Ski Mask the Slump God’s Sophomore Album Stokeley Review

Dan Flavin

Music Critic

 Ski Mask the Slump God known most for work with the late XXXTentacion released his second studio “Stokeley” on Nov. 30 and he made up for his lack-luster “Beware the Book of Eli” earlier in the year.

    Ski Mask is  a promising young rapper with the release of his breakout mixtape “You Will Regret” in 2017 and his past work with XXXTentacion, but when he released his debut album it only sold 12k units the first week. The album’s most popular sing “DoIHaveTheSauce?” was great, but the rest of the album was not up to par with his unique flow and funny lines. However, “Stokeley”  seems to bring back the old Ski, but with a more sophisticated style.

 “Stokeley” starts out with track called “So High” with a catchy muted guitar loop and a different opening than usual singing and catchy chorus that isn’t followed by his trademark flow. Instead, he lets the beat play and continues to sing. Right of the bat, the listener knows this isn’t a usual Ski Mask album. One of the highlight tracks was “Foot Fungus.” The track is well-produced and Ski Mask seems to perfectly weave his incredible flow over the track. Another great track is “Save Me, Pt. 2 (feat. Austin Lam).” Using a chopped and distorted vocal as the base melody and a simple drum pattern, the song is instantly totally different from a normal Ski track. Austin Lam and Ski Mask split the chorus and each sing four bars, but the best part is Ski’s flow in his verse. Ski uses his unique style of mixing long words with quick bursts of flow and again incorporates a great melodic side to the track.

     Although there were many highlights, the album is far from perfect. Ski Mask straying away and trying to create a different type of music is great, but sometimes he goes to far. Another flaw was tracks feeling boring and flat. For example, “Get Geeked” was very bland. Despite having a great beat Ski doesn’t do anything special as he just repeats the title for the chorus and doesn’t really do much with his flow. The worst track was “Nuketown (feat. Juice WRLD)”. We are huge fans of Juice, but the track felt like Ski was trying to replace his songs with XXXTentacion with Juice WRLD. Ski and X used to make this type of hard hitting screamo rap songs that were electric to listeners, but “Nuketown” feels like a failed attempt to please the crowd that misses X and Ski together.

 Overall Ski Mask the Slump God’s sophomore album “Stokeley” was  not the best work we have seen from the Florida rapper. The album still sold 51,000 units and charted number 6 on Billboard. He had some good songs like “Unbothered”, but some weak tracks like “Nuketown”. The production was good, but not many tracks stood out. Ski’s ability to rap is incredible, but his flow was boring in some of the tracks. The positives and negatives seem equal, so “Stokeley” gets a 5.5/10

     Roberto Escamilla, and Nate Donohoe contributed to this article.

Weezer ‘blesses the rains down in’ Philly

Olivia Harrison

Staff Writer

On Dec. 12, Weezer played an almost sold out show at Philly’s newest venue The Met Philadelphia. The show was a small concert to help them get ready for their upcoming spring tour with the Pixies.

     The crowd was a much older crowd compared to concerts typically attended by New Hope students. The concert started with local Philly band Mt. Joy, opening and playing a simple but full set. Though some attendees loved the Mt. Joy, others patiently waited for Weezer.

     Weezer started their set old school with the song “Buddy Holly” from “The Blue Album,” their debut album. More songs such as “My Name is Jonas” and Undone (Sweater Song)” were featured. They also played songs from their second (and most beloved) record “Pinkerton” such as “El Scorcho” and “The Good Life.” Fans also enjoyed newer songs such as “Beverly Hills,” “Feels Like Summer” and “Keep Fishin’ (with Brian Bell on lead vocals).” 

     They covered the Turtles’ “Happy Together,” “Green Day’s “Longview,” and “Take on Me.”  “Island in the Sun” was performed by Rivers acoustically in a balcony box.  Weezer also trotted out their awesome cover of Toto’s “Africa”-- which is now their most streamed song on Spotify.  Weezer wrapped up the show with a three-song encore of their own “We Wish You A Merry Christmas” (played 3x!), “Pink Triangle” and a rousing epic rendition of “Say It Ain’t So,” one of the band’s most popular songs. All in all the concert ended on a high note.