The Incomparable Skyler Taylor got game like Denzel, Jesus Shuttlesworth and them. When he’s not dusting off wannabe lyricists, speakers on blast in The Tape Deck with his brother !llmind, he’s playing homebody to some brown sugar muffin cake with golden dimple. It’s a great alternative to pushing metaphors to males all day and night. Read the rest of this entry »

Double O must have known he would be slept-on in 2010, yet that didn’t quell his drive to churn out quality throughout the year. So when he states, If You Didn’t Know…I Produced It, you’ll know he’s not ego-trippin’ but just giving some of you a slick reminder not to snooze on the Kid who wears a holster to keep his drumsticks in. Read the rest of this entry »

While the Golden Age of the producer-MC collaboration lies years in the past, occasionally a group comes through that reminds Hip-Hop heads why the formula was so effective in the first place. 2010’s flashback is Live from the Tape Deck, a glimpse back to the glory days of Gang Starr and Pete Rock & CL Smooth. Brooklyn native Skyzoo and New Jersey’s !llmind craft 12 tracks of expert workmanship, which if not quite reaching those legendary heights goes the distance in doing their geographical roots proud. Read the rest of this entry »

Strength is generally found in numbers and the pairing of one of Hip-Hop’s most studious lyricists along with a divergent producer proves just that. Live From The Tape Deck, the remarkable collaborative LP from Skyzoo and !llmiind, has plenty of heads reminiscing back to the days when all you needed was a JVC stereo and Shell-Toe Adidas to get by. Read the rest of this entry »

When the lyricism, production and overall execution all align to create an ominous glow, you better have the volume all the way turnt up to damage your inner ear canals. I’m talking hearing aids at age 22 type-ish. Screw it. Hip-Hop is in the building by way of Duck Down Records x Skyzoo x !llmind and the speakers are on blast. Read the rest of this entry »

Photo: GvB

On strictly a respect level, Freddie Gibbs has outgrown his freshmen class and has been spotted in the parking lot smoking trees with  alumni for the remix to his mixtape single, “The Ghetto.” With a style that reflects a simpler time in Hip-Hop when it was more about lyrical dexterity and unique flows, not an artist’s crossover appeal and what kind of man bag he had draped over his shoulder; it only makes sense that he recruits two Boot Camp Click members in Sean Price & Tek to help narrate listeners through the inner dwellings of the hood Read the rest of this entry »

“I GUESS HOW IT SET IT off will determine how to finish
Finishin’ this is fine, the finish line is the scrimmage
Scrimmagin’ the design, designin’ is by the witness
Witnessin’ from the side, as I’m driftin’ by to the ending
Ending another stanza by beginning to explain it
Explaining an explanation and waiting while you arrange it Read the rest of this entry »

After running circles around their opposition (and throwing them), Skyzoo & !llmind deem in necessary to get back to the mission and blow out some subwoofers. No Rockford Fosgate® or Kenwood is safe when the B.L.A.P. Master starts to tinker with the bells and whistles in his arsenal. And as for Sky, well, as soon as he hears the beat it’s instant Palov mode. Read the rest of this entry »

Contrary to what you’ve allowed yourself to believe, Marco & Ruste have the East Coast’s premier recording in The eXXecution. There should be no complaints that your Hip-Hop is too soft the way these two have been smearing mud over their peers’ pretty white linen outfits. More grittier than sand in your shoes, the treacherous two rummage through spare car parts for the “Rearview” video in—where else? Read the rest of this entry »

I know and they know you slept on this whirling dervish of lyricism last time out, but here’s the video so you can actually see what Sky & !llmind are saying.  Along with them playing with their favorite Wham-O® toy. Read the rest of this entry »

Although you may have peeped “Popularity” getting a brief guest spot on HBO’s Entourage this week, “Frisbees,” the first taste of Skyzoo’s joint album with producer !llmind, is the best solo dart we’ve heard from the Brooklynite since “The Beautiful Decay.” Read the rest of this entry »

Pharoahe Monch makes an appearance with the first track from his debut Duck Down release, W.A.R. (We Are Renegades) Produced by legendary Diamond D and featuring Mela Machinko, “Shine” will be available at iTunes on 7.27 while the album will follow in September. Read the rest of this entry »

Since I couldn’t make Duck Down’s “Wear White…” party, I wasn’t able to snag one of the promo shirts they were giving out @ the affair. But shouts to NoHa for being considerate of the fact flying up top on short notice would be costly, especially just to get a shirt lol. Fresh from the mailman. So fresh, I didn’t iron…and don’t really plan to. I prefer to walk my wrinkles out. Read the rest of this entry »

Dear Jules,

Please report to the customer service desk to pick up your confirmation information. You and a guest will be receiving free entry to the “It’s Okay To Wear White Again” event. Even though white is the suggested color for the festivities, I’d suggest not wearing anything too expensive. A Duck Down event is a party, not a wallflower convention. Believe that.

Below, bonus footage of executives Buck & NoHa putting in the hard work to help promote the event on the NY streets and then taking a break to shop for the gear for the evening’s festivities. Salute to these dudes & the whole Duck Down family for continuing to hold down the music and culture for fifteen years strong.

Duck Down Records is having a Pre-Memorial Day celebration on Thursday, May 27th @ Le Poisson Rouge in NYC and we’ve got a pair of tickets for one lucky motherlover. All you have to do is drop a comment (when you login, please use a working email address so we can contact you) and your name is in the hat. Tomorrow morning after The Cooler, we’ll reconvene and announce the winner. Read the rest of this entry »