Essential New York Hip-Hop: Skyzoo x Apollo Brown’s “The Easy Truth”

The recent success of artists like Young M.A. and Dave East have led to a lot of commentary from casual observers about New York hip-hop having some kind of resurgent moment.

Of course, those who pay attention to the vast expansiveness of New York’s hip-hop music and culture know that NYC has continued to be the most progressive and diverse place on the planet for hip-hop music and culture. They know that these particular artists, while they are fine representatives, are just the tip of a long-standing, complex and thriving iceberg.

Those who make the mistake of equating the relative lack of New York-based artists on mainstream with the idea that the city has nothing to offer hip-hop heads, need not wait until the occasional breakout artist bandwagon rolls through. The greatest thing about New York hip-hop is that no matter what you are into — from complex wordplay and traditionalist vibes to smoked out, simplistic turnup, New York has an artist for you.

For those who prefer the former, for instance, there is Skyzoo.

We’ve long-praised this clever wordsmith as a writer’s writer, an artist who weaves a fluid lyrical tapestry every time he spits. From several solo projects, his work for fellow Barrel Brother, Torae, to his newest project, The Easy Truth, produced entirely by prodigious Detroit producer Apollo Brown, this Brooklynite is always one of the first we think of after rolling our eyes in response to some random social media post about NYC hip-hop being “back.”

New York rappers, to quote a track on the project, are not all one in the same, and while an artist from the region occasionally reaches a tipping point of genpop visibility, casual listeners and armchair critics must stop waiting to be spoon-fed by a finicky industry if they want to fully understand, engage in and enjoy the depth of New York hip-hop.

Skyzoo has always been, and continues to be, an excellent place to begin.

Skyzoo on the web. Skyzoo on Twitter. The Easy Truth on iTunes.