SKYZOO
"Touch The Sky"

It's been almost 3 months since I've followed up with another "Best Kept Secret" post and for good reason. After introducing y'all to Wiz Khalifa + Wale in the first two editions, it seemed like a lot of other heads took notice...including the labels. Wiz just dropped his official first single; "Say Yeah" which is getting some steady burn on stations up and down the coast...and then Wale finally signed a much deserved deal with Interscope just last week. So needless to say, I couldn't just do a write-up on any new rapper for this third go-round. But after a little thought and consideration, I've finally settled on Skyzoo.

New York hip-hop is dead. There. I said it. The five boroughs were once the premiere breeding ground for aspiring emcees and future stars of the game. But sometime after Curtis + The Unit took over the entire game, the once thriving NY rap scene was reduced to a clusterfuck of interchangeable mixtape rappers with no personalities that all sounded the same. Don't get me wrong, there were glimmers of hope from the likes of Jae Millz, Saigon, Papoose, JR Writer, Red Cafe, and Grafh to name a few...but none were able to really stand out amongst the crowd. As result, the trends shifted and other regions began to get their shine on. From Crunk to Snap to Chopped to Screwed to Hyphy to Supamannin' Hoes. The rest of the country got their fifteen minutes, but here we are in 2008...and the playing field is wide open and diverse as ever.



One of the artists who is hoping to spark an East Coast revival is none other than the Brooklyn bred Skyzoo. In just a few short years, the 24 year old has grown and advanced his skills as if he were rapping for decades. Since dropping the "The City's Favorite" tape in 2005, and linking up with the N.C. based Justus League soon thereafter, Skyzoo has been on that hustle and flow tip non-stop. After a chance meeting and chopping it up with Chaundon in NYC, Sky was welcomed to the League with open arms and one of his first matters of business was hooking up with 9th Wonder and creating his debut EP "Cloud 9: The 3 Day High". Sky recorded all 12 tracks in just 3 days and dropped the EP in 2006 which officially put Skyzoo on the map as an artist to look out for.

Since then, his stock has continued to rise as he linked up with the likes of: Sean Price, Little Brother, Torae, Black Milk, DJ Premier, Pete Rock, Sha Stimuli and more. Just last year he released a mixtape with Mick Boogie + DJ Kay Slay called "Corner Store Classic" which features freestyles over classic beats + original production from Khrysis, 9th Wonder, Illmind, DJ Premier and more. After dropping each new track, it seems like Sky is gaining more and more momentum. His ability to storytell and make keen observances about his surroundings and come up along with his fresh delivery, lyrical prowess, and unique voice really set him apart from many of the young up-and-comers in the game. Not to mention his confidence and swagger levels on the mic are through the roof, which is another attribute absolutely necessary for artists who want to make it in the game today. When you consider his entire skill-set and persona, it's clear to see why I and many consider Skyzoo one of the premiere young emcees in the entire game, who has the potential to really resuscitate the dying New York rap scene and bring it back to the forefront where it belongs.


SKYZOO - CORNER STREET CLASSIC
01. Skyzoo - Intro (2:41)
02. Skyzoo - Ride Out (2:49)
03. Skyzoo - The Paper (3:09)
04. Skyzoo - Get It Done ft. Torae (5:27)
05. Skyzoo - Hold Tight (3:47)
06. Skyzoo - Cop N Go ft. Maino & Stimuli (3:34)
07. Skyzoo - Straighten It Out (3:14)
08. Skyzoo - Close Reach f. Nina B (5:18)
09. Skyzoo - Like A Shotgun (2:46)
10. Skyzoo - Play Your Position ft. Guilty Simpson (3:24)
11. Skyzoo - All Over The World (2:34)
12. Skyzoo - Bragging Rights (4:31)
13. Skyzoo - You Already Know Remix ft. Sean Price (3:54)
14. Skyzoo - Click f. Torae (3:25)
15. Skyzoo - Ghetto America (2:49)
16. Skyzoo - The Bodega (4:46)
17. Skyzoo - Never Sleep (3:45)
18. Skyzoo - They Don't Want It ft. Torae, Yatta Barz & Zeqway (4:03)
19. Skyzoo - My Element (2:36)
20. Skyzoo - Outro (3:49)


SKYZOO + 9TH WONDER - CLOUD 9 (THE 3 DAY HIGH)
01. Skyzoo - Bare Witness (2:58)
02. Skyzoo - Way To Go (2:59)
03. Skyzoo - A Day In The Life (3:47)
04. Skyzoo - Stop Fooling Yourself (4:02)
05. Skyzoo - Comeback (3:31)
06. Skyzoo - I'm On It (3:27)
07. Skyzoo - The Bodega (4:11)
08. Skyzoo - You & Me (4:15)
09. Skyzoo - Live And Direct (3:07)
10. Skyzoo - The Spirit (2:56)
11. Skyzoo - Extreme Measures (3:42)
12. Skyzoo - Mirror Mirror (4:10)



SKYZOO - THE CITY'S FAVORITE
01. Skyzoo - Intro (2:09)
02. Skyzoo - Remember Me (Prod. Illmind) (4:05)
03. Skyzoo - No Matter (Prod. Hasan Insane) (3:06)
04. Skyzoo - Recognize (Freestyle) (1:52)
05. Skyzoo - Let It Bang Ft. Elliot Ness (Prod. 9th Wonder) (4:22)
06. Skyzoo - In The Streets Ft. Zeq-Way (Prod. J. Dilla) (3:38)
07. Skyzoo - My Hood (Freestyle) (1:48)
08. Skyzoo - Turn It Up (Prod. Khrysis) (4:00)
09. Skyzoo - Theme Song (Prod. J. Dilla) (3:35)
10. Skyzoo - Brand New (Freestyle) (2:45)
11. Skyzoo - The City's Favorite (Prod. 9th Wonder) (3:25)
12. Skyzoo - Blackout Ft. Zeq-Way & Torae (Freestyle) (3:19)
13. Skyzoo - History Ft. J. Dilla (3:40)
14. Skyzoo - All In Together (Freestyle) (2:55)
15. Skyzoo - That Dude (Prod. Xtra Flames) (2:50)
16. Skyzoo - Sick Wit' The Slang (Prod. Illmind) (4:08)
17. Skyzoo - Taking Over (Freestyle) (2:38)
18. Skyzoo - Outro (0:32)