Rap music is perceived by many to be a youth-driven obsession and the current state of radio reflects its primary audience as becoming younger and younger with each passing year. One major effect of this demographic shift has been the popularization of the rapper-singer. The person in question barely shows any substantial lyrical ability besides cleverly repeating mind-numbing hooks over Electronica-driven beats with enough bass to shatter a glass house. Does this paradigm shift box the lyrical emcee out? Skillz doesn’t think so.
In a way, the Virginian does achieve his goal of bringing skills back the table by remaining surprisingly upbeat and honest, giving thoughtful anecdotes about life’s many challenges and dropping wise gems in a world where most artists would rather share their talentless exploits without ever growing out of their adolescent immaturity. For instance, take the “Call Me Crazy”
(featuring Raheem DeVaughn). Without sounding completely saccharine or overtly sexual, Skillz does his best to get his grown man on and expresses his desire for a beautiful female with poetic precision. Another satisfying cut, “Going Up,” finds the onetime Supafriendz leader dismissing hateful critics who value ageism and negative imagery as opposed to real talent and honesty. According to him, “There’s only one way to go” when you have so much to offer the audience in desperate need of hearing lyrical substance. Last but not least, “Adam” is one of the most poignant songs the wordsmith has ever written and finds him reminiscing over the passing of Adam Goldstein (a/k/a DJ AM), the Los Angeles-based deejay best known for his massive sneaker collection and deft mash-up skills. At one point he even stops rhyming and recalls his most cherished moments with AM, something of a rarity in a world where mindless hooks seems to have replaced genuine honesty in Rap music.
The only drawback seems to be when the messages on The World Needs More Skillz becomes too close to validating his O.G. status as a lyricist who is in desperate need of respect. Unfortunately, he sounds less convincing as a battle-hungry emcee than when he plays the role of the wise lyrical mentor to his younger colleagues, as evidenced by the title track. Over a half-baked imitation Neptunes beat, Skillz displays his virtuosity in a way that might seem a bit negative and overboard, making it blatantly obvious that rappers need to be themselves instead of sounding like whoever is hot on the radio. This is all well and good, but we’ve heard this many times before from a plethora of 1990s esteemed lyricists. He falls into the same sour trap on “Flash of Genius” where he discusses cookie-cutter artists and vehemently denounces their inability to reach his high-level of lyricism if they remain obsessed by the mediocrity of today’s Rap music. Like the aforementioned track, it might seem unnecessary at this point to talk down to them, considering his previous achievements in the past and the fact that he needs the support of the younger fans if he wants to keep his career in good shape.
When it comes to the art of rhyming, there is no denying that Skillz is the man to beat. On his latest full-length offering, The World Needs More Skillz, the Virginia veteran gladly demonstrates his immense lyrical skills with otherworldly wisdom reserved for a grown-folks audience. The only time he falters in bringing lyricism back is when he forgoes his buoyant optimism for the negativity of proving that he is way better than all the hook-happy rappers you currently hear on commercial radio – which is a major overkill to those who are already aware of his old school credentials. In the end, Skillz keeps it real in ways that many can’t and for that, Hip Hop is so much better for it. Now, that’s something worth singing about.
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