Lil Skies, a significant figure in the contemporary rap scene, has seen a remarkable rise in his career over recent years. His journey from a small-town kid in Pennsylvania to a renowned figure in the music industry is a testament to his talent, determination, and unique style. According to CelebrityNetWorth, his success has culminated in a net worth of $3 million as of 2024.
Born Kimetrius Christopher Foose, Lil Skies grew up in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, where his early exposure to music came from his father, a musician. This early influence sparked his passion for rap, leading him to create music that resonated with a broad audience. Skies’ decision to drop out of college to pursue a full-time career in music proved to be a pivotal moment in his life, propelling him into the limelight.
Early Life & Musical Beginnings
LONG BEACH, CA – APRIL 28: Rapper Lil Skies attends the Smokers Club Festival at The Queen Mary on April 28, 2018 in Long Beach, California. (Photo by Scott Dudelson/Getty Images)
Lil Skies’ upbringing in a musically inclined household laid the foundation for his future career. His father, known as Dark Skies, played a crucial role in nurturing his love for music. Growing up, Skies faced numerous challenges, including financial hardships and personal struggles, which he later channeled into his music. His authenticity and raw storytelling ability allowed him to connect deeply with listeners, creating a loyal fanbase.
Breakthrough & Mainstream Success
LONG BEACH, CA – APRIL 28: Rapper Lil Skies performs onstage during the Smokers Club Festival at The Queen Mary on April 28, 2018 in Long Beach, California. (Photo by Scott Dudelson/Getty Images)
Skies’ breakthrough came with the release of his mixtape Alone in 2017, which featured the hit single “Red Roses.” This track, along with “Nowadays,” another popular single from the same mixtape, garnered millions of streams on platforms like SoundCloud and YouTube, catching the attention of major record labels. His talent and growing popularity led to a deal with Atlantic Records, marking the beginning of his professional career.
After signing with Atlantic Records, Lil Skies released his debut studio album, Life of a Dark Rose, in 2018. The album was a commercial success, peaking at No. 10 on the Billboard 200 chart. It featured popular tracks such as “Nowadays” and “Red Roses,” which further solidified his place in the rap industry. Skies’ ability to blend melodic hooks with introspective lyrics made the album a favorite among fans and critics.
Continued Evolution & Influence
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – AUGUST 03: Lil Skies performs at the Lollapalooza Music Festival at Grant Park on August 03, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Josh Brasted/FilmMagic)
Futher, Lil Skies continued to release successful projects, including his second studio album, Shelby, named after his mother. Released in 2019, Shelby showcased his growth as an artist and featured collaborations with artists like Gucci Mane and Gunna. The album received positive reviews and charted well, reinforcing Skies’ status as a rising star in the rap world.
Lil Skies’ journey in the music industry is characterized by his continuous evolution as an artist. He has remained relevant by adapting to changing musical trends while staying true to his personal style. His lyrical content often explores themes of love, loss, and personal growth, reverberating deeply with his audience.
Skies’ influence extends beyond his music. He is active on social media, engaging with his fans and sharing glimpses of his life and creative process. This direct connection with his audience has helped him maintain a strong fanbase and stay relevant in an ever-changing industry. Moreover, Skies has ventured into fashion, collaborating with brands and launching his own merchandise, further diversifying his income streams.
Lil Skies has been enthralled with music ever since he can remember, and it continues to be his saving grace.
Boasts an incredibly loyal fanbase, Lil Skies exploded onto the scene with his own unique sound, turning pain into art and fostering his own lane in the world of trap, Hip-Hop, and R&B. Putting his hometown of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania on the map, it was records such as “Lust,” “Nowadays,” “Red Roses,” and many more that secured his name as a mainstay in the music industry.
If you’re wondering where Skies has been, he’s been busy being a father to his 4-year-old son. His desire to be completely present is one we can all love and appreciate. On fatherhood, Skies states, “I like it. I enjoy it, a little bit more music probably.”
While Lil Skies blew up on the internet, he’s actually an introvert and prefers to stay off social media. His recent return arrived in the form of his new project titled Out Ur Body, spearheaded by fan favorites “CALL ME,” “DRANK TALK,” and “THOUSANDS.”
The Source spoke with Lil Skies virtually about fatherhood, the new project, love for Lil Durk and Drakeo The Ruler, and more!
What mental state were you in when you found out you were going to be a dad?
Honestly, I don’t even remember. It was just a part of my life. I’ve been taking care of people, helping out my family since I was 14. I always felt like I wanted to help my family in general so when I was having my own kid, I’m damn sure not going to leave him dry. I gotta take care of all these people, what I look like not taking care of him? He matters more than anybody, so I gotta be there for him first. He counts first, ahead of everybody fasho.
Does he fuck with your music?
Yeah. His favorite song is the song that he’s in the video. It’s called “On Sight,” he loves that song.
It was cool, because that’s what I wanted to show: a part of my life. Give it to the fans because it’s a big part of my life, it’s not something I’m not trying to hide. I got baby Ki tatted on my face, this shit is forreal. You need to see my son, I’m a representation of everybody. But definitely my son though. It’s who I do it for. I wouldn’t be going still if I didn’t have him, I ain’t gon’ lie.
Why’d you name the album Out Ur Body?
I just want you to listen to it and feel free, not really no expectation. When you listen to it, feel good or makes you think about something. I really wanted to have a couple performance songs, because I like performing obviously. That’s one of my favorite parts. That’s what I was on at the time. I’ve been had it done. I got so much newer music since that shit. I’ve made way more songs after that, that was just a taste .
Was that recorded in the last year, or was that older?
I don’t know how other artists are, but me, I’ll switch something out last minute. I’ll add a song. I might make a song the day before and say yo, y’all put that on. That’s what I do. I listen to it in order. This one, I ain’t trying to overthink it. I wanted to really get something out, because I know they was waiting. I really wanted to get something out for them, to hold them over in the meantime.
Do you have a favorite song on the album right now?
I got two. It’s “Running Out Of Time’ and “MISUNDERSTOOD,” those my favorites. I see people like “DRANK TALK” a lot and “CALL ME,” the first two songs. I do like them too, but “MISUNDERSTOOD” probably one of my favorites.
I was listening to “DRANK TALK,” you say rest in peace Speaker Knockerz. Did you guys have a relationship?
Nah, but I wish. Man, what? That was SoundCloud before you knew what SoundCloud was. YouTube, all that. I was a real Speaker Knockerz fan. I liked the autotune, the sound. I was on it. First song I heard, I was attached. I’m the type, I was really fascinated with music so I go do my research about artists. I really find out everything, I watch every interview about them. I really be a fan of Hip-Hop, so I went and learned shit.
I remember I interviewed Lil Tecca, I asked him his Top 5 and he mentioned Speaker Knockerz. That shit went viral.
Speaker Knockerz, a lot of people don’t give them credit. I won’t say a lot of people don’t give them credit, but sometimes I gotta keep the name [alive]. That was me giving them a shout out, respect to bro because he paved the way for a lot of this shit. Even though people realize that. I know the truth, we know the truth. Our generation knows the truth.
What was the moment you fell in love with Hip-Hop?
I don’t even know, I just always liked it. I can’t tell you, that’s what I was into as a kid. At my son’s age, that’s what I was into. He’s more of a kid. I was a kid, I had a kid lifestyle. But at the same time, I was very observant. I watched everything around me. I was very quiet, I was very shy. But in a way, I always on the low was working on music, or trying something. In my room, that’s what I did. I’d be by myself a lot. I spend a lot of time by myself, mad hours in my room. Even if the house was full, that’s just how I be. I’d be in there working on music, that’s what I did.
I was doing it for fun, posting freestyles on Facebook. I always recorded, it was something I did. I don’t know how to explain to people: when it’s your life, it’s your life. Sometimes I look back, I don’t even know what happened. It’s my life, I am this shit. When you look at me, that’s what I am. I’m the product of this shit. No bullshit. I am this shit, everything that comes with it too. It’s how this shit goes.
But I’m not one of these people that’s in it for all these wrong reasons. I don’t care about the cars, jewelry, girls. None of that shit brings me satisfaction. They don’t bring me no type of joy. I try to focus on the real shit in my life, real experiences. I’m more interactive. I’m a more in person type of guy. All this internet stuff — I came in on the internet, but then I fell back from the internet because it was for me personally. I still be on it in a way. I still post daily, so it’s cool.
For me personally, I grew up in a traditional Asian household. It was really hard, so I was angry. Eminem was that artist that really saved me.
Yeah, I remember when 8 Mile came out. I had the little DVD player, the one that looked like a little laptop. I put the CD in, I’d playe that shit back to back. I’d watch that shit a million times, just like Get Rich Or Die Tryin. The Tupac movie, Bohemian Rhapsody, everything. All these types of movies, I’m fascinated.
I watch them a million times over and over again. I can’t explain it. I relate to a lot of shit in a way. Some things I can relate to, some things I can’t. I try to learn too, I try not to make those mistakes too that some people make. But I’m not perfect, I’m human too.
You’re back performing. You ever crowd surfed?
Yeah, I did it my last tour. The World Rage Tour I just had, in New York. It was cool, I damn near had a panic attack or anxiety attack. Damn. [laughs] After COVID, my anxiety got 10 times worse. When I jumped in the crowd, it was cool, but I gotta get back to the stage. I couldn’t breathe, it’s too many people.
When I jump in, everybody wants to touch me and grab me. It’s cool, hey I’m smiling. But real life inside my head, ooh damn. Get me back to the stage. I love it though, it was cool. I don’t do shit like that too much, the crowd surf, because I don’t want to hurt nobody. Anytime I did jump in the crowd. I’ll tell him: alright, y’all want me to jump ? They’ll be like “yeah jump.” Alright I’ma jump.
You gotta think, them touching you probably made their entire week.
I guess, that’s crazy. I’ve never been like that with any famous person or people I’ve met. I see them do normal shit, so I know they’re a normal person. Yeah, this may look like all this, but they still be doing normal shit. People look at people like superheroes, but that’s what we do as humans right?
You never fanned out with anyone?
Nah. Because the people I really fuck with that I met, weren’t even that big. The only one I remember I didn’t want to do too much, let me make sure I’m chill, it was meeting Wiz [Khalifa]. At the same time, it was cool because he welcomed me. Just from what I’ve seen, oh this n*gga real. This shit natural to him. It was some family shit, it was cool. He made me calm my nerves like “You good bro, chill.” Alright cool, say less.
The one I really did mess with is Lil Durk. Durk real as shit, that’s why I support him. I’ve watching him for years. If people know, Durk’s been doing music. To see him finally get his flowers, that shit’s amazing. Because I looked up to him, I used to search “Lil Durk” on YouTube. I first met him, he was at Lyrical Lemonade show in Chicago. I told him exactly what I just said. Ever since then, it’s been on some natural shit. Anytime I went to Atlanta, anytime I was anywhere where he was, he made sure I was good. I was safe. He made sure whatever I needed, I was taken care of. He a real one because a lot of n*ggas don’t do that. That was real.
Even shout out Drakeo The Ruler, I fuck with boy heavy too. Long live Drakeo The Ruler. That was one of my n*ggas forreal. We FaceTimed talking about shit, it don’t even gotta be music. Bro’s a real one. Anytime I’m in LA, he fucked with me. It was cool.
How did you react when you heard what happened?
I was sick to my stomach. That shit still makes me sick to my stomach. I don’t like thinking about it. Long live PnB too. Long live my brother, I don’t even want to speak on that shit.
Lil Skies is a 25-year-old MC who has been making waves for nearly a decade now. The Pennsylvania native just released his latest full-length effort, in the form of a mixtape titled Out Ur Body Music. Connected Sound producer Zerby solely produces the project, which has already sparked a wide array of responses from fans since its release on March 29th. Out Ur Body Music serves as a follow-up to Lil Skies’ sophomore effort, 2021’s Unbothered. The project spans 8 tracks, spread across 24 minutes, including a few singles that were released ahead of the tape’s Easter Sunday drop. Without further ado, let’s examine Lil Skies’ latest effort and review the material therein.
Out Ur Body Music starts strong with a track titled “Call Me.” The opener offers a distant vocal sample from the 2011 Joell Ortiz track of the same name, as Lil Skies raps about loneliness, difficulty connecting with friends, and his desire to turn to illicit substances to numb his pain. Unfortunately, the following track “Drank Talk” touts a nearly identical instrumental, and continues to harp on the same subject matter without adding any new or innovative ideas. Both songs utilize aggressive high hat-forward drum kits, stuttering over low-end 808s to provide a sparse background for Skies to synthesize interesting themes, though he ultimately never does.
Instead, Lil Skies auto-croons his way through some sleepy vocals, once again highlighting alcohol and drug use as self-medication for his tortured emotions. However, it’s important to note that Skies self-identifies as straight edge, opting to abstain from alcohol and drugs. This means that references to such substances throughout his music are there simply for artistic license, and ultimately ring hollow.
The Singles Didn’t Do Skies Any Favors
The mixtape continues into “Thousands” and “Death,” which were each released prior to Out Ur Body Music as singles. While “Thousands” serves as a preview to Lil Skies’ latest material, it ultimately falls flat. The track sees Skies tapping into a growling aggressive voice, which plays so against-type that it makes the track sound like Lil Skies’ lackluster attempt at performing a DMX song on karaoke night. The track also features painful lyrics such as “All you n****s talkin’ tough, but we know you ain’t bold. Treat ’em like some toilet paper, throw ’em down the toilet bowl.” 2024 has already been a big year for poop and toilet bars, which need to be retired from modern music at all cost so that we can progress as a society.
“Death” has some of the same problems, though Lil Skies’ deeper delivery sounds much better here than it does on “Thousands.” Still, this track sounds like Skies doing a forgettable Playboi Carti impression. Even after burying his voice in layer after layer of reverb and autotune, Skies fails to experiment outside of the sound presented in the first tracks of the mixtape, making the whole project run together in a blend of forgettable SoundCloud trap. Having said that, the vocal refrain of “I had to stomp him with the big Balenciaga boots” is admittedly catchy, and makes this track kind of a highlight.
Out Ur Body Music ends with a four-track run of ultimately forgettable songs the completely rehash the ideas at play in the first half of the tape, causing listeners to tune out somewhere between “Misunderstood” and “Change On Me.” The closing track is one of the worst on the outing, offering insufferable vocal mixing that overstays its welcome almost immediately. Unfortunately, Lil Skies didn’t put his best foot forward on this mixtape, leaving very little to love about Out Ur Body Music. The good news is, the only way to go from here is up, so perhaps the Atlantic signee’s next project will be his best yet.
Lil Skies’ career got off to a hot start in the late 2010s with catchy and melodic trap bangers about love and relationships. Of course, his biggest hits were “Nowadays” and “Red Roses” with Landon Cube. That 2017 project Life of a Dark Rose, really put a lot of people on and it flashed a lot of potential. However, since his 2019 tape Shelby, things just have not been the same. “DEATH” by Lil Skies is another unfortunate case.
What makes this even more hard to digest is that this single will be landing on a new record soon. The rumor around town is that Out Your Body Music is supposed to hit streaming services before the end of March. Up until this point, the tracks that are teasing Lil Skies’ fourth tape have not been any more promising. We can appreciate him trying a new sound and cadence, but it just does not sound pleasing to our ears.
For example, his last outing, “THOUSANDS” sees the rapper and singer drowning in reverb and auto tune. While he has always been using it, the effects were more of an enhancement rather than a detriment. “DEATH” features a clunky chorus and video game-like beat that is super redundant and gets stale fast. It does not feel good saying these things about Skies’ music, so hopefully better things await when his LP drops.
What are your thoughts on this brand-new single, “DEATH,” by Lil Skies? Is this one of his strongest tracks lately, why or why not? What is your favorite element of the song and why? Does this get you pumped for his next project Out Your Body Music? We would like to hear what you have to say, so be sure to leave your takes in the comments section. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest news surrounding Lil Skies. Finally, stay with us for the most informative song posts throughout the week.
Quotable Lyrics:
Ridin’ in this car, you know this b**** is bulletproof (Do-do-do) Run up a hundred miles, you know we bout to get the loot (Do-do-do) He thought this s*** was sweet until he got punched in his tooth (Go) Woah, (Blackout), I can’t fear no man (Yeah) Hundred thousand cash, yeah I stuffed it in my pants (Blackout) Shorty asking what I’m doing, b**** I never dance (Nah)
Lil Skies is on the path to dropping a new mixtape very soon. The Chambersburg, Pennsylvania rapper, as well as his manager, announced on their social media by way of Instagram Stories. They did so on January 25 according to the Genius page. The title that Lil Skies has seemingly gone with is Out Your Body Music.
The release date we have at our disposal is March. Genius says that Skies will announce the actual day that it drops in the next couple of weeks. When the 25-year-old delivers the LP, it will be his first since 2021 with Unbothered. Lil Skies has been active since that point with single after single. However, not all of them have been well-received.
“Pivot” was posted on YouTube as a mic performance and Skies shared it on his IG as well. Fans blasted him in the comments saying things like “it does not sound like Lil Skies,” etc. This newest one, “THOUSANDS,” maybe even more of an offender. The lyrics are passable but there is something about the amount of autotune. He has always used it, but, it just feels like his voice was never this heavy on the effects.
What are your thoughts on this brand-new single, THOUSANDS, by Lil Skies? Based on this track, will his upcoming mixtape Out Your Body Music be good? Is this his best song as of late, why or why not? We would like to hear what you have to say, so be sure to tell us in the comments below. Additionally, keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest news surrounding Lil Skies. Finally, stay with us for the most informative song posts throughout the week.
Quotable Lyrics:
Prolly’ marry Mary J now She the one that helped me mellow out I’ve been in another lane, I’ve been in a another mode If I’m really being honest, I could never sell my soul All you n****s talkin’ tough, but we know you ain’t bold Treat ’em like some toilet paper, throw ’em down the toilet bowl (Ugh)
Pennsylvania rapper and crooner Lil Skies was one of the hottest rappers from about 2017 to 2019. His sound was very melodic with elements of trap, emo, pop rap. Unfortunately, many feel he has steadily fallen off since that point. While he still releases a steady flow of singles, it will be almost three years since his last album.
For some rappers, they may be able to bounce back from a long LP break. But, usually, those artists have more of a distinctive sound. Skies can rap for sure. However, his approach is quite run-of-the-mill, as there are many clones like him.
That is partially the reason why his latest single “Pivot” is not doing too well with listeners. Skies shared the song on his Instagram page to little in the way of compliments. Many people are saying he should go back to his original sound. One goes, “Skies really took 2 years off to release this dog s*** go back to your old sound tf.” Another goes, “Skies no we need that 2017 skies wtf is this it don’t even sound like you!” While it is good for artists to constantly evolve, this change has fans scratching their heads due to him riding the new waves of the music soundscape.
What are your initial thoughts on this brand-new single, “Pivot,” by Lil Skies? Do you think an album is on the way soon with all of the releases from last year? Are the fans in the comments section right that this is one of his worst tracks? Whether you agree or not, why? Does it sound like his style or his riding the wave of other rappers? We would like to hear what you have to say about all of this. With that in mind, be sure to leave all of your hottest takes in the comments section below. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest news around Lil Skies. Finally, stay with us for the most informative song posts throughout the week.
Quotable Lyrics:
I stay on my pivot, ain’t takin’ no brakes (No brakes) Tell ’em f*** n****s, “Get out of my face” (My face) I got a Glock and it’s right by my waist (Huh-huh) If you try me I’ll get you out the way (Do-do) She wanna know what I’m doin’, I’m catchin’ theses plays (Uh-huh) I’m really tryna fill up my safe (Uh-huh)
Lil Skies remains a star three years after the stunning release of his hit debut mixtapeLife Of A Dark Rose. The 23-year-old is just months removed from the January release of his second studio album Unbothered, which debuted at No. 50 on the Billboard 200, supporting it since with the release of a deluxe version with seven new songs, including the exuberant “Ice Water” featuring Trippie Redd.
Today, Lil Skies comes through for a bouncy UPROXX Sessions performance of that track sans Trippie (another Sessionsalum), just a few months after his last appearance, when he dropped in to show off another deluxe edition track, “How You Feel.” While that performance was more laid-back, this time around he brings lots of energy, reflecting the celebratory vibe on “Ice Water.”
Check out Lil Skies’ bouncy performance of “Ice Water” for UPROXX Sessions above.
UPROXX Sessions is Uproxx’s performance show featuring the hottest up-and-coming acts you should keep an eye on. Featuring creative direction from LA promotion collective, Ham On Everything, and taking place on our “bathroom” set designed and painted by Julian Gross, UPROXX Sessions is a showcase of some of our favorite performers, who just might soon be yours, too.
Lil Skies is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
In this week’s episode of UPROXX Sessions, Lil Skies drops by to deliver an upbeat performance of his rebellious single, “How You Feel.” Coming from the Pennsylvania rapper’s deluxe version of the January 2021 album Unbothered, “How You Feel” finds the second generation rapper observing the highs and lows of rap stardom as he wonders, “I don’t got nobody in my corner, who do I trust?”
Skies, who rose to stardom after his SoundCloud favorite single “Red Roses” helped spur his debut major label mixtape Life of a Dark Rose to a No. 23 Billboard debut in its first week, released the deluxe version of Unbothered in May, adding seven new songs, with features from Drakeo The Ruler, Trippie Redd, and singer Zhavia Ward.
Watch Lil Skies’ performance of “How You Feel” above.
UPROXX Sessions is Uproxx’s performance show featuring the hottest up-and-coming acts you should keep an eye on. Featuring creative direction from LA promotion collective, Ham On Everything, and taking place on our “bathroom” set designed and painted by Julian Gross,UPROXX Sessionsis a showcase of some of our favorite performers, who just might soon be yours, too.
Lil Skies is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
