Skyzoo knows a thing or two about making the most out of the holidays. The Brooklyn MC just celebrated his 40th birthday, which happens to fall on Christmas Eve.
“Happy birthday to me. Honored and blessed to see 40 today. A milestone bday for sure but to me every year is a milestone, as each one checked off is a blessing. Thankful indeed. 12/24 kids for the win. Capricorn SZN. God is the greatest,” he wrote in an Instagram caption. The Retropolitan rhymer hoisted a “40” Jersey with some childhood photos to stamp the occasion.
AD LOADING...
“My birthday, ironically, is on Christmas Eve,” he tells HipHopDX. “So I always got sorta shorted on my birthday because I would get to open one gift on the 24th and then open the rest on the 25th. But I never lacked for much, so it didn’t phase me because Christmas always covered up for what my birthday wasn’t.”
As for Christmas, young Skyler got to double dip on yuletide cheer, as his parents split when he was just a toddler.
“My favorite Christmas memories growing up have always been the fact that even though I lived in two separate households, I always had more than enough from both of my parents,” he shares. “I would have Christmas at one parent’s house and then later that night or the next day I’d get to somewhat do it all over again at the other parent’s house.”
AD LOADING...
One Christmas present that he still holds in high regard is a Sony “My First Walkman” that he got as a kid. While Sony’s first portable tape players went on sale in 1979, the kid-friendly “My First” series was introduced in 1987. The players were aimed at younger audiences, with rounded shapes, big buttons and lots of chunky plastic and rubber that could survive a drop.
“I wrote all my first raps off that. I was 9,” he remembers. “Popped my Chi ali tape three times in that.”
The Atlanta transplant counts opening his restaurant, The Burger Bistro, among his 2022 accomplishments.
“Opening my restaurant, The Burger Bistro, has been a whirlwind of an experience. It’s been a huge blessing but it’s also been one of the most intense things I’ve ever done. But again, it’s a blessing. ‘A good problem’ as one Marlo Stanfield would say.”
As previously reported, Sky is also getting ready to release his Snowfall inspired Mind Of A Saint project at the top of 2023.
“It’s a concept album, so it’s me stepping into the shoes of a fictional character based on realistic times and situations,” he says of his musical ode to fictional TV kingpin Franklin Saint. “I had a blast writing this album, as it’s from a different creative standpoint that you guys will understand once you press play.”
AD LOADING...
Skyzoo is no stranger to reimagining the fictional depictions of the drug underworld in music, sprinkling references to The Wire throughout his discography. In fact, on an episode of Talib Kweli’s People’s Party Podcast, he dared to answer whether Snowfall was better than The Wire.
“That’s a Jordan/Kobe question,” he said after exhaling. “I’m a huge Snowfall fan and I got on late. When I saw what it was about, that’s right up my alley. As much as I’m this English major guy I grew up in this certain place with these guys. That’s my thing. I’m emotionally invested in it. But The Wire is everything for me. I think The Wire is the greatest show ever.”
Check out HipHopDX’s pick for best Hip Hop TV Show of 2022 here!
