Photo credit: Shawn Hanna
Billboard’s Hip-Hop/R&B Fresh Picks – October 30, 2023
“Cincinnati rapper Sade Johnson, better known as âSkylar Blattâ is one of my favorite female up-and-coming artists. Her story is so raw and genuine, that itâs not hard not to fall in love with her aura.” – Lyrical Lemonade
“Unbridled, unbreakable, and undeniable bars” – 24Hip-Hop
Emerging from a rough upbringing to become her city’s most promising talent, Cincinnati native Skylar Blatt is ready to take over the Midwest and beyond. Today, the ILWT/Saint Ka$h/Aristasignee teams up with Chris Brown to share “Wake Up,” a feel good single for the summer.
Lifted by clean guitars and thumping percussion, the song is a showcase for the artist’s melodic instincts, as she fits her inspirational bars into an addictive melodic cadence. Rhyming through an audible smile, Skylar expresses gratitude for her god-given talent and takes comfort in what she is building. Halfway through, Breezy joins the party, mimicking Skylar’s cadence in his own inimitable tenor.
The collaboration came about organically: Chris became familiar with Skylar after he saw her perform her song “F*ck Fame” on From The Block and posted the clip on his Instagram. After Skylar reached out to thank him, the two developed a friendship and connected when Chris came through Ohio, where they promised that they would work together on a song. That song became “Wake Up,” and the two joined forces in Breezy’s neighborhood in Los Angeles to film the video.
“Wake Up” is only the first step in Skylar’s rise from the Queen City to the top of the rap game. Raised by a single mother as one of six, Skylar turned to hip-hop to escape the troubles of her youth, developing a style derived from the best East Coast and Midwest rappers. She first gained attention with freestyles she posted on her Instagram, eventually gaining an early co-sign from Meek Mill, and a glowing profile from Lyrical Lemonade. In 2022, Skylar started collaborating with some of the finest rappers in the midwest, connecting with Babyface Ray and fellow Cincinnati rapper Midwest Milly for “Exactly,” racking up over 800k YT views, and teaming with Icewear Vezzo for the sinister “God Forbid.” A lifelong Bengals fan, she teamed with fellow Ohioan Doe Boy to craft “BENGALS (SUPER BOWL),” an anthem meant to cheer on Joe Burrow and company as they played in Super Bowl LVI. In October 2023, Skylar shared her mixtape Blatt SZN, home to “God Forbid” and ten other Cincy slappers. The tape won her a fan in Lola Brooke, who hopped on a remix to her song “F*ck Fame.” Before “Wake Up,” Skylar released her single “Laughin To Tha Bank,â a hard-hitting anthem that is already beginning to impact local radio in Cincinnati.
Now, as the inaugural signee to Saint Ka$h Records, the record label founded by Kendell “Sav” Freeman, Skylar is looking to become the next Midwest rapper to break things open. With more music on the way, the Queen City queen is ready to defy the odds and take over Summer 2024. Watch this spaceâthe Sky is the limit.
Watch “Wake Up” ft. Chris Brown:Â http://SkylarBlatt.lnk.to/WakeUpVideo
Stream “Wake Up” ft. Chris Brown:Â https://skylarblatt.lnk.to/WakeUp
Follow Skylar Blatt on socials:Â instagram | spotify | youtube | twitter | tiktok
Please contact Michelle or Annjie for more info.
When a lane doesnât exist, Skylar Blatt will create one. The Cincinnati-born rapper has always thought beyond the confines of her circumstances and her city. She spits raw truth about the struggle, holding nothing back as she recollects trials, tribulations, and triumphs via her music. Generating millions of streams independently and earning the endorsement of everyone from Lyrical Lemonade to Meek Mill, her hunger has no comparison on a series of releases for Arista and more to come.
instagram | spotify | youtube | twitter | tiktok
“Wake Up” ft. Chris Brown: http://SkylarBlatt.lnk.to/WakeUp / http://SkylarBlatt.lnk.to/WakeUpVideo
“Laughin To Tha Bank”:Â https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtOZcRYk5QA