his appreciation for both parents is reflected in the naming of his debut album after his mother and the collaborative album he made with his father.
Is Lil Skies Alive?
Yes, Lil Skies is alive. Born August 4, 1998, he is 27 years old as of 2026. He continues to release music and remains active in the rap industry.
Visual Family Tree
Kimetrius Christopher Foose (Lil Skies)
(African-American / White American)
Michael Burton Jr.
("Dark Skies") (African-American; rapper, Pennsylvania)
[Unknown]
[Unknown]
Shelby Foose
(White American; Pennsylvania)
[Unknown]
[Unknown]
Sources
Family Background
- Wikipedia — Lil Skies: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lil_Skies
- The Famous People — "Lil Skies Biography": https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/lil-skies-41869.php
EthniCelebrity Research Team
Ethnicity & Heritage Writers
Our team specialises in researching and documenting the ethnic backgrounds, nationality, and ancestry of public figures — drawing on genealogical records, interviews, and verified biographical sources.