MCing is becoming more fashionable as of late and Skyzoo That Dude makes sure he steps into the booth with the Nike Air Foamposites every time he wants to spaz on the track. Modeling his steez after Anfernee in his prime, the slept-on flavor of N*E*R*D’s “God Bless Us All” gets makeshifted into a tongue-twisting lecture for the second entry in The Penny Freestyle Series (“Otis” was the first). Read the rest of this entry »

The Tape Deckers are back on the road again in their continous conquest of championing Skyzoo That Dude as a chief commentator. If you think that was a lot of C’s, I have one more for you in: candy. Eye candy to be exact. Director Kenneth Price subtley makes Sky’s lucious lemon drop sidekick the primary focus of the clip, allowing the NYC platter of high grade lyricism to come in for the second course. Read the rest of this entry »

So far, everything about The Great Debater has been excellent. “The Definitive Prayer” kicked things off with a bang a little less than a month ago, as Skyzoo put on a dazzling display of lyrical skill. As the weeks passed, he continued to drop strong tracks, only increasing my excitement about this project. Hell, even the Cosby-inspired art that accompanied each release was unique and cool. Now, finally, the mixtape is here. Read the rest of this entry »

No one delivers a verse quite like Skyzoo. The man dodges and weaves through the beat like he’s trying to make it out of a crowded subway car, rapping in dizzying, yet precise, paths. But despite this, everything he pens is controlled, fluid, easy. “Test Drive” shows the MC’s style in full effect. Read the rest of this entry »

There’s a fine line between transformations and transitions, one that Boaz has keyed in on to become the focal point of his career in 2011. Most thirsty rappers would rather see an overnight makeshift. One that would have them looking like the act that’s a step in front of them. Yet Boaz maintains his hungriness–as exhibited on the !illmind-produced “Do It For Ya,” for example–to motivate his hustle. Read the rest of this entry »

This was ready to roll on Friday, but for most of us, I figured Emilio Rojas’ empowering “Champion” video might be a better fit after punching out of a long Monday on the clock. Directed by Redd Pen Media and featuring the NY native living out his dreams of damnation for those who push us to the brink, this Life Without Shame feature fulfills our fantasies visually, Read the rest of this entry »

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 »

At long last the hypnotic flow & piano line combo that comprise the swan song on Skyzoo & !llmind’s Live From The Tape Deck comes to life. Directer Kenneth Price put together a crisp set of visuals that add another layer to a song that was already as cinematic as you can get without pushing the record button on a camera. Read the rest of this entry »

NYC stand up. Your subwoofers are about to be lyrically inclined with a verbal blitzkrieg from Queens and Brooklyn leading the charge. Still going strong from peddling cassettes for a healthy amount of cigarettes, Skyzoo & !llmind invite the hungeriest G-Unit member and Maino a.k.a. “Slap-A-Jenks” into the cypher for some 4th quarter heat. Read the rest of this entry »

My boo is mad that I’m buzzin’, she’s scared that I’m movin’ on/A stubborn mothaf#cka, I stuck with her just to prove her wrong…

I think it was Maurice Garland who tweeted this awhile back: isn’t it odd how “FTW” (for the win) and “WTF” (what the f#ck) use the same letters to describe completely different emotions? This ain’t got nothing to do with nothing, I just thought that I should mention. Respect to Weezy. Read the rest of this entry »

– Tins traced “The Evolution Of Mood Muzik,” right on the heels of Budden’s Mood Muzik 4 release.

– The NBA season is early so here are “12 Things To Watch” as well as a look back @ Jordan, Kobe…Shawn Kemp as well as other “Influential Missed Opportunities.” 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 »

“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 »