Lil Skies makes every move with his family in mind. His very moniker nods to his dadβs rap alias βDark Skies.β Before his career took off, he ducked out of college and started making moves to support everyone. Minted as a rising star, Skies named his 2019 chart-topping debut, βShelby,β after his mother. As a father himself now, the multiplatinum Waynesboro, PA rapper goes harder than ever in 2021 on his second full-length offering, βUnbothered,β out now via Atlantic Records/All We Got Ent.
I would die for my family. Iβve got a big heart, and I wear it on my sleeve. I pretty much live to make others happy. I care about my loved ones so much. My son motivates me to keep going and making more songs, because Iβve got somebody else to take care of. Itβs not just about me; itβs about my little boy. All of my albums are just phases. They represent my growth. Unbothered is where my life is at the moment.
Lil Skies
Skies tirelessly put in the work to get here. His 2017 breakthrough mixtape, βLife Of A Dark Rose,β vaulted to #10 on the Billboard Top 200 and picked up a Platinum plaque. On its heels, 2019’s βShelbyβ bowed at #5 and became certified Gold. Racking up over 4 billion streams, he logged three double-platinum singles β βRed Rosesβ, βNowadaysβ, and βLustβ β one platinum single with βI,β and four gold singles, namely βCreeping,β βWelcome To The Rodeo,β βI Know Youβ, and βCloudy Skies.β
Holing up back in Pennsylvania during the Global Pandemic, he pieced together βUnbotheredβ throughout 2020. Beyond a handful of songs in Los Angeles, he recorded the bulk of the project at his friendβs crib in Waynesboro.
For the first time since junior high, Lil Skies freestyled most of the songs.
When I made my first mixtape, it was all freestyle. I hadnβt done that in so long. I spent so much time writing songs. A lot of these tracks were just off the top of my head. It was more challenging and rewarding for me.
Lil Skies
Paving the way for the album, he dropped βHavin My Wayβ (ft. Lil Durk), βOK,β βOn Sight,β and βRiot, which impressively generated over 42.5 million Spotify streams in a few monthsβ time. The music reflected heightened storytelling in addition to catchy and combustible bars underpinned by charisma and emotion all at once.
In the end, Lil Skies delivers an important message to himself and listeners on βUnbothered.β
When you hear the record, I hope youβre inspired to do what you want to do and not let hate tear you down. Thereβs a lot of bad stuff in the world. Iβm telling the kids to stay grounded, and Iβm telling myself to stay grounded and keep working too. Understand there are going to be some dark days and bad days, but youβll come out stronger for sure. Keep chasing the dream.
Lil Skies
Tracklisting:
- Fade Away
- Take 5
- Excite Me ft. Wiz Khalifa
- Havinβ My Way ft. Lil Durk
- OK
- Dead Broke
- On Sight
- Think Deep Donβt Sink
- Red Wine & Jodeci
- Locked Up
- Trust Nobody
- Riot
- Sky High
- Mhmmm