While he doesn’t change the perception of rappers fueled to success via SoundCloud, Lil Skies continues to show potential for bigger things on “No Rest.”

I’ve never denied having some issues with rappers propelled by SoundCloud. Personally, I’ve found the quality of the music being produced by some of the artists to be sketchy.  Still, the SoundCloud rap movement, led by a number of hungry, young rappers also has its fair share of promise.  One of the more promising youngsters is Lil Skies. The Pennsylvanian rapper returns with a brief new single, “No Rest.”  Sure a ‘lack of rest’ isn’t good for your health, but there’s some things to like about it in the hands of Skies.  Okay, silly pun.

“No Rest” opens with moody, minor key piano – pro. The intro is excerpted from the catchy chorus which follows.  The chorus is one of the selling points of “No Rest,” even if its content isn’t deep per se.

“I’ve been up five days, I can’t get no rest / Stay inside my house, dodgin’ questions from the press / She gon’ fall in love, my n*gga, what did you expect? / Everybody love you when they know that you got next / Got my gang with me, we on that f*ck shit / She didn’t like me then, now she wanna suck it /I don’t got no time, get my cash in abundance/ Book me for a show, I hit your stage and get it jumpin’.”

Beyond the chorus, there is a post-chorus, which is all ‘flex-fest.’ Skies mentions Balenciaga, likens his girlfriend to a modern-day Madonna, and disses other dudes who aren’t rolling with him.  With so much time spent on the chorus and post-chorus, what about the verse? Well, there’s only one. All in all, he does a great job with his boyish, pop-rap delivery and easy-going flow.

Final Thoughts

Lil Skies doesn’t reinvent the wheel. Also, he doesn’t necessarily change perceptions about the depth – rather the ‘lack of depth’ – in SoundCloud rap.  That considered, “No Rest” is worth the listen.  Is it a surefire bop? Nah, but definitely worth the listen for the aforementioned reasons.

Lil Skies • No Rest – Single • 2018 • Release: 8.13.18

Photo Credit: 2018