On May 27, 2014, Skyzoo & Torae join forces to release their long awaited collabo album Barrel Brothers, presented by Skyzoo's imprint First Generation Rich, Inc., Torae's imprint Internal Affairs Ent., and Loyalty Digital Corp., in conjunction with Empire Distribution. The project comes via requests from their devoted fan bases. For years, fans of both Skyzoo and Torae alike have asked the two to collaborate on a full length LP, after the multiple singles they've released together over the years. Classics such as the DJ Premier produced gems "Get It Done" and "Click", the !llmind produced "Barrel Brothers" off of he and Sky's 2010 Live From The Tape Deck, and a slew of internet freestyles and features, the album has been called for by their following since 2006.
The idea behind Barrel Brothers is what the people have asked and come to know the two wordsmiths for; pure lyricism. Skyzoo, known for his picturesque storytelling and jazz/orchestrial background, and Torae, known for his gritty Coney Island depictions of life with a vintage but modern lyrical approach, have briefly put their normal forte's to the side and crafted this album with one game plan in mind; lyrical exercise over hard hitting New York City soundscapes. The current resurgence of NYC hip hop is perfect grounds for two of its premier flag holders to continue doing what they never stopped doing in the first place; representing the city.
"To me, this was the perfect way to exercise a little bit, run a nice full court pick up game so to speak, and remind my fans, followers, and critics alike that even though I'm known for my storytelling and song cohesion with my albums, I can still take it back to the corner and go bar for bar at any given moment" says Skyzoo. "The era of the Clue tapes, the Funk Flex radio freestyles, the full on "man to man" ciphers, this project is Torae and I giving the people that side of us. It's the side of us that we first got our name up on as rookies on the rise. That side is back for a good 14 songs, before we individually get back to our regularly scheduled programs. Personally, if I'm gonna shoot jumpers all day with anyone, its gonna be with my brother Torae".
"This album was a long time coming, but when the people wanted it 6 years ago neither Sky nor I had fully established ourselves as solo artists" says Torae. "Now that we've made our marks as individuals, it's time to combine forces & really give the fans what they've been asking for. This LP is gonna be heat top to bottom, there's no denying the chemistry Sky & I have in the studio, we always bring out the best in each other. Get ready, it's almost Barrel Brothers season".
Barrel Brothers includes features from Sean Price, Guilty Simpson, Blu, and more, along with production by DJ Premier, Jahlil Beats, !llmind, Black Milk, Apollo Brown, Oh-No, and a host of others, and will deliver the singles "Blue Yankee Fitted", "Make You A Believer", "The Aura", and more. The album will serve as exactly what the climate is in need of; stellar NYC lyricism, gritty drum driven production, and 'rewind button' moments over and over again.
In preparation of the release, the duo will get the ball rolling with the release of a bi-weekly vlog capturing the making of the album; a behind the scenes in-studio video series of the two at work, as well as singles, videos, and more to set the tone for whats to come on 5/27.
In the spirit of Raekwon and Ghostface Killah, Nas and AZ, Jadakiss and Styles P, and EPMD, the long awaited Barrel Brothers album will be available in stores and online at all major music retail outlets on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, via First Generation Rich, Inc./Internal Affairs Ent./Loyalty Digital Corp./Empire Distribution.
RELEASE DATE: May 27th
TRACKLIST:
1) Intro
2) Talk Of The Town (prod. by Oh-No)
3) Make You A Believer (prod. by Jahlil Beats)
4) Tunnel Vision (prod. by !llmind)
5) Blue Yankee Fitted (prod. by !llmind)
6) All In Together (feat. Sean Price & Guilty Simpson) (prod. by Black Milk)
7) Triangle Offense (feat. Sha Stimuli) (prod. by !llmind)
8) Movie Album (skit) (prod. by Auréli1 a.k.a TIGA)
9) Albee Square Mall (feat. Livin Proof) (prod. by Praise)
10) The Hand Off (prod. by Khrysis & Cyrus Tha Great)
11) 4 Bar Friday (prod. by The Stuyvesants)
12) Memorabilia (prod. by AntMan Wonder)
13) Rediscover (feat. Blu) (prod. by MarcNfinit)
14) The Aura (prod. by DJ Premier, co-produced by AntMan Wonder)
15) Got It From Here (prod. by Apollo Brown) (bonus-itunes & vinyl only)
As always, thanks for your support. And if you post on your blogs/sites/etc, please tag our official twitter accounts: @Skyzoo and @Torae
The idea behind Barrel Brothers is what the people have asked and come to know the two wordsmiths for; pure lyricism. Skyzoo, known for his picturesque storytelling and jazz/orchestrial background, and Torae, known for his gritty Coney Island depictions of life with a vintage but modern lyrical approach, have briefly put their normal forte's to the side and crafted this album with one game plan in mind; lyrical exercise over hard hitting New York City soundscapes. The current resurgence of NYC hip hop is perfect grounds for two of its premier flag holders to continue doing what they never stopped doing in the first place; representing the city.
"To me, this was the perfect way to exercise a little bit, run a nice full court pick up game so to speak, and remind my fans, followers, and critics alike that even though I'm known for my storytelling and song cohesion with my albums, I can still take it back to the corner and go bar for bar at any given moment" says Skyzoo. "The era of the Clue tapes, the Funk Flex radio freestyles, the full on "man to man" ciphers, this project is Torae and I giving the people that side of us. It's the side of us that we first got our name up on as rookies on the rise. That side is back for a good 14 songs, before we individually get back to our regularly scheduled programs. Personally, if I'm gonna shoot jumpers all day with anyone, its gonna be with my brother Torae".
"This album was a long time coming, but when the people wanted it 6 years ago neither Sky nor I had fully established ourselves as solo artists" says Torae. "Now that we've made our marks as individuals, it's time to combine forces & really give the fans what they've been asking for. This LP is gonna be heat top to bottom, there's no denying the chemistry Sky & I have in the studio, we always bring out the best in each other. Get ready, it's almost Barrel Brothers season".
Barrel Brothers includes features from Sean Price, Guilty Simpson, Blu, and more, along with production by DJ Premier, Jahlil Beats, !llmind, Black Milk, Apollo Brown, Oh-No, and a host of others, and will deliver the singles "Blue Yankee Fitted", "Make You A Believer", "The Aura", and more. The album will serve as exactly what the climate is in need of; stellar NYC lyricism, gritty drum driven production, and 'rewind button' moments over and over again.
In preparation of the release, the duo will get the ball rolling with the release of a bi-weekly vlog capturing the making of the album; a behind the scenes in-studio video series of the two at work, as well as singles, videos, and more to set the tone for whats to come on 5/27.
In the spirit of Raekwon and Ghostface Killah, Nas and AZ, Jadakiss and Styles P, and EPMD, the long awaited Barrel Brothers album will be available in stores and online at all major music retail outlets on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, via First Generation Rich, Inc./Internal Affairs Ent./Loyalty Digital Corp./Empire Distribution.
RELEASE DATE: May 27th
TRACKLIST:
1) Intro
2) Talk Of The Town (prod. by Oh-No)
3) Make You A Believer (prod. by Jahlil Beats)
4) Tunnel Vision (prod. by !llmind)
5) Blue Yankee Fitted (prod. by !llmind)
6) All In Together (feat. Sean Price & Guilty Simpson) (prod. by Black Milk)
7) Triangle Offense (feat. Sha Stimuli) (prod. by !llmind)
8) Movie Album (skit) (prod. by Auréli1 a.k.a TIGA)
9) Albee Square Mall (feat. Livin Proof) (prod. by Praise)
10) The Hand Off (prod. by Khrysis & Cyrus Tha Great)
11) 4 Bar Friday (prod. by The Stuyvesants)
12) Memorabilia (prod. by AntMan Wonder)
13) Rediscover (feat. Blu) (prod. by MarcNfinit)
14) The Aura (prod. by DJ Premier, co-produced by AntMan Wonder)
15) Got It From Here (prod. by Apollo Brown) (bonus-itunes & vinyl only)
As always, thanks for your support. And if you post on your blogs/sites/etc, please tag our official twitter accounts: @Skyzoo and @Torae