Over the course of the last six months Pennsylvania rapper Lil Skies has become a must-know name in the rap world. A little over a year ago Skies was just another rapper with a small but dedicated following releasing music on Soundcloud, but thanks to key affiliations with both Cam of Cufboys and Cole Bennett, Lil Skies gained the platform to present his music to a larger audience. And when he got the chance he didn’t waste it--both “Red Roses” and “Nowadays” are currently at 30 million views on Youtube alone.
Recently both of his singles with artist Landon Cube made their debuts on the Billboard Hot 100 and “Red Roses” is currently surging upwards. It’s only a matter of time before Skies takes his rightful place alongside the stars of the new school.
But Lil Skies has not been without some criticism and while the critiques are much lesser than many of his controversial peers they still exist. Some have accused his musical style of being vanilla, while others think his odd relationship with Cufboys (popular for the Mom reacts videos) qualify him as an “Industry plant.” Regardless, Lil Skies is here to stay and as long as his music remains accessible the criticisms are meaningless.
If you aren't adept at Lil Skies' music yet, here are the songs to know.
Red Roses ft Landon Cube
The first of two major Lil Skies and Landon Cube collaborations, “Red Roses,” is the song that officially put Skies on everyone’s radar. Produced by Menoh Beats, Skies rides the simple but radio ready production without a hitch and his voice blends nicely with Landon Cube’s.
When the “Red Roses” video was first introduced to the world some were confused by how quickly the view count was rising, with some wondering if credit should be placed solely on Cole Bennett’s visuals. But what the music world would soon find out is that it was Skies’ ability to craft something both catchy and accessible, while taking full advantage of the platform Cole Bennett gave him.
The Clique
To capitalize on growing buzz and popularity Lil Skies decided to release a mixtape titled Life of a Dark Rose. Aside from the songs that contributed to his rise, the standout from the tape and the possible next momentum carrying hit for Skies is “The Clique.” This track is significant as it is Skies’ first experience collaborating with a major producer, borrowing Lil Uzi Vert’s go-to talent, Maaly Raw. Not only is it one of Maaly Raw’s strongest beats in a deep catalogue, but we’re also exposed to Skies’ versatility as he refreshingly refuses to stick with one flow.
Fake
“Fake” off of Lil Skies’ tape Alone is a good track to listen to if you want to see how far he’s come. On this song Skies channels the spirit of OVO as he moodily croons over the hazy beat filled with tons of reverb and rattling hi hats. Some have accused Lil Skies of being a chameleon meaning he can fit himself into whatever style is hot at the moment, and even if that may be true this is a vital track to learn more about his inspirations.
Da Sauce
One of Lil Skies’ first attention-grabbing tracks was the uptempo “Da Sauce.” Although, the song is only about a year and a half old, Lil Skies musically is nearly unrecognizable. Lyrically, it’s more Lil Skies flexing than the love and relationship-themed songs his fans have become accustomed to. This song also happened to be one of the first tracks and videos pushed by the popular Youtube channel Cufboys, and where he realized that he was a couple of tweaks away from becoming a sensation.
Nowadays ft Landon Cube
The second Lil Skies collaboration with director Cole Bennett “Nowadays,” again features Landon Cube and is the moment when rap realized that “Red Roses” was not a fluke. Gaining almost 30 million plays on Youtube in its first month of release it has quickly become the quintessential Lil Skies track. The song is moody and Skies finally figures out how to present his personality best. On top of all that, prolific producer CashmoneyAP provides a perfect backdrop for Lil Skies to explore his pop fantasies.
Signs of Jealousy
“Signs of Jealousy” isn’t the most popular song in Lil Skies’ small discography, but it may be the very best. Once again rapping over a breezy Menoh Beats production he finally finds his voice on the track as his confidence feels genuine. And if nothing else, Lil Skies angrily (for the first time) saying “Pom-pom ass niggas, Ol’ Uncle Tom ass niggas” is all worth it.
Some Way
Most of the Lil Skies tracks that listeners are familiar with have all been released within the last year, mainly because that’s when he came into his own. Still, there are tracks from Skies’ earlier tapes that are worthwhile such as “Some Way” from his second project Alone. On this track you can tell that Skies is still going through a transition from a more traditional rapper into one that fits in with the modern new school. As he blends his very capable rapping ability with a growing knack for hooks.
No Bad Vibes
“No Bad Vibes” is another pre-buzz Lil Skies song where he finds himself reflecting over a beat that easily could find itself on So Far Gone. This is the peak of his Drake-influenced music. Almost everything on this track will remind you of melancholy songs like “The Calm” or “Fear” and it isn’t a bad thing. Skies used his Drake influence as a starting base, which many have done before him, but what’s different is that he would quickly learn to expand on it.
Lust
Lil Skies doesn’t have one producer that he works with consistently like many seem to do these days, but out of the ones that he has used multiple times his best chemistry is with CashmoneyAP. Not only is “Lust” one of Skies’ strongest songs but also if paired with a video will possibly be his next hit. The most impressive thing about it, is to see how far melodically Skies has come, starting out as another rapper doing a Drake imitation to now being competent enough to have his own style and actual vocal range.
Rude
Much of Lil Skies’ recent output is an easy going flow paired with a brisk beat, normally from Menoh Beats or CashmoneyAP. “Rude” is different, though, incorporating an intoxicating synth provided by AllSteezy and a sound that feels distinctly west coast despite Skies hailing from Pennsylvania. It’s a nice change of pace for Skies and a perfect example of why his transition into the mainstream has been seamless, his adaptability is a major strength.