Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Email
Answers.com

Skyzoo

 
Artist: Skyzoo
Home > Library > Entertainment & Arts > Pop Artists

Similar Artists:

Black Milk, Jin, Papoose, L.E.G.A.C.Y., Saigon, Cassidy

Influenced By:

Mos Def, Jay-Z, Nas, Raekwon, The Notorious B.I.G., Scarface
  • Born: December 24, 1982, Crown Heights, NY
  • Active: 2000s
  • Genres: Rap
  • Instrument: Performer
  • Representative Albums: "Salvation," "The Way You Get Down," "Present Cloud 9: The 3 Day High"

Biography

Aside from his rhyming skills and bright prospects, Skyzoo is probably best remembered for his loss to fellow rhyme-slayer Jin on BET's 106 & Park freestyle contest. Nonetheless, coming out of that defeat, the New York MC has launched his career by landing theme tracks for ESPN and Guiness beer, building his own Custom Made Entertainment company, and securing a continuous relationship with North Carolina rap crew the Justus League. The Brooklynite was born on December 24, 1982, in Crown Heights but spent much of his youth just south of there in Bedford-Stuyvesant. Skyzoo (nicknamed by his parents after the Skyy disco song of the same name) was inspired to rap at the age of nine when he first heard "Age Ain't Nuthin' But a #" by Native Tongue youngster Chi-Ali. While still a rookie in the game, he managed to work with the likes of esteemed producers Jay Dee and 9th Wonder and hit the streets with many mixtapes in hopes of acquiring a major-label deal. When Jay Dee, a relatively new friend of his, passed in February 2006, the news devastated him. He was one of the few artists to do a tribute song, which he named "Sky's Last Donut." Although he was still aiming for the majors, he released the collaborative LP with 9th Wonder, Present Cloud 9: The 3 Day High, on the independent Traffic Entertainment, which apparently only took him three days to record. ~ Cyril Cordor, All Music Guide
Search unanswered questions...

Enter a question here...
Search: All sources Community Q&A Reference topics

Wikipedia: Skyzoo
Top
Home > Library > Miscellaneous > Wikipedia
Skyzoo
Birth name Gregory Skyler Taylor
Born December 24, 1982 (1982-12-24) (age 26)
Origin Bedford-Stuyvesant, New York City, New York, United States
Occupations Rapper, songwriter
Labels JamLa, Duck Down Records

Skyzoo (born Gregory Skyler Taylor, December 24, 1982, Crown Heights, Brooklyn) is a New York hip hop emcee.

Contents

Biography

Born Gregory Skyler Taylor in 1982 in Crown Heights, he grew up in Bedford-Stuyvesant.[1][2] He was nicknamed Skyzoo by his parents after the Skyy disco song (his middle name is Skyler).[1] He began rapping at the age of nine and went on to work with producers Jay Dee and 9th Wonder, releasing several mixtapes in the hope of securing a record deal.[1] He lost to Jin on BET's 106 & Park freestyle contest, but went on to have tracks used as both the theme to ESPN's Whiplash TV and the soundtrack to a Guinness advert, and set up his own Custom Made Entertainment company.[1][3] He has also had a long association with North Carolina rap crew the Justus League, whom he was introduced to via his friend Chaundon, and who he describes as his "second family".[4] Jay Dee's death in 2006 prompted Skyzoo to pay tribute with the song "Sky's Last Donut".[1] He worked with 9th Wonder on his debut album, Present Cloud 9: The 3 Day High, which reputedly took only three days to record.[1][5] He also contributed to three tracks on the Hall of Justus album Soldiers of Fortune.[3]

He released the critically-acclaimed Corner Store Classic mixtape in 2007, and released a remixed version, including some new material, as a digital download album in 2008.[6] Corner Store Classic was rated 'XL' (4/5) by XXL Magazine.[7] In 2007, he stated that he had a second album ready, called The Salvation, but was waiting for a major record deal before releasing it.[8] It was released in September of 2009 courtesy Duck Down Records.[9]

He cites as influences hip hop artists such as Notorious B.I.G., Jay-Z, Nas, N.W.A., Big Daddy Kane, and Kid 'n Play, as well as artists such as Sade, Nirvana and John Coltrane, and cites Coltrane's A Love Supreme as his favorite album.[10] He credits J Dilla as his biggest inspiration and favorite producer.[10] He has been critical of the direction that Hip Hop has taken, stating "People are taking the 'whetever we gotta do' method, resulting in gimmick records. I'm about making money but it has to be with dope records".[11]

Discography

Mixtapes
  • I'm for the People
  • Back for the First Time
  • The Greastest Flow on Earth (2005)
  • Ghetto Celebrity: The Mixtape (2005)
  • The City's Favorite: The Mixtape (2005) Custom Made
  • Present Cloud 9: The 3 Day High (2006) Traffic
  • The Way You Get Down (2006) D.B.R.G./Custom Made
  • Corner Store Classic (2007)
  • Corner Store Classic (The Remixes) (2008) (Digital download)
  • The Power of Words (2009)
Albums
  • Barrel Brothers' Corner (with Torae) (TBA)

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Cordor, Cyril "Skyzoo Biography", Allmusic, Macrovision Corporation
  2. ^ "FEATURE:The Next Next?", XXL, November 10, 2008
  3. ^ a b Ivey, Michael (2006) "Skyzoo - Brooklyn Water", Nobodysmiling
  4. ^ Kayser, Brian (2006) "Skyzoo", Hip Hop Game
  5. ^ "Skyzoo's 3 Day High On Cloud 9", MVRemix, November 2006
  6. ^ "Skyzoo To Drop Corner Store Classic-Remix Mixtape", Hip Hop DX, April 7, 2008, Cheri Media Group
  7. ^ Rawlins, Ashmi (2008) "Skyzoo Corner Store Classic", XXL Magazine
  8. ^ Rhett, Starrene (2007) "Features: Skyzoo: Going Nowhere But Up", Hip Hop DX, Cheri Media Group
  9. ^ Ortez, Edwin. "Skyzoo Signs to Duck Down Records, Debut Album in August", hiphopdx, May 9, 2009.
  10. ^ a b "Skyzoo interview", Bhagat Vinyl
  11. ^ "Off the Radar: Skyzoo", The Source, October 2007

External links

v • d • e
Justus League
Groups
Notable members
Notable albums by
members
Affiliates
Jean Grae • Supastition • Nicolay • Skyzoo • Murs • Kaze

This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)

 
 
Learn More
Skyzoo (Rap Artist, 2000s)
We Mean Business (2008 Album by EPMD)
We Mean Business [Bonus Track] (2008 Album by EPMD)

Post a question - any question - to the WikiAnswers community:

 

Copyrights:

Artist. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Skyzoo".  Read more

 

Mentioned in

» More» More