Around the time Jay-Z’s Reasonable Doubt dropped, Ski Beatz was recognized as one of the top tier beatsmiths in the culture. Songs like “Politics as Usual,” “Dead Presidents II,” and “Feelin’ It” helped him cultivate his personal buzz. Today, about 15 years later, Ski continues to release material at a pace that would make many new producers stumble. With 24 Hour Karate School Presents Twilight, Ski shows how this experience and expertise has helped him create a refreshing sound, though the album is not without flaws.
There is something arresting about the production on Twilight. The “airy horns and breezy keys” C Plus requests on “Heaven” prove that Ski still has a flair with mellow soul and vibrant instrumentation. The drums on said track prove that the rhythm is just as impactful, letting C Plus shine on the standout track. The horns juxtaposed with the electric guitar on “Didit4thegreen” provide that same ambiance, a smooth Blues infused sound. Piercing with the piano, Ski’s “City Lights” is also a blend of horns and drums, bringing a rich sound bed to Najee’s personal bars like, “My upbringing would have mentally damaged you.” Ski’s expertise is certainly on display here, making this album worthy of the anticipation fans have built.
Those peaks certainly make up for some of the valleys. Ski’s production isn’t always transferred to the emcees he features. The Curren$y assisted “Fly By,” for instance, is forgettable due in large part to the rhymes. “But back to the subject, which is nothing but whatever this G13 helps me come up with,” Spitta rhymes on the cut, showing the amount of time spent on creative ideas in the rhymes. Later, the Sam Adams and Olamide Faison track proves forgettable. The same can be said for “Thank God.” Later, Stalley underwhelms with “Gentlemen’s Quarterly” using lines like, “Don’t really mean to Kanye you, just seems they run behind everything I do” followed by a bland hook. These cuts not only falter in content, but they are also disjointed from the rest of the disc.
Ski’s dexterity on the production boards is still not questioned much, but this album follows in the footsteps of prior 24 Hour Karate School releases. There are glimpses of excellence, but there are also dents in lyricism, blurring out some of its appeal. While a portion of the album carries a solid theme, other tracks seem thrown-in. In all, the album has some flaws, but Twilight offers another look at what Karate School collaborators can create.
1/5. swagg
Faggot.
Will you be my mommy?
Let me balance this out with a 4/5 just because this little fag “TexASS”gave him a 1 [trolling bitch]. The production is crazy dope on this, so I’m giving it a 4 partially for that, but there definitely some dope moments on here lyrically too….
EXactly man, the production is WAAAYYY DOPER on this than the previous releases. I was mad dissapointed with the other Karate SChool albums. Almost every beat on here is nice, wtf is wrong with DX?
good review
It’s a really good review, generous if anything. I think Ski has played himself out with all these solo releases in a short period of time, and none of them really better than “cool.”
I’m gonna buy Muscle Car Chronicles and ignore this.
i just googled the interwebs and this review isn’t plagarised. carry on
zing.
5 stars. I enjoyed this album from start to finish.
How can this be considered a 5 star album? 5 stars should be reserved for classic albums. If Ready To Die, Illmatic, and The Blueprint are 5s, how can this also be a 5?
WAIT WHAT?!! Ski Beatz finally puts out a good Karate School album and you give it a 3?!! This album SHITS ON both 24 Hour Karate School 1 and 2 easily, wtf is wrong with you?
Yall tripping this ski beatz joints was the best of them all deserved a 4
WEEZY & BABY OWN THESE WEAK ASS BITCHES. SWAGG
Album is pretty dope. Close to as good as the first one, def better than the last one.More smoked-out vibe on this than the other two. I wonder why Locksmith is left off the credits for the track with Mac Miller…. Also I like the song, but why is that Murs/Tabi track on like 3 albums now? Sounds out of place here and he should have got them to do something new. Curren$y, DZA, C-Plus, Stalley all bring it.
Nah… this is definitely the most half-assed of the 24KSs, which have all gotten progressively more half-assed. I wanna hear his album with Locksmith though. The joint with Murs was cool.
C Plus – Heaven Is
That right there is the best track on this album hands down. With a sick flow and a chorus that doesn’t drag too long well fused with some well laid bars.
“You follow base god
My shit is God-based”
That right there is ill…period.
Ski-Beatz needs to do more songs with C Plus who can rap his ass off and spits real shits I could relate to.
People please take a listen.
Much love from the UK.
No Ski Beatz…No Jay Z
Will be checking this one out definitely.
Awesome album. Fuck what HHDX says.
Solid album. sonically its actually the best 24hks yet.
By far the best of the 24HKS series! Ski Beatz is one of the sickest and most underrated producers in the game. Currensy should have used Ski on that muscle car alternative rock bullshit
Great Music Guys !
Dope album – chillout productions & great features. Curren$y, Stalley, C Plus & Mikey Rocks are incredible in this shit!