It’s hard to imagine how an MC as lyrically elite as Skyzoo stays focused in today’s music industry. Lucky for the genre, though, he continues to create lush, lyrical masterpieces that are as layered and complex as they are poignant and immediate.
His latest — a collaborative LP with Pete Rock titled Retropolitan — breathes life into the dusty sound of the Golden Era and shines a spotlight on the culture that New York City’s lost to gentrification.
The 12-song project is a love letter to his hometown, complete with an abundance of references and imagery inspired by the Mecca. Many of which are libel to go over your head if you’re not aware. For example, alluding his pen-game to that of iconic graffiti writer Skeme on “Carry On Tradition,” or a rhyme that shouts out famed jazz musician Cannonball Adderley on “Hometown.”
There is even a reference to the legendary Willies Burgers in Harlem — an eatery immortalized in the opening sequence of Paid In Full.
That’s not to say that the LP is a sunny walk down memory lane. The project’s brightest moment — the awe-inspiringly vintage “It’s All Good” — for example, describes being targeted by police following Chinx’s funeral. He further details being harassed by police as young as 12 years old on the song “One Time” featuring Raheem DeVaughn.
Injustices and block life are all elements that make up the culture that cultivated him — and others raised during a finite era in the city’s history. What is so beautiful about this LP is how universally relatable it is.
Gentrification isn’t confined to the five boroughs. It’s a widespread issue that Sky himself noted in an interview with HipHopDX he encountered in his musical travels across the country.
The project doesn’t harp on the topic, though. It’s tastefully woven into the tapestry of the LP, which Pete Rock cooks from a production standpoint. He even comes through with a verse on the ode to flashy jewels of yesteryear, “Truck Jewels.”
https://youtu.be/g5xRai7x7Kg
Breaking down the bars on this LP is an exercise that one could span an entire book. Sky wraps punchlines in double entendres and buries those beneath sometimes obscure references that subtlety beg for research to appreciate their brilliance. His guest list is short, but packs a punch — like the Griselda trio and Elzhi on “Eastern Conference All-Star.”
Albums like Nas’s undeniable classic Illmatic and Pete Rock’s own Mecca & The Soul Brother thrived because of its unabashed ability to articulate life in his world without prescribing to any gimmicks. Retropolitan feels like a modern take. It gives a retrospective context (and sonic second life) to the culture of old New York in an accessible way that doesn’t make anyone feel left out.
It should be noted though that there is a lack of envelope-pushing production-wise. Pete’s beats keep the project firmly planted in the Boom-Bap realm, drenched in a tasteful amount of nostalgia but offering little variance outside of the NYC telescope. While this may effectively keep the LP off the radar for some younger listeners, fitting in has never really been the point of a Skyzoo record.
It’s a lyrically dense affair, which isn’t for everyone. However, for listeners who shun rappity-rap rappers, Sky’s cadence and flow allow you to have different take-aways dependent on your knowledge base.
Whether you’re an old head who fell out of love with Hip Hop or a new head looking for a novel worth of references to lead you down Wikipedia rabbit holes of NYC-centric history, this album is a gem.
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Love the album just wish Zoo slowed it down on a few beats, imagine CL on this??? Damn….. still a 4.5 tho refreshing
Classic 5 hands down
Quality from Start to Finish. 5
Incredibly good. Havent heard anything of this caliber in a while.
Really dope album. Lyrics and beats are in point as expected. No skips. Straight heat. 4.5/5. I’m looking forward to the Pete Rock and Yukmouth album…
How n why would that happen??? Yuk never did boom bap
It’s funny how you state that basically it doesn’t have any trap sounding/southern beats to appeal to the youngsters but never say that southern artist don’t have enough Boom Bap beats to appease true hip hop heads. The irony
Fantastic album. A good nod to real hip-hop. Skyzoo is a great MC, and you know what your getting from Pete Rock, consistent great beats! Only Bandana and Eve have impressed me more this year
Stop it! Eve doesn’t deserve to be mentioned with the other two albums and Retropolitan is clearly the best of the 3
skyzoo flow is really smooth definitely one of the most slept on but this isn’t a banger in the whip type album this is listen to with headphones and vibe type album
It’s hard to rate an album of this level in a week. I thought the comment about how you thought pete rock didn’t go outside the box was amateurish. It’s pretty clear on what the concept was, and they completely bodied it. It’s only going to get better and better with repeats. Remember classic albums in the 90’s weren’t made to be fast food.
Just to note, I had this album well over a month before it dropped. They absolutely bodied this; my comment wasn’t a knock at Pete, as much as it was just to say that it doesn’t fit in to the “commercial wave” (so to speak).
But, like I said, that is NEVER the point of a Skyzoo record. Also, you’re right. The more you listen, the more you pick up. Great body of work.
Hip hop has no commercial wave right now. 99% of these kids aren’t hip hop. You should be using this to album to create a hip hop wave. I’m sure their is a lot of ppl who have given up on hip hop would love to hear this. I don’t want SK to do football numbers but he should be a major factor in hop hop culture.
His last album was a classic. This one is fire. He has to be in the conversation now for the modern emcee.
Skyzoo & Pete Rock was the perfect match for this project. this album is fantastic from start to finish. The replay value for this album is very high.
Pete Rock & Skyzoo is a combination that will never disappointed.
Man… as soon as it started wit that classic soul brotha#1 sound. Volume went way up in the car. No real skips for me fuckin all the way thru. Fuck that other shit, da baby, Kevin gates, young thug n young lil whatevers. True to the core
Best album of the year
Love the album! Hate the name. There nothing Retro about this. This is how your suppose to sound. It just seems to imply throwing in the towel to this made up manufactured industry BS Rap.
Man this album is amazing. Skyzoo is consistent. One of the best albums of the year for sure.
4.4 gtfoh!!!! This is a 5. Point blank pidd!!!!!!
Absolutely loved this album man his last album is a a classic too. New York has a lot of great music at the moment.
From Benny the butcher to skyzoo to joell Ortiz. A lot of music out now which I’m bumpin’.
Love it. My favourite album at the moment. Dope. Definitely cop this.
Hahhaha love the name. Hahhaha
This should have been atleast a 4.7. Great album. Never really heard of skyzoo before this album so I’m gonna check out his other stuff.
Best NY Hip Hop album since the Blueprint, and Sky been a top-flight emcee who don’t get enuff mainstream pub! New King of New York…Brooklyn Stand Up!
This album is fire. I’m surprise y’all reviewed this album. I thought y’all only reviewed down south music. Anyway love this album. My favorite of the year.
WHOA!!! Amazing LP!!!
TBH I can tire of a SkyZoo project. His flow is chock full of content, but not a lot of variety with delivery.
I loved his Barrel Brothers joint with Torae as they balanced each other well.
Here the beats and samples give pause to Skyzoos straight delivery and so I think it is an excellent paring.
Pete Rock is a legend, first ballot hip hop hall of fame and he brings it here, and Skyzoo raps his pants off all in the name
of the sacred Golden Era.
Just listened to this album and this is modern classic. Must listen for anyone that loves hip hop. Wow.
Amazing album. One of the best of the year
This is my fav album that has come out in the past few years easy. Didn’t really know about skyzoo but am really impressed by him. And glad to see Pete rock is still doing Pete rock.
Best album of 2019. Wish I heard it earlier
Classic album. This generations Illmatic. That’s how good it is. Honestly.