The instrumental on Smoke DZA's new collaboration with Royce Da 5'9" should be immediately familiar to you, and no, it's not because he released a Part 1 to the song a couple weeks back. The glossy instrumental comes from Biggie's Life After Death classic "Sky's The Limit," and surprisingly, it hasn't aged a bit. The luxurious, smoked-out atmosphere DZA has been creating since he broke out with George Kush Da Button is very much intact here, and the jiggy-era beat brings out the Mase-like glide of the Harlem rapper's voice. Meanwhile, Detroit's Royce Da 5'9" proves once again that he can be both highly technical and effortlessly stylish at the same time.
The song comes off DZA's new project Cuz I Felt Like It Again with DJ Whoo Kid. The tape features guest appearances from Cozz, Big K.R.I.T., Levy Green and tour mate, Westside Gunn.
When we spoke to DZA a little while back, he told us about the distinction he makes between mixtapes and albums. "I've dropped one mixtape, to me," he said. "That's 'cause I felt like it… that was a mixtape 'cause I rap over other people's beats. So when you rap over somebody's else's shit, it's not original. But when you put out original content, it's original, so it's an album. So, I mean, I count George Kush, and I count Rollin' Stoned, and THC, and Coney - all them shits is albums. Sweet Baby Kushed God - album. Because they're all original content, and it's my shit."
Last month, DZA rapped over Fabolous' Jahlil Beats-produced track "Get Down Or Stay Down." In April, he released his project Ringside 5 with producer 183rd. Last December, he teamed with legendary beatmaker Pet Rock for the Don't Smoke Rock album, which featured guest appearances from Rick Ross, Dave East, Cam'ron, and Wale.
Quotable Lyrics:
Your homegirl miserable
Weirdo
Every time we smoke
She get spriritual
Tell her cool out, she undressed
Took it literal, critical
Shit is getting physical
In her groove
She was on her knees
Way before it got political
Take a week off
Let's hit Paris for lunch
Depending how well you play it
You might just get a month