Top 5 album of the year
Skyzoo - All The Brilliant Things (Discussion Thread)
- Thread starter Dylmatic
- Start date
Yessir
Mastamimd
Ain't shyt
Stays on repeat, shyt is perfect
Awesome Wells
The Bobby Womack of Crack
9th does a lot of people dirty.
It's kinda like common knowledge now. He had a lot of praise thrown at him super early on, and his ego went crazy. Sky is really one of the most chill people you'll ever meet. I'm not going to lie and say I listen to his projects front to back, but on a personal level, he's a good dude. He deserved much better than what 9th was doing to him. He's one of those MC's that could easily fall through the cracks if he doesn't get the right production. I wanted that album with Primo back in '06.
King P
Legends Never Die
This been rotation since the album dropped
Definitely in my Top 5 albums of 21
Ran this back among other 2021 albums. I fukks with Sky, this album has the clever wordplay he's always had and the social references as well. I enjoyed it after not hearing it in full since it dropped
But i think about @Walt's post often. This shyt is so descriptive and has a lot of truth
But i think about @Walt's post often. This shyt is so descriptive and has a lot of truth
This album explores the theme of gentrification, you can clearly see from the album cover, Father and Son, pointing up to A capitalist backed build thats being placed in their neighborhood, the album has imaginative lyricism, nostalgic samples used in Hip-Hop prior to help accompany the listener on a trip to Skyzoo's past, it is a very Jazzy production style as he explores these Deep and educational topics on the album.
1. Free Jewelry 8.5/10, This song starts with a nice female hook and Skyzoo speaks on the intro in dedication to his previous albums that got him to this current one, "When lookin' for the salvation, there was a Realization of a dream deferred that Spawned from making music for my friends and Was all in celebration of us And became All The Brilliant Things.." , in comes the same sample used on Slum Village "Fall In Love" & A nice beat switch up on back end of the song, he pens some nice lines like "Truth is I'm just throwing you analog My whole catalog is like I'm shooting a Spike joint , Cause when they told us c'est la vie, I ain't take my seat, I stood on top of that table and I sprayed my piece.."
2. St. James Liquors 9/10 , The song starts with a nice soulful sample accompanied by a similar female hook, from the opener to kick track off, the beat is straight up traditional Hip-Hop with amazing drums, a funky rhythm and some nice saxophone on the hook, the 2nd verse he talks about rapping at a very young age " all the OGs would call me Zoo First rhyme, I was nine, but rhymed like I was corner tied, Kicking what I saw from off the line, I was fortified.." also seeing biggie pushing an expensive car in his area of Brooklyn and the next day a video shoot picturing himself involved in that process.
3. A Tour of the Neighborhood 7.5/10, A short tour De Force of his area of Brooklyn, with a short sample of the classic "Where My Homiez? (Come Around My Way) by Ill Al Skratch to close the song out, good song but he could have made song longer and explored topic more.
4. Rich Rhetoric 10/10, Probably my favorite track on the album, the beat is very elegant and Jazzy, he sounds very comfortable on this song, dedicating all his knowledge and success to what he learned in Brooklyn and from older heads, who taught him to keep it more opulent with his music, on 3rd verse he pens his best bars with "Reunited like the best song on the second Wu shyt, Followed by the cream part two shyt, the truth is Cash is part of how we knew shyt, Like how much these cost and how much the coupe fit And most of the time they only threw that talk once And lucky for us we always knew how to loop shyt, They said to keep it richer.."
5. Bodega Flowers 8/10, a downtempo and grown Hip-Hop song, with A Roy Ayers sample, Skyzoo is going over the topic mostly of embracing people and appreciating them while they are still here and BJ The Chicago Kid, conveys that on his hook with the lines "Don't wait around, it's better you say it now, for real, Don't wait 'til they're at the gates to tell them you appreciate.." , theme wise the song reminded me of the track "Wanna Be There" by AZ,
6. Something to Believe In. 8.5/10, Here he goes over another classic Roy Ayers sample, this time its "Everybody Loves The Sunshine" , it has a R&B laced hook like the previous song but the beat is more uptempo with some interesting off kilter drums and some traditional scratches near the end of the song, Skyzoo comes with some strong punchlines on this song "Part of me is Mos Def, part of me is Ma$e, So my jewelry be on, but my aura reek of sage.."
7. Humble Brag 8.5/10 , The Song opens up with a nod to the Old To The New" track by Nice & Smooth and A dreamy female vocal plays throughout the songs run time, Skyzoo sounds confident on this one, as he credits himself for being more at home in the old surroundings where he was conditioned in, than the new way of gentrification.
8. I Was Supposed to Be a Trap Rapper 9/10, really interesting track, with the highly recognizable sample of Nautilus by Bob James being used for this one, Skyzoo raps about how he was supposed to be a totally different type of artist, giving how he was in streets and who he was around, the song is pretty funny lyrically in some parts and he also does a tongue in cheek rap over a trap beat near the end of the song.
9. Plugs & Connections 8/10, A very nice beat from the promising producer STLN drms, who does the production on this song and the follow up song "The Scrimmage" , this beat is a peaceful one with some nice keys, as Skyzoo explores the Gentrification topic and compares the Plugs hes encountered from the guys on the corner to the White businessman, he pens an emotional line with "They stepping all on your real estate, said it's mine now, Went and took it while you was restin', like "fukk you cryin' 'bout?", Crocodile tears in the lobby'll blow the volume out, Till the right song come along and turn the volume down.."
10. The Scrimmage 7/10, I think this track is probably more on the average side in comparison to the rest of the songs on the album, the vocal sample is a little repetitive and the hook is a little chaotic for my taste, Skyzoo raps well on the song and I like the sentiment he has of still missing home, despite the poverty there, its a relatable thing.
11. Culture-ish 10/10, Most definitely one of my favourites on the album, the beat is beautiful here, it opens with those Jazzy Horns and some soulful singing from Monica Blaire, overall the track is just powerful and mentally engaging, he talks about Hip-Hop Culture being misused and misguided but he still wants to keep going and leave behind A legacy for the next ones with good intentions.
12. Bed-Stuy Is Burning 10/10, In my opinion the best Beat on the album, the track starts with a sample of the classic "Remember We" by Da Bush Babees, who just happen to be Brooklyn to the fullest too, the use of Live Instrumentation on here is flawless and is just a straight up traditional Hip-Hop song, Skyzoo is very conscious and cautionary to other states telling them not to allow the Gentrification happen in their neighborhoods, the song is deep and soulful, I see no faults in this song.
13. What Money Taught Us 7.5/10 , Another elegant beat, Skyzoo briefly goes over the self explanatory topic of what Money teaches you, being a product of your environment, solid song he could have delved bit deeper lyrically with.
14. Soft Eyes. 8/10. Maybe one of the more simpler sounding songs on the album it works really well for me, the beat is downtempo and very easy on the ear, the Hook from Blakk Soul is a little on the modern side but still soulful, Skyzoo gives the listener some interesting lines here and kicks it introspectively to finish the album up, which I appreciate , as I like when an artist is personal with his thoughts.
1. Free Jewelry 8.5/10, This song starts with a nice female hook and Skyzoo speaks on the intro in dedication to his previous albums that got him to this current one, "When lookin' for the salvation, there was a Realization of a dream deferred that Spawned from making music for my friends and Was all in celebration of us And became All The Brilliant Things.." , in comes the same sample used on Slum Village "Fall In Love" & A nice beat switch up on back end of the song, he pens some nice lines like "Truth is I'm just throwing you analog My whole catalog is like I'm shooting a Spike joint , Cause when they told us c'est la vie, I ain't take my seat, I stood on top of that table and I sprayed my piece.."
2. St. James Liquors 9/10 , The song starts with a nice soulful sample accompanied by a similar female hook, from the opener to kick track off, the beat is straight up traditional Hip-Hop with amazing drums, a funky rhythm and some nice saxophone on the hook, the 2nd verse he talks about rapping at a very young age " all the OGs would call me Zoo First rhyme, I was nine, but rhymed like I was corner tied, Kicking what I saw from off the line, I was fortified.." also seeing biggie pushing an expensive car in his area of Brooklyn and the next day a video shoot picturing himself involved in that process.
3. A Tour of the Neighborhood 7.5/10, A short tour De Force of his area of Brooklyn, with a short sample of the classic "Where My Homiez? (Come Around My Way) by Ill Al Skratch to close the song out, good song but he could have made song longer and explored topic more.
4. Rich Rhetoric 10/10, Probably my favorite track on the album, the beat is very elegant and Jazzy, he sounds very comfortable on this song, dedicating all his knowledge and success to what he learned in Brooklyn and from older heads, who taught him to keep it more opulent with his music, on 3rd verse he pens his best bars with "Reunited like the best song on the second Wu shyt, Followed by the cream part two shyt, the truth is Cash is part of how we knew shyt, Like how much these cost and how much the coupe fit And most of the time they only threw that talk once And lucky for us we always knew how to loop shyt, They said to keep it richer.."
5. Bodega Flowers 8/10, a downtempo and grown Hip-Hop song, with A Roy Ayers sample, Skyzoo is going over the topic mostly of embracing people and appreciating them while they are still here and BJ The Chicago Kid, conveys that on his hook with the lines "Don't wait around, it's better you say it now, for real, Don't wait 'til they're at the gates to tell them you appreciate.." , theme wise the song reminded me of the track "Wanna Be There" by AZ,
6. Something to Believe In. 8.5/10, Here he goes over another classic Roy Ayers sample, this time its "Everybody Loves The Sunshine" , it has a R&B laced hook like the previous song but the beat is more uptempo with some interesting off kilter drums and some traditional scratches near the end of the song, Skyzoo comes with some strong punchlines on this song "Part of me is Mos Def, part of me is Ma$e, So my jewelry be on, but my aura reek of sage.."
7. Humble Brag 8.5/10 , The Song opens up with a nod to the Old To The New" track by Nice & Smooth and A dreamy female vocal plays throughout the songs run time, Skyzoo sounds confident on this one, as he credits himself for being more at home in the old surroundings where he was conditioned in, than the new way of gentrification.
8. I Was Supposed to Be a Trap Rapper 9/10, really interesting track, with the highly recognizable sample of Nautilus by Bob James being used for this one, Skyzoo raps about how he was supposed to be a totally different type of artist, giving how he was in streets and who he was around, the song is pretty funny lyrically in some parts and he also does a tongue in cheek rap over a trap beat near the end of the song.
9. Plugs & Connections 8/10, A very nice beat from the promising producer STLN drms, who does the production on this song and the follow up song "The Scrimmage" , this beat is a peaceful one with some nice keys, as Skyzoo explores the Gentrification topic and compares the Plugs hes encountered from the guys on the corner to the White businessman, he pens an emotional line with "They stepping all on your real estate, said it's mine now, Went and took it while you was restin', like "fukk you cryin' 'bout?", Crocodile tears in the lobby'll blow the volume out, Till the right song come along and turn the volume down.."
10. The Scrimmage 7/10, I think this track is probably more on the average side in comparison to the rest of the songs on the album, the vocal sample is a little repetitive and the hook is a little chaotic for my taste, Skyzoo raps well on the song and I like the sentiment he has of still missing home, despite the poverty there, its a relatable thing.
11. Culture-ish 10/10, Most definitely one of my favourites on the album, the beat is beautiful here, it opens with those Jazzy Horns and some soulful singing from Monica Blaire, overall the track is just powerful and mentally engaging, he talks about Hip-Hop Culture being misused and misguided but he still wants to keep going and leave behind A legacy for the next ones with good intentions.
12. Bed-Stuy Is Burning 10/10, In my opinion the best Beat on the album, the track starts with a sample of the classic "Remember We" by Da Bush Babees, who just happen to be Brooklyn to the fullest too, the use of Live Instrumentation on here is flawless and is just a straight up traditional Hip-Hop song, Skyzoo is very conscious and cautionary to other states telling them not to allow the Gentrification happen in their neighborhoods, the song is deep and soulful, I see no faults in this song.
13. What Money Taught Us 7.5/10 , Another elegant beat, Skyzoo briefly goes over the self explanatory topic of what Money teaches you, being a product of your environment, solid song he could have delved bit deeper lyrically with.
14. Soft Eyes. 8/10. Maybe one of the more simpler sounding songs on the album it works really well for me, the beat is downtempo and very easy on the ear, the Hook from Blakk Soul is a little on the modern side but still soulful, Skyzoo gives the listener some interesting lines here and kicks it introspectively to finish the album up, which I appreciate , as I like when an artist is personal with his thoughts.
Favorite Lyrics
"Bodega Flowers"
"I Was Supposed to Be a Trap Rapper"
"Culture-Ish"
"Bed-Stuy is Burning"
"What Money Taught Us"
