Skyzoo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Skyzoo
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Skyzoo in 2011
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Gregory Skyler Taylor |
| Born | December 24, 1980 New York City, U.S. |
| Genres | Hip hop |
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| Years active | 2002–present |
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Gregory Skyler Taylor (born December 24, 1980), who is known by his stage name Skyzoo, is an American rapper and songwriter. He is known for his smart lyrics and storytelling. Skyzoo has released many popular solo and group albums. These include Cloud 9: The 3 Day High with producer 9th Wonder and his solo album The Salvation.
Skyzoo has worked with famous artists like Jill Scott, Wale, Dr. Dre, and John Legend. He has toured all over the world, performing in Europe, Africa, and Australia. He also runs his own record label called First Generation Rich.
Contents
Early Life and Inspiration
Gregory Skyler Taylor was born in the Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York City. His parents gave him the nickname Skyzoo, inspired by a song from the disco band Skyy. As a kid, he moved to another Brooklyn neighborhood, Bedford-Stuyvesant.
He grew up listening to famous hip hop groups like N.W.A, EPMD, and A Tribe Called Quest. When he was nine years old, he saw the music video for "Age Ain't Nuthin' But a Number" by Chi-Ali. This video inspired him to start writing his own raps.
Skyzoo lived just one block away from the legendary rapper Notorious B.I.G.. Seeing B.I.G.'s success encouraged him to pursue his own music career. He also looked up to Jay-Z as a major inspiration.
Music Career
Getting Started
In 2002, Skyzoo started sharing his own mixtapes around New York. He soon met the producer 9th Wonder. The two worked together to create the EP Cloud 9: The 3 Day High, which they finished in just three days. The EP was released in 2006 and got Skyzoo featured in XXL Magazine, a major hip hop magazine.
In 2007, he released a free mixtape called Corner Store Classic. It was very popular and received great reviews. This success helped him sign a record deal with Duck Down Records in 2009.
First Big Albums
The Salvation (2009)
Skyzoo's first official album, The Salvation, came out in 2009. He said the album was very personal and told the story of his life. He had been planning the album since he was nine years old. The Salvation was a success, appearing on several Billboard music charts.
Live from the Tape Deck (2010)
For his next project, Skyzoo teamed up with producer !llmind. They released a collaborative album called Live from the Tape Deck in 2010. The goal was to create a raw hip hop album that sounded like a classic cassette tape. The album was praised for its smart lyrics and classic sound.
A Dream Comes True
The Great Debater Mixtape (2011)
In 2011, Skyzoo released a free mixtape called The Great Debater as a thank-you gift to his fans. The cover art featured characters from The Cosby Show. Skyzoo said he saw the Huxtable family as a picture of success when he was a kid, and he wanted to share that feeling.
A Dream Deferred (2012)
Skyzoo's second solo album, A Dream Deferred, was released in 2012. It featured famous artists like Jill Scott and Talib Kweli. One of the most popular songs was "Spike Lee Was My Hero," featuring Talib Kweli.
After hearing the song, the famous movie director Spike Lee contacted Skyzoo. He even appeared in the music video for the song. The album received excellent reviews and was one of Skyzoo's best-charting albums.
More Recent Music
In 2014, Skyzoo and his friend, rapper Torae, released a joint album called Barrel Brothers. The album featured production from the legendary DJ Premier.
His third solo album, Music For My Friends, was released in 2015. The album's theme was about growing up and seeing the world through the eyes of a 13-year-old. It featured artists like Jadakiss and Black Thought.
In 2016, Skyzoo worked with producer Apollo Brown on the album The Easy Truth. He has continued to release new music, including In Celebration of Us (2018), Retropolitan (2019) with Pete Rock, and All the Brilliant Things (2021).
Musical Style
Skyzoo is known for his clever wordplay and his ability to tell detailed stories in his songs. His biggest hip hop influences are Notorious B.I.G., Jay-Z, and Nas. He is also a big fan of other music genres, especially jazz. He has said that jazz artists like Miles Davis and John Coltrane inspire him.
He is also a fan of the TV show The Wire and often includes references to it in his music.
Personal Life
Skyzoo is a huge basketball fan and supports the New York Knicks. He sometimes writes a guest blog for Slam magazine about basketball. He is the cousin of radio and TV personality Charlamagne Tha God.
Awards
- 2002: Underground Music Award for "Best Male Rapper"
- 2008: Underground Music Award for "Best Lyricist"
Main Albums
- Cloud 9: The 3 Day High (2006) (with 9th Wonder)
- The Salvation (2009)
- Live from the Tape Deck (2010) (with Illmind)
- A Dream Deferred (2012)
- Barrel Brothers (2014) (with Torae)
- Music for My Friends (2015)
- The Easy Truth (2016) (with Apollo Brown)
- In Celebration of Us (2018)
- Retropolitan (2019) (with Pete Rock)
- All the Brilliant Things (2021)
- The Mind of a Saint (2023) (with The Other Guys)
- Keep Me Company (2024)
See also
