Skyzoo’s fourth proper solo album, In Celebration Of Us, continues his win streak of fully realized collections where effortless virtuosic lyricism and dynamic sounds blend effortlessly.
His past albums were always autobiographical. They explored his childhood, which lingered somewhere between the Huxtables of The Cosby Show and the Evanses of Good Times. (Firmly established through his brilliant 2012 EP, Theo vs. J.J. (Dreams vs. Reality).)
In Celebration Of Us is a tad different. Here, the Brooklyn MC unspools observations culled from his upbringing but also offers up more social commentary than ever, touching on police brutality, gentrification and cultural appropriation, among other things. It straddles the line between the gritty and urbane, like Brooklyn in the 2010s. Plus, some tracks on here are so tough they might compel you to make the “stink face.”
Such is the case with the lead single, “Baker’s Dozen,” which features Raheem DeVaughn. Past album co-collaborator Apollo Brown supplies a hard, driving piano loop for Skyzoo to offer up his thoughts about the corner in the midst of upheaval. DeVaughn’s hook, “Bake the Cake, bake the cake, bake the cake, cut a piece…” is infectious.
!llmind, another past album co-collaborator, composes the vintage “Crown Holder,” which harkens back to 90s jazz-rap and finds Skyzoo, as always, firmly in pocket. But the urgency picks up on Tuamie’s “Heirlooms & Accessories,” which not coincidentally, is also the name of the Kerry James Marshall photographic exhibit about lynching and violence. A gorgeous soundscape gives way to a melancholic piano loop as Skyzoo delves deeper into the tenuous state of black life in America.
In light of the recent H&M controversy involving a black child model wearing a “coolest monkey in the jungle” hoodie, “Black Sambo” feels like an appropriate rebuttal, for he revealed that In Celebration Of Us is a cautionary tale for his son, of what it means to be a young, black male growing up in hostile environs.
Other highlights include Marc Nfinit’s “Forever In A Day,” a dulcet experience and “Parks & Recreation” simply shimmers. Saba Abraha’s lovely chorus on the latter feels like summer in Prospect Park when the sun kisses your skin. (You may have to be from Brooklyn to fully comprehend that).
As a hearty, hearty offering, In Celebration Of Us’ dense rhymes and nuanced sonics sacrifice accessibility on occasion. The spoken word interlude — “Remembering The Rest” alongside Words & Curves — feels out of place even as a set up for the coinciding record “The Purpose.” Given the ever-evolving landscape of the culture in contrast to Skyzoo’s traditional ethos, the project will likely get passed over in bigger conversations of Hip Hop’s elite.
But hey, Skyzoo knows his audience and those loyal listeners will understand that In Celebration Of Us isn’t a grab bag of songs. Rather, it strives to be an artistic statement and its full grandeur is unveiled only through repeated listens (capable attention spans withstanding).
It’s music to reflect a violent, racist, fearful, hopeful, exultant, expectant and glorious era. Rejoice.
This is a fucking masterpiece 5
I’m one that doesn’t use the word classic loosely. It’s been a very long time since I’ve said an album is a certified classic until today I heard Skyzoos album from beginning to end and to be real from what I heard this album is a true hip hop classic hands down. Skyzoo seems to get better every time he drops an album and never disappoints. I can say that he has reached his peak and has made his own illmatic in his own right. This album is definitely without a doubt a 5 mic not a 4.4 but a 5 mic. I haven’t felt so good and so refreshed after hearing a true hip hop album in a long time until now. This album is some true grown man hip hop. Much respect to Skyzoo who is very underrated as an emcee. CLASSIC!!!!
Blasphemy. Likewise I don’t like throwing classic around, but this was as good as it gets. I agree with the writer about the spoken word piece, but the abrupt nature and the comedy of Sky’s reaction fits the bill of everyday life.
Classic.
YO HIPHOPDX, YOU SHOULD REVIEW SWOOPE’S SONSHINE XD
SHOUT OUT TO SKYZOO AND HIS DOPE ALBUM THO 😀
Skyzoo has delivered another masterpiece from top to bottom. can y’all review Planet Asia – The Golden Buddha when y’all get a chance.
This was just great – the best hip hop album I heard in a long time. Solid 5!
I’ve been trying to get into this dude for like 10 years. Give his albums listen after listen and still can’t feel him. Somebody take any lyric on this album and explain why it’s dope. review doesn’t quote any goddamn line because nothing is quotable.
You just perfectly described my listening experience. First heard him back in 09 and have been trying to find something to like ever since. He has a cool name though, I can’t lie lol.
Skyzoo is not a “bar for bar” MC. His pattern of rhyming is storytelling with deep metaphorical references. In other words, you might not find a specific bar to drool over, but the entire track itself is what was dope. You have to pay attention the WHOLE time which alot of people nowadays can’t do. Most seem content to have a dope beat and some mush mouthed motherfucker repeating themselves over and over again. That not Skyzoo’s steez. If you don’t get it, you just don’t get it.
That’s because the lyrics are going over your head. You have to zone in on it and figure it out. He’s not just putting nonsense words together that make no sense but sounds like, like Lil Wayne, for example. Dude is a legitimate writer/poet.
Yeah this album is worth listening to over and over and over. Classic album. Skyzoo has many of those. Not sure if this is his top album but it’s damn close.
Back to Jazz Rap???….it’s clearly someone don’t know their music.
That sample you calling jazz…is a NYC anthem from the house era.
One of the reasons there will alwsys be a disconnect…between those who writes and don’t know and get the CULTURE all fucked up. And those who knows.
4.7 at least. Album is incredible
Skyzoo did it again. Another great concept album that still bumps hard!?
Remarkable album from S-K-Y-Z-O-O, truly one of the BK’s greats
This album isn’t FIRE! Sky has a great eat for beats and his flow is always in pocket! He’s crazy underrated!
Typo….I meant to is this album is FIRE!!
Best complete Hip Hop album I’ve heard in a very long time. Skyzoo just gets better and better…
Another great project from BK’s finest. Too bad it’s gonna be slept on by everyone like usual
Exceptional project. For anyone question where is the New York hip-hop; well, here it is. Sadly, this album will be likely slept on. Technically, Skyzoo is as good as anyone in the game. It’s all here – lyrics, flow, delivery, and most importantly, content. Skyzoo delivers the goods. This is a throw-back album to the days when craftsmanship was truly valued.
This album is a fucking mess. If you think this is a masterpiece then you’re expectations are simply too low. Skyzoo basically has nothing more to say, no bar or verse makes you rewind it back or wanna listen to it again, the skits are some of the corniest and forced stuff i have ever heard in between an album, the hooks are horrible, production is below average at best, and it’s incosistent. There’s a couple of 808 trap records on here, then you have beat poorly sampled from Adrian Younge, which was used in PRhyme 2014 and a million times better, and a lot of other beats are repetitive overly sampled trash. Skyzoo had 2 decent albums, one with Torae as barrel brothers, and one with Apollo Brown, the rest of his catalog is mad trash and overrated in the underground.
Are you dumb?
GTFOH
Your opinion is misinformed and u are clearly looking for attention. Time to go inside son the street lights are coming on u fucking child…
Your opinion is meaningless. Do everyone a favor and just stick to your stupid, corny mumble rap. People like you are a waste of space.
Like I said the hundredth time. Skyzoo is an underachiever. The last cool record he did was with Apollo Brown. He needs to get out of that underground rant and be an all round successful Artist cause this album was jus alright
This person just said ‘I wish I had the brain capacity to understand this LP because educated people seem to be enjoying it a lot’.
This Skyzoo album is incredibly dope! Amazing.. 4.5 stars
Great album. Skyzoo continues to excel with every release. The imagery he presents with this album is nothing short of amazing.
Its been a while since I heard an album so dope. This ain’t for the simple minded. Everybody’s Fine could be the best verse I ever heard. This is a slow cooker album that gets better the more you listen. At first it didn’t blow me away but after a few days it’s insanely great
This is a really unbelievable achievement for Skyzoo. This album is so deep. Pay attention to this movie. Flawless front to back with the raps.
I got to get my hands on this joint
This album is incredible
This Album is Amazing! Sky never seems to disappoint and continues to be one of the most underrated MC’s in the game. Lyrics, Beats, Content are all amazing on this album, he continues to shine and spit that FIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIRE #HIPHOP
Skyzoo dropped a 1000 bars on this joint with 3000 meanings. The kids are going to choke on this LP.
5/5. This is a classic album no doubt. What is sad is that most of the same people claiming real hiphop is dead like Hot 97 et al is barely giving the album a mentioned. I know he is independent and has made no payola but c’mon. This is as good an album as Kendrick and J cole. Yet where is the praise. It is sad when non hiphop media is giving this album more praise than hip hop media.
.
The album’s cool. More of the same from Zoo, which can be a good and bad thing. For example, on “Hoodie SZN”, how many times is he gonna use that “Synthetic Substitution” sample? The beat is overused as it is and with no variation to it at all (not even in the last few times he rhymed over it – see “Pockets Full,” “One in the Same”, etc.), it makes it hard to sit through. Luckily, that song’s near the end of the album, so it doesn’t ruin the greatness of the rest of the project.
5/5
Dope, Smooth, My album of the year 2018 for me so far!
never really got into Skyzoo over the years. but this is the best album ive heard in along time. modern classic. better than Kendricks Damn or whatever current album you put it up against. without question
There’s just something about this album, yo! Production is on point and the bars are straight up heat.
brilliantly woven masterpiece front to back.