The year of 2019 saw a number of incredible album releases in the HOP. One of those that is often underrated is the Skyzoo and Pete Rock ‘Retropolitan,’ whose music fit the album title completely. Skyzoo has been hustling his way through the backstage of this music industry with rhymes, for just about twenty years while Pete Rock… Well what is even left to be said about his legacy within HOP music. ‘Retropolitan’ works by not leaning on the tired “lyrics” narrative of “back in the day” but instead tries to put the listener in the experience of a past gon era, not only in the HOP but New York specifically. Skyzoo provides clever tales of fashion, street politics and pride of this fictional “Retropolitan” city. Pete Rock is more in his dusty sample bag, similar to Watch The Throne’s ‘Otis’ but with way more energy in the production. Features are limited to only a few tracks that include Raheem DeVaughn, Styles P. and a rare posse cut with the Griselda camp and Elzhi. ‘Retropolitan’ achieves it’s mission of respecting and continuing the essence of “East Coast rap” with no apologies. Something that is often needed as those characteristics seem to be shamed into oblivion these days. What did you think of the album? Singles include: ‘It’s All Good’ Listen to QUANTUM LEAP RADIO every Saturday from 4-6p.m. CST & Thursday from 3-5a.m. CST on 90.1 FM KPFT Houston in HD2 Worldwide @kpft.org/listen/ & TuneIn app (under “kpft in HD2”) Catch past episodes by searching and following @fanlink.to/QuantumLeapRadio
