Skyzoo’s A Dream Deferred Produced By Illmind in Brooklyn
Brooklyn rapper Skyzoo will put out his sophomore LP, A Dream Deferred, on October 2 via his newly established label, The Faculty – distributed through Brooklyn-based Duck Down Music, Inc. (Pharoahe Monch, KRS-One & Buckshot).
The album is “slightly jazz-themed”, named for the Langston Hughes poem, and reportedly features bigger sound than his debut – “containing lush, bright instruments, 808 drums, and subtle song samples melding into cohesion.”
The project contains guest features from Jill Scott, Talib Kweli, Raheem Devaughn and Freeway, among others.
A Dream Deferred was co-executive produced by longtime collaborator and beatmaker Illmind (50 Cent, Ludacris), who oversaw much of the live instrumentation, mixed the entire album and produced four tracks himself – all out of his own Big China Studios in Brooklyn. [Read our interview with Illmind here.]
Violinists, pianists, and horn players were recruited to provide organic elements that create a cinematic feel to the songs. Skyzoo’s vocals were cut with an MXL V-69 mic.
The album was mastered by jazz musician and engineer/producer Chris Boerner (The Foreign Exchange, Phonte).
In addition to Illmind, Skyzoo enlisted hip-hop producers Jahlil Beats (Meek Mill, Lil Wayne), Black Milk (Jack White, Random Axe), 9th Wonder (Jay-Z, Destiny’s Child), Focus (Busta Rhymes, Marsha Ambrosius) and Dj Khalil (Dr. Dre, Drake) among others.
The first release, “Jansport Strings,” (produced by 9th Wonder”) can be heard here:
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