Search - Skee-Lo :: I Can't Stop

"I Can't Wait"

Mike-Mike | 10/17/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Chicago emigre, now securely ensconed in the sunny and presumably inspiring surrounds of Los Angeles, famous for his single 'Wish' ("I wish I was taller, I wish I was a baller...") and the two Grammy nominations that also came his way in 1995, is back after a rather protracted absence. While he raps his way around myriad topics from being "more exciting than movies with Samuel L (Jackson) innit" to shopping malls, a diverse and often wholly unexpected instrumentation belies the myth that all rap music sounds the same. Skee-Lo once again shows that rhythm and melody can happily sit together and create a new direction within rap, one that does not use gangland stories, profanity and absurd, irritating sexist diatribes.When discussing his personal experiences, Skee-Lo's essence leans more towards R'n'B than hip-hop and, with acoustic guitars, electric drums and backing vocals from such as Jocelyn Buchanan, the instrumentation is unusually diverse and harmonious for the genre within which he operates. He seems to have actively chosen not to address the themes that the likes of The Notorious B.I.G. or Sean "Puff Daddy" Coombes made their names with but instead to get on down to matters sexual and lovey, offering much opportunity for smoochy lyrics and saccharine backing vocals. While some might immediately criticise him for not addressing the usual issues rap ordinarily faces, this album - and artist - benefits enormously from the original approach he takes.The opening track, 'Bounce Back', is perhaps the best single of last year never to be released, with 'At The Mall' and 'R-U-A-Player' also getting the feet tapping and, definitively, the brain cells whirring, or whatever it is that brain cells do.But what has he done for the last five years? It seems from the literature we've seen that he has co-written and produced other people's projects, hosted shows on MTV and worked with Californian drug charities. And after such a protracted absence, why all the optimism? "I was born in an urban environment," says Skee-Lo. "I've seen a wide range of two worlds. I've seen it on the downside and I've seen it on the upside. Just being alive is a lot to be happy for. Loving what you do and having the fortune of sharing it with others who appreciate it is all I can ask for."Rare, indeed."

Surprise Surprise

Mike-Mike | Louisville, KY United States | 03/13/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I got Skee-Lo's original albumn off the success of the "I Wish" single, and I always liked it, but I didn't expect this. From what I've read this albumn is all original, no samples, and all live music, that's damn near unheard of now days in hip-hop. His flow is incredible, his voice is perfect. Like I said, I liked Skee-Lo, but this albumn blew me out the water. I listen to lots of hard core hip-hop, from Pac to Biggie to Twiztid to RBX to NytOwl to underground ish you never heard, and I'm still amazed by how good Skee-Lo brought it with this albumn. I highly recommend it."