Live From The Tape Deck
Encyclopedia
Live from the Tape Deck is the collaborative studio album
by Brooklyn rapper Skyzoo
and New Jersey producer Illmind
, released on October 5, 2010, under Duck Down Records
. Recording sessions for the album took place at Big China Studios in Brooklyn, New York in 2010.
, there aren't any deep undertones or personal records. The album is a collection of raw hip hop with a cohesive backdrop. With this project, the two artists have planned to bring what hip hop veterans such as Eric B. & Rakim
, Gang Starr
, EPMD
, NWA
and A Tribe Called Quest
brought by having one producer with one sound and one theme. But, Live from the Tape Deck does not sound like hip hop in the 1990s.
Skyzoo also clarified that this project isn't the follow-up to The Salvation.
Skyzoo's goal while recording the album was "to make something that felt like a 2010 cassette tape". He wanted the content to be raw and lyric driven as always, but not as story driven or emotional as The Salvation was. There are still parts of the album that are stories and concepts, but not as much as his debut had. This one is more of a beats and rhymes type of album.
, Torae
, Styles P
, Buckshot
and Rhymefest
. Skyzoo goes further saying,
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
by Brooklyn rapper Skyzoo
Skyzoo
Skyzoo is a New York hip hop emcee.-Biography:Born Gregory Skyler Taylor in 1982 in Crown Heights, he grew up in Bedford-Stuyvesant. He was nicknamed Skyzoo by his parents after the Skyy disco song...
and New Jersey producer Illmind
Illmind
Illmind is a Filipino American hip hop producer from Bloomfield, New Jersey. He participated in Beat Society, competing against well-known acts like Kanye West and Just Blaze. Illmind has created music for underground artists such as Little Brother, Boot Camp Clik, Akrobatik, Supastition, and El...
, released on October 5, 2010, under Duck Down Records
Duck Down Records
Duck Down Music Inc is a New York City based record label, talent management, music-marketing, and consulting company founded by Drew "Dru-Ha" Friedman and Kenyatta "Buckshot" Blake in 1995. In Duck Down's 16 year existence, the Company has released over 40 Albums and sold more than 3 million...
. Recording sessions for the album took place at Big China Studios in Brooklyn, New York in 2010.
Background
Unlike Skyzoo's debut album The SalvationThe Salvation
Sample credits:* "The Opener" prod. by Cyrus Tha Great contains a sample of "December Will Be Magic Again" by Kate Bush* "Return of the Real" prod. by Just Blaze contains a sample of "Dreams" by Stark Reality...
, there aren't any deep undertones or personal records. The album is a collection of raw hip hop with a cohesive backdrop. With this project, the two artists have planned to bring what hip hop veterans such as Eric B. & Rakim
Eric B. & Rakim
Eric B. & Rakim were a hip-hop duo composed of DJ Eric Barrier and MC Rakim .Hailing from Long Island, New York, the pair are generally considered by hip hop enthusiasts to be one of the most influential and innovative groups in the genre...
, Gang Starr
Gang Starr
Gang Starr was an influential East Coast hip hop duo that consisted of the late MC Guru and DJ/producer DJ Premier. Their style combined elements of New York jazz and hip hop.-Background:...
, EPMD
EPMD
EPMD is an American hip hop group from Brentwood, New York. The group's name is a concatenation of the members' name "E" and "PMD" or an acronym for "Erick and Parrish Making Dollars", referencing its members, emcees Erick Sermon and Parrish Smith...
, NWA
NWA
-Nwa:*Nwa, Kale, a village in Burma*Nwa, Cameroon, a commune in the Nord-Ouest region of Cameroon-Groups or organizations:* Northwest Airlines, a defunct U.S...
and A Tribe Called Quest
A Tribe Called Quest
A Tribe Called Quest is an American hip hop group, formed in 1985, and is composed of rapper/producer Q-Tip , rapper Phife Dawg , and DJ/producer Ali Shaheed Muhammad. A fourth member, rapper Jarobi White, left the group after their first album but rejoined in 2006...
brought by having one producer with one sound and one theme. But, Live from the Tape Deck does not sound like hip hop in the 1990s.
Skyzoo also clarified that this project isn't the follow-up to The Salvation.
Skyzoo's goal while recording the album was "to make something that felt like a 2010 cassette tape". He wanted the content to be raw and lyric driven as always, but not as story driven or emotional as The Salvation was. There are still parts of the album that are stories and concepts, but not as much as his debut had. This one is more of a beats and rhymes type of album.
Production
Illmind took a custom approach to the production for the album based on the concept of Live from the Tape Deck, explaining that,Guest artists
Skyzoo and Illmind secured features from artists that matched the Live from the Tape Deck concept. These artists are Heltah SkeltahHeltah Skeltah
Heltah Skeltah is a hip hop duo consisting of members Rock and Ruck . The two are members of New York supergroup Boot Camp Clik, along with Buckshot, Smif-N-Wessun and O.G.C....
, Torae
Torae
Torae is an American rapper from the Coney Island section of Brooklyn, New York.- Career :Torae gained recognition by collaborating with DJ Premier and Marco Polo. He and Polo went on to receive critical acclaim for their collaborative LP entitled Double Barrel. In 2007, Hip Hop DX featured him in...
, Styles P
Styles P
David Styles better known by his stage name, Styles P, is an American rapper, author, and entrepreneur. He is prominently known as a member of Hip Hop group The LOX and is also a part of the Ruff Ryders hip-hop group, and in addition has released multiple albums and mixtapes as a solo...
, Buckshot
Buckshot (rapper)
Buckshot is an underground rapper, famous as the leader of Hip Hop supergroup Boot Camp Clik, and the group Black Moon. He has released one solo album, two with producer 9th Wonder, four albums with Black Moon and four albums with the Boot Camp Clik.- Biography :Born and raised in Brooklyn...
and Rhymefest
Rhymefest
Che Smith , known by the stage name of Rhymefest, is an American hip hop artist from Chicago, Illinois whose first official album, Blue Collar, was released on July 11, 2006. He co-wrote Kanye West's "Jesus Walks", which won a Grammy at the 47th Grammy Awards. In October, 2010, Rhymefest announced...
. Skyzoo goes further saying,
Singles
- "Frisbees" was released as the first single on July 13, 2010. A video for the song was made and released on July 29, 2010. It is directed by Derek PikeDerek PikeDerek Pike is a 23 year old American music video director and photographer. He is of half British and half Japanese-American descent. In May 2010 Derek graduated from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts where he majored in Film and Television...
.
- "Speakers On Blast" is the second single and was released on August 30, 2010. The music video was released on October 6, 2010. It is also directed by Derek PikeDerek PikeDerek Pike is a 23 year old American music video director and photographer. He is of half British and half Japanese-American descent. In May 2010 Derek graduated from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts where he majored in Film and Television...
. The official remix was released on November 22, 2010 and it features Lloyd BanksLloyd BanksChristopher Charles Lloyd , better known by his stage name Lloyd Banks, is an American rapper and member of the rap group G-Unit. Raised in South Jamaica, Queens, he dropped out of high school in 1998. G-Unit released two albums, Beg for Mercy in 2003 and T.O.S. in 2008...
and MainoMainoMaino is an American rapper from Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, New York City, New York.-Early life:...
.
Critical response
Tracklisting
Samples
- "Frisbees"
- "Laying Eggs" by PazPazPaz Oil Company Ltd. is the largest Israeli fuels company. Its name means "gold" in Hebrew. Paz distributes gasoline and other oil products through a network of gas stations, as well as natural gas for home use through its subsidiary PazGaz...
- "DuneShogun AssassinShogun Assassin, known in Japan as , is a jidaigeki film made for the British and American markets and released in 1980. In 2006 it was restored and re-released on DVD in North America by AnimEigo....
" by The Wonderland Philharmonic
- "Laying Eggs" by Paz
- "Barrel Brothers"
- "(It Would Almost) Drive Me Out of My Mind" by Four TopsFour TopsThe Four Tops are an American vocal quartet, whose repertoire has included doo-wop, jazz, soul music, R&B, disco, adult contemporary, hard rock, and showtunes...
- "(It Would Almost) Drive Me Out of My Mind" by Four Tops
- "The Now Or Never"
- "Supersnatch" by Frankie MillerFrankie MillerFrankie Miller is a Scottish rock singer-songwriter, who had his biggest success in the 1970s. Miller was raised at Colvend Street, Glasgow with his parents, Cathy and Frank, and elder sisters Letty and Anne. Miller attended Sacred Heart Primary school. He was an altar boy in Sacred Heart Chapel...
- "Supersnatch" by Frankie Miller
- "#Allabouthat"
- "Do You Love Me Just a Little, Honey" by Gladys Knight & The PipsGladys Knight & the PipsGladys Knight & The Pips were an R&B/soul family musical act from Atlanta, Georgia, active from 1953 to 1989. The group was best known for their string of hit singles on Motown's "Soul" record label and Buddah Records from 1967 to 1975, including "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" and "Midnight...
- "Do You Love Me Just a Little, Honey" by Gladys Knight & The Pips
Personnel
- SkyzooSkyzooSkyzoo is a New York hip hop emcee.-Biography:Born Gregory Skyler Taylor in 1982 in Crown Heights, he grew up in Bedford-Stuyvesant. He was nicknamed Skyzoo by his parents after the Skyy disco song...
– vocals, executive producerExecutive producerAn executive producer is a producer who is not involved in any technical aspects of the film making or music process, but who is still responsible for the overall production... - IllmindIllmindIllmind is a Filipino American hip hop producer from Bloomfield, New Jersey. He participated in Beat Society, competing against well-known acts like Kanye West and Just Blaze. Illmind has created music for underground artists such as Little Brother, Boot Camp Clik, Akrobatik, Supastition, and El...
– producerRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, executive producer - Dru Ha – associate executive producer
- BuckshotBuckshot (rapper)Buckshot is an underground rapper, famous as the leader of Hip Hop supergroup Boot Camp Clik, and the group Black Moon. He has released one solo album, two with producer 9th Wonder, four albums with Black Moon and four albums with the Boot Camp Clik.- Biography :Born and raised in Brooklyn...
– associate executive producer, featured vocals - Heltah SkeltahHeltah SkeltahHeltah Skeltah is a hip hop duo consisting of members Rock and Ruck . The two are members of New York supergroup Boot Camp Clik, along with Buckshot, Smif-N-Wessun and O.G.C....
– featured vocals - Styles PStyles PDavid Styles better known by his stage name, Styles P, is an American rapper, author, and entrepreneur. He is prominently known as a member of Hip Hop group The LOX and is also a part of the Ruff Ryders hip-hop group, and in addition has released multiple albums and mixtapes as a solo...
– featured vocals - RhymefestRhymefestChe Smith , known by the stage name of Rhymefest, is an American hip hop artist from Chicago, Illinois whose first official album, Blue Collar, was released on July 11, 2006. He co-wrote Kanye West's "Jesus Walks", which won a Grammy at the 47th Grammy Awards. In October, 2010, Rhymefest announced...
– featured vocals - ToraeToraeTorae is an American rapper from the Coney Island section of Brooklyn, New York.- Career :Torae gained recognition by collaborating with DJ Premier and Marco Polo. He and Polo went on to receive critical acclaim for their collaborative LP entitled Double Barrel. In 2007, Hip Hop DX featured him in...
– featured vocals, additional vocals on "Speakers on Blast" - Rapsody – additional vocals on "Speakers on Blast"
- Gabriel – additional guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
s on "Digital Analog", "The Burn Notice" and "Krylon" - Ricardo Gutierrez – masteringAudio masteringMastering, a form of audio post-production, is the process of preparing and transferring recorded audio from a source containing the final mix to a data storage device ; the source from which all copies will be produced...
- Andre Trenier – illustrations
- Jean Goode – artwork
- Skrilla – additional artwork