A gifted, perpetually underrated MC from Bed-Stuy Brooklyn, Skyzoo has been putting in work for many years, collaborating with superstar producers like 9th Wonder and J Dilla, as well as North Carolina's Justus League collective. Lyrically, he shuns the stereotypical murder/drug/party styles, instead rhyming primarily about real life issues, whether that is family, day-to-day existence, or his ongoing struggle to blow up in the rap game against bigger names with lesser skills. After unleashing numerous mixtapes over the years, The Salvation is his first "real" album, released in 2009 as a collaboration between Jamla and NYC indie powerhouse Duck Down Records. Sixteen joints deep, with absolutely no guest rappers, it fuses honest wordplay with lush production from Just Blaze, Nottz, and 9th Wonder, resulting in standout tracks including "The Beautiful Decay," "Like a Marathon," "Under Pressure," and "For What It's Worth." All told The Salvation is an impressive debut of down-to-earth autobiographical rap from a rising talent.