Skyzoo facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Skyzoo
Skyzoo in 2011
Background information
Birth name	Gregory Skyler Taylor
Born	(1982-12-24) December 24, 1982 (age 42) New York City, U.S.
Genres	Hip hop
Occupation(s)	Rapper songwriter
Years active	2002–present
Labels	First Generation Rich Music Group
Associated acts	9th Wonder Black Thought Amadeus360TheBeatking !llmind Pete Rock Torae

Gregory Skyler Taylor (born December 24, 1982), known as Skyzoo, is an American rapper and songwriter. He has released many popular solo and group albums. Some of his well-known works include Cloud 9: The 3 Day High with 9th Wonder in 2006, The Salvation in 2009, and Music For My Friends in 2015. He also released mixtapes like Corner Store Classic. Skyzoo has worked with famous artists such as Jill Scott, Wale, Black Thought, and John Legend. He has toured around the world in places like Europe, Africa, and Australia. Skyzoo also runs his own music company called First Generation Rich.

Skyzoo's Early Life and Inspiration

Gregory Skyler Taylor was born on December 24, 1982. He grew up in Crown Heights, a part of Brooklyn, New York City. His parents gave him the nickname Skyzoo. This came from a disco song by the band Skyy. Later, he moved to another part of Brooklyn called Bedford-Stuyvesant.

As a kid, Skyzoo listened to many hip hop artists. Some of his favorites were Big Daddy Kane, N.W.A, and A Tribe Called Quest. When he was nine years old, he saw a music video for Chi-Ali's song "Age Ain't Nuthin' But a Number." This video made him want to start writing raps. He also looked up to rappers like Notorious B.I.G. and Jay-Z, who inspired his writing.

Skyzoo went to high school in Manhattan. He also attended college for a while. In 2006, when he was 23, he worked at a company called Morgan Stanley. He later decided to focus on his music career full-time.

Skyzoo's Music Journey

Starting Out in Music

Skyzoo began releasing his own mixtapes in New York in 2002. Mixtapes are like free albums that artists share. Soon, he met a rap group from North Carolina called the Justus League. They started working together on different music projects. Skyzoo also won two "Underground Music Awards." He won "Best Male Rapper" in 2002 and "Best Lyricist" in 2008.

In 2005, Skyzoo met a music producer named 9th Wonder. They started working together a lot. They made an album called Cloud 9: The 3 Day High. It was said to have been finished in just three days! This album came out on September 12, 2006. It helped Skyzoo get noticed by XXL Magazine, a big hip hop magazine.

Skyzoo released a free mixtape called Corner Store Classic in 2007. It featured music from 9th Wonder and DJ Premier. Other rappers like Sean Price also appeared on it. The album was well-liked by many.

The Salvation Album (2009)

Skyzoo's first official album, The Salvation, was released on September 29, 2009. He worked with two independent music labels, Duck Down Records and Jamla Records. Skyzoo said this album was very personal. It told his own story and experiences. He had been planning this album since he was nine years old.

Instead of having many guest artists, Skyzoo sang most of the songs himself. He wanted to tell his story in his own words. The album featured music from producers like 9th Wonder, Nottz, and Just Blaze. The Salvation did well on music charts. It reached No. 126 on the Billboard 200 chart. Music critics also gave it good reviews.

To help promote the album, Skyzoo made a web series called Saving Our Grace. These short videos showed different people in New York City. Each person represented an emotion from the album. Several music videos were also released for songs from The Salvation. One video, "The Necessary Evils," showed a teenager trying to change his life. Another video for "Popularity" was a funny take on the TV show Saved by the Bell.

More Mixtapes and Group Projects (2010–2011)

On October 5, 2010, Skyzoo released an album with producer Illmind called Live from the Tape Deck. This album was more about showing off his rapping skills. It was different from The Salvation, which was more personal. Skyzoo wanted this album to feel like old-school hip hop. It got great reviews, especially for its lyrics.

In 2011, Skyzoo released a free mixtape called The Great Debater. This project was a "thank you" gift to his fans. It had 16 songs with original music from producers like Illmind and 9th Wonder. The album cover featured characters from The Cosby Show. Skyzoo said the mixtape was about achieving success. He saw the Huxtable family from the show as a symbol of success when he was young.

A Dream Deferred Album (2012)

Skyzoo's second main solo album, A Dream Deferred, came out on October 2, 2012. Like his first album, it told more of his life story. This album featured artists like Jill Scott and Talib Kweli. Producers like Illmind and 9th Wonder also worked on the music.

One of the songs, "Spike Lee Was My Hero," even featured the famous director Spike Lee in its music video. Spike Lee saw the song and wanted to be a part of it! The video was shown on BET's 106 & Park. A Dream Deferred was very popular. It reached No. 7 on the Top Heatseekers chart. Critics loved it, with one review giving it a score of 86 out of 100.

Working with Others (2012–2013)

In 2013, Skyzoo worked with Antman Wonder on an album called An Ode to Reasonable Doubt. This album was a tribute to Jay Z's famous album Reasonable Doubt. It was released on Jay Z's birthday. The music for this album was special because Antman Wonder recreated the sounds with a live orchestra instead of using samples.

Skyzoo also started his own music company called First Generation Rich in 2014. He then teamed up with his friend and fellow rapper Torae. They released a joint album called Barrel Brothers on May 27, 2014. The album featured other artists like Guilty Simpson and Sean Price.

Music For My Friends Album (2015)

Music For My Friends is Skyzoo's third solo album. It came out in 2015. This album was about growing up and seeing the world through the eyes of a 13-year-old. It featured artists like Jadakiss, Black Thought, and Bilal. The album's artwork was even drawn by a comic book artist.

Music For My Friends was the first album released under Skyzoo's own company, First Generation Rich. It was well-received by fans and critics. XXL magazine praised his storytelling. The album reached No. 15 on the Top Heatseekers chart. Skyzoo even held a concert with a live jazz band to celebrate the album's release.

Skyzoo's music has also been used in many other places. You might have heard his songs in video games like NBA 2K11 and Grand Theft Auto IV: The Lost and Damned. His music has also been in TV shows like HBO's Entourage and even in a Guinness advertisement.

Recent Projects (2016-Present)

In 2016, Skyzoo worked with producer Apollo Brown on an album called The Easy Truth. This album came out on September 30, 2016. It featured other artists like Joell Ortiz and Westside Gunn. The album was highly praised by music critics.

Skyzoo announced in 2017 that he would release two new projects. The first was an album called Peddler Themes, which came out in July 2017. He even helped produce one of the songs himself. His next album, In Celebration of Us, was released on February 2, 2018.

Skyzoo's Musical Style and Influences

Skyzoo gets his inspiration from many different artists. In hip hop, he looks up to Notorious B.I.G., Jay-Z, and Nas. He also enjoys music from artists outside of hip hop, like Sade and Nirvana. He has said that J Dilla is one of his biggest inspirations as a music producer.

Skyzoo is a big fan of the TV show The Wire. He often mentions characters and stories from the show in his music. He also loves jazz music. His favorite jazz artists include Miles Davis and John Coltrane. He even said that Coltrane's album A Love Supreme is his favorite album of all time.

Skyzoo's Personal Life

Skyzoo is a big fan of basketball. He sometimes writes articles for Slam magazine about the sport. He is a strong supporter of the New York Knicks basketball team.

On September 18, 2015, Skyzoo married his longtime girlfriend, Courtney Taylor.

Awards and Achievements

Skyzoo has won awards for his music.

Skyzoo's Music Albums

Solo and Group Albums

EPs (Extended Plays)

Mixtapes

Singles

Guest Appearances

See also

• List of hip hop musicians