Rylo Rodriguez – S.K.A.T.E. (Album Review)

Rylo Rodriguez elevates his sound on ‘S.K.A.T.E.’ with soulful production and raw storytelling.

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TOP 5

5. Eliza (Bless Me Up)

This is probably the track most likely to go viral. Rylo goes heavy on the name-dropping here, referencing Offset, Dillon Brooks, R. Kelly, Metro Boomin, and more (Why Offset go off on Rylo over that brief mention?).

Beyond that, the track is really well done. I LOVE the production. It has a controlled, refined version of the glitchy Playboi Carti-style beats we’re used to hearing, giving it a more structured edge while still keeping that chaotic energy.

I also like how Rylo moves across it, switching between melodic singing, carefree rapping, and just vibing with the instrumental overall. I think this s**t has a very good chance of ending up being a hit.

5. Endless Cups

If you like music geniunely, it’s hard not to like this track. First off, the production is beautiful. It features a trap-infused, slowed-down interpretation of Jaheim’s “Put That Woman First” classic (I’m not sure where Jaheim stole the beat from, and I don’t care), which already sets the song up for success.

Despite sounding like a rapper who swallowed mouthwash without reading the instructions, Rylo delivers solid verses centered around drug use, family issues, and friends who switched up. I do like how he rides the beat effortlessly while still sliding cleanly across it.

4. Kount Ya Hat (Ft. Veeze)

Two of the dullest rappers in hip-hop history actually managed to make an exciting track with “Kount Ya Hat.” Despite both Rylo Rodriguez and Veeze sounding like they could use some multivitamins in their lives, the flows they bring are actually popping and come at you fast, while the flexing and trash talk are next-level.

I mean, shit, I had chills hearing Veeze talk about the rules that come with offing people. Hell, the chorus from Rylo might even be the catchiest on the album. Yeah, this one you can’t say you fell asleep on it.

3. Promises (Ft. Lil Baby)

Raise your hand if you shed some ghetto tears listening to this track? “Promises” doesn’t only have a crying sample, but it also features a very emotional beat (Goddamnit, I sais I wasn’t going to cry on this glorious weekend).

Rylo Rodriguez blends singing and rapping as he talks about going above and beyond for his girl. Though he slurs his ass off, I’m going to guess that’s his love language delivery style.

Lil Baby contrasts that energy with a calmer, more controlled delivery, listing the different ways he’s down to take care of her and stay present. Lil Baby contrasts that energy with a calmer, more controlled delivery, listing the different ways he’s down to take care of his girl and stay present. The chemistry between their flows makes the track feel cohesive and fluid. I’m feeling this one.

2. Low Top Vanz

I felt so damn saved listening to “Low Top Vanz.” Rylo Rodriguez glides across the track, stacking up references to just about every store you’d see inside a Tanger outlet, but the production is the real centerpiece. It has that vintage Drake-inspired, soul-drenched, almost sacred feel that makes it genuinely hypnotic. The beat is so strong that you could’ve thrown JJ Fad on it and it still would’ve worked for me.

1. Neighborhood Starz (Ft. Lil Baby & Kevin Gates)

“Neighborhood Starz” features one of the loneliest trap beats I’ve ever heard. The instrumental feels so stripped and isolated it brings to mind those overly somber animal rescue commercials that always f**ks you up after 12AM on a Thursday.

In their respective verses, Rylo Rodriguez and Kevin Gates break down how difficult it is to come from the streets while staying focused, while also calling out the people who couldn’t keep up. Rylo dominates most of the track with muddled raps that almost dissolve into the beat, while Kevin Gates comes through with a passionate verse that significantly turns up the intensity. As for Lil Baby, he delivers what feels like a brief interlude rather than a fully realized contribution. All in all, this was the most memorbale moment on the project.

SONG BY SONG BREAKDOWN

1. Stir (4/5)

2. Idols R’ Us (4/5)

3. Low Top Vanz (4/5)

4. Ever Drank Tris (3.5/5)

5. Neighborhood Starz (Ft. Lil Baby & Kevin Gates) (4.5/5)

6. CBFW (3.5/5)

7. Endless Cups (4/5)

8. Kount Ya Hat (Ft. Veeze) (4/5)

9. Ecstatic (4/5)

10. Eliza (Bless Me Up) (4/5)

11. Promises (Ft. Lil Baby) (4.5/5)

12. Sure G6 (3.5/5)

13. Art (4/5)

14. Love 4 Luv (4/5)

15. Locks From Tiffany (3.5/5)

16. Time Heels (3.5/5)

17. AP Skelly (4/5)

18. Really Hate You (3/5)

19. God 2 U (Selfish Ways) (2.5/5)

20. Excuse Me (4/5)

21. Too Real (3.5/5)

22. Say What (Ft. YTB Fatt) (3/5)

23. Exposed (3.5/5)

RGM RATING

(C)

Rylo Rodriguez returns with a confident, fully realized body of work that sharpens his identity as a melodic street storyteller. Across the project, he sounds more self-assured than ever, leaning into a style that blends emotional reflection, street perspective, and a laid-back but commanding delivery. Even when his vocal texture feels shaky as hell, his presence and consistency keep the record anchored.

The production is one of the strongest elements throughout, shifting between soulful, vintage-inspired samples, trap-infused melancholy, and more experimental, glitchy textures. It creates a wide emotional palette that gives each track its own atmosphere, from warm and hypnotic to cold and isolated.

Lyrically, Rylo covers a familiar but effective range of themes including loyalty, betrayal, drug use, relationships, and life in and out of the streets. His writing balances vulnerability with flexing, often switching between melodic singing and casual rapping in a way that feels effortless rather than forced. When paired with features like Lil Baby, Kevin Gates, Veeze, NoCap, and others, the project gains additional contrast, with some guests heightening the emotion while others bring sharper energy or more grounded perspective.

The album’s standout moments come from its strongest emotional records, where production and storytelling align most closely, creating tracks that feel both deep and replayable. While not every feature lands with equal weight, the chemistry between voices and the consistency of Rylo’s tone help maintain cohesion across a lengthy runtime.

So why didn’t I give the project a perfect score? For me, it’s a bit difficult listening to a full body of work where the artist is slurring for most of the runtime. Surprisingly, I actually enjoyed it when Rylo switched into singing. I’d like to hear more of that experimentation from him moving forward.

Overall, this is a polished, ambitious project that shows me that Rylo is more than just Lil Baby’s sidekick.