Did Injury Reserve make a Requiem? "By The Time I Get To Phoenix" review

[@YeaBoi]

generally great review - just a note about the song "Knees" It's not just a song about old age and getting fatter (although that may be one of he many meanings behind it). The song is primarily about loss. Ritchie says "My knees hurt hen I grow, and that's a tough pill to swallow, because i'm not getting taller." I believe he's talking about the passing of his father,, he's saying that this loss has forced him to grow as a person. That growth, due to it stemming from loss, is, of course, very painful, hence his "knees hurting" despite him not getting any taller. He also says just after that "Please, is there any way I could grow?" I believe this is essentially him saying that he wants to go back to the time where he could grow physically - his childhood. A time where you weren't forced to have this emotional growth due to things like loss. He wishes he could return to that level of innocence and ignorance.

[@antneziac]

it's his father. ritchie brought it up a lot on floss

[@YeaBoi]

@@antneziac thank you! i’ll edit my comment now :)

[@antneziac]

@@YeaBoi no problem! always happy to help

[@adamszekrenyes9741]

beautiful interpretation! I didn't know the story behind it. I tried to interpret it in a more "general sense" I really love how they say "I don't think I grow no more" but then Gorggs adds "at least not vertically" and yea it's about getting old and getting fat but I feel like there are two types of growth. There is a growth as we become adults. Kids have all this potential to become any kind of person they want to be, or at least any kinda person their circumstances allow them to be. But as you become an adult, whatever you do, you lose that potential to become anything in the world. If you're satisfied with your choices in life, that's no problem, but if you're not that's really painful. Then there's this other kinda "growth" which is the only way an adult can "grow" to be different. Taking up bad habits. Getting fat, drinking. If "vertical growth" means all the positives, this is all the negative "growth" an adult can achieve. Which is fucked up. You lose a certain potential to be great when you're an adult, but there will always be the potential to fuck up and destroy what you've built up over the years. Anyway, this might not be what they meant but that's how I feel about it.

[@oggerixon4549]

Knees samples Black Midi’s song sweater, so you’re right about the inspiration

[@Bandstand]

Mmm

[@januskami8800]

@@Bandstand Cooking that sample video???

[@Bandstand]

@@januskami8800 You know it. Getting my ingredients in place

[@obrey__]

@@Bandstand You just keep growing on me ❤️

[@hidden7249]

knees is actually how I discovered black midi and has gotten me into a ton of modern British post punk and expiremental rock

[@johnbricker8435]

One important note: In an interview on theneedledrop, Parker and Ritchie said that the album was almost entirely finished before Groggs recorded his verse for "Knees" shortly before he passed. This information really challenged my initial interpretation of the album, that Groggs is absent from most of the songs because of his death. Groggs had moved back to their home state of Arizona while the other two were still living in LA, so maybe that's a reason why his presence isn't as consistent on the record. Just wanted to share that bit of info, hearing that in the interview really changed my perspective on the music. Great video. RIP STEPA J GROGGS.

[@loganhubbard1950]

They've kept the details of Groggs' death quiet and they aren't public. But the bottle is definitely alcohol, not pills.

[@aestheticsock8772]

Mega late reply, but after listening to their first album, even then he is rapping about going back to drinking, said he was an alcoholic since he was a kid, etc. Definitely something he struggled with all his life sadly. RIP

[@SpagheddiO]

As an Australian who only tangentially knows about Phoenix as a place, when I heard the title and saw the general colouration of the album cover the main themes that were brought to mind were things associated with the myth of the phoenix like rebirth. Im not sure it it was intended but ideas like groggs and ritchie’s dad being reborn or even ritchie and parker moving into a different phase of their lives struck hard for me thematically at that point. Just thought it was an interesting point or worth noting!

[@hoyt4667]

great review, truly. i think you described exactly what i couldn't. the whole album (but maybe "Top Picks for You" specifically) brought me back to one of my favorite short stories, "There Will Come Soft Rains" by Ray Bradbury. here's a summary: "In August of 2026, in California, a fully-automated house announces that it is time to wake up, the voice echoes throughout the house. Breakfast is automatically made, but there is no one to eat it. Outside, where the automatic sprinklers come on, a wall can be seen where the paint has all been burned off except for a few silhouettes. There is a silhouette of a man and woman doing yardwork and of a boy and a girl throwing a ball. The rest of the neighborhood is charred and flattened, and a radioactive glow hangs over the city. A dog enters the house, covered with sores, and dies. The robotic mice that automatically clean the house take the dog away to the incinerator. As evening comes, the house automatically reads the woman's favorite poem, "There Will Come Soft Rains." The poem describes how, once man is utterly destroyed because of a war, nature will go on without man, as if nothing had happened. Later that night, a tree bough falls on the house, causing a fire that consumes all of the house but one wall."

[@professorskye]

Thanks for that. Good comp.

[@matthewbrown7572]

I have always believed that Art should be separated from the artist's biography. As much as I'd like to believe this, after many years, I've come to the conclusion that the 2 are impossible to separate. It's kind of like the mind body connection, we thought they were separate for many years, but we now know they are intrinsically connected. Another nice review. Nice beat description !

[@hiddenname2482]

Context drives narrative

[@randytiet9133]

They are close friends with Georgia (violinist) from BCNR. She happens to be on the duo Jockstrap, which Groggs has done a song with

[@hidden7249]

bcnr is also friends with black midi who are both sampled in this album

[@retnugnahte]

@@hidden7249 and bcnr was also sampled

[@SuperTimtation]

I am a step-parent and have 2 biological kids. It is super coincidental that I just got the paperwork telling me that the adoption of my step-son is final after 5 years of loving and caring for him. Thank you for your words on step-parenting. I don't think I have ever heard anyone say anything as touching and real about what it's like. Thanks, man. Oh, and I also LOVE this album as well as how well you break down their music.

[@professorskye]

Glad that it resonated with you. I am very passionate about the topic. Lets get this "Step-parents" day thing off of the ground!

[@SuperTimtation]

@@professorskye I agree! Not tooting any horns, but what it takes for a person to be a great stepparent is such an imense dedication to a child and to the child's biological parents. That largely goes overlooked. I'm with you. Stepparent Day is needed in our culture.

[@soundsystem4351]

Zelooperz is great, I'd recommend checking out his album that came out maybe a month or 2 ago. He's involved with other artists like Danny Brown and comes from that same camp. There's a track on his latest album that has a Danny Brown feature in which they both rap over a Crash Bandicoot beat. Pretty great.

[@TeamAwesomeDK]

That album is brilliant. Ze is one of the most interesting rappers this year if you ask me

[@johnbricker8435]

Yes, that Crash Bandicoot song is incredible. His song with Earl Sweatshirt is beautiful too and his album "Van Gough's Left Ear" is really good.

[@beflygelt]

a lot of ppl got hip to his shit through Van Gogh but he's been seriously killing it throughout the entire pandemic (and was already an exciting artist for years before that)

[@christianhoward2147]

His song with Earl, Easter Sunday is a must listen to as well

[@pichitek8631]

The first time I came across "drumless" hip hop was when I discovered Ka, New York emcee form brownsville. Honestly this guys music is just amazing in my opinion, his lyrics are very clever and they are the main focus on his projects, not the beats or flow or whatever, the lyrics.

[@corbing7786]

Yeah it's private as to what actually happened, the bottles are alcohol. Groggsy had struggled with alcoholism his entire life.

[@Missjunebugfreak]

I'm still processing this album cause there's so much going on inside every track. It's unlike anything I've ever heard. It feels like post-rap in a sense. Definitely one of the best releases this year.

[@phok8617]

Re your drum question, Professor: while it's been going on a while, Ghostface messed with it in the early 2,000s and Atmosphere has some songs without drums, the modern incarnation is pretty much due to Roc Marciano and, to a lesser extent, Ka. They brought it to the fore and then Griselda and others popularized it :D Great review by the way, love your content!

[@SuperTimtation]

Clipping. and IR should tour. This album would fit right on in with Visions Of Bodies and There Existed.

[@retnugnahte]

visions of bodies is so damn good

[@a18c50]

I remember parafin by Armand hammer and some rap songs by earl sweatshirt was the first time I noticed the lack of drums are certain songs for rap albums

[@frostedflakes5003]

Definitely check out the new Moor Mother album Black Encyclopedia of the Air, alternative rap is the best it’s ever been right now

[@Arrrghjay84]

Incredible record!

[@jacobcasel9126]

Yeah i mean from what i gathered from their interview on fantano’s channel, they felt comfortable putting the record out in the wake of grogg’s death because he’d been present for almost all of the making of it and it’s tone is dark and mournful and dealing with grief to begin with. Also that their experimental shift had to do with who they were touring with (black midi, black country new roads) and the experimentation they were doing at their own live shows. That the album even sounds like a requiem for groggs was kind of an accident

[@trevor1550]

A great review for this project! Thank you for the citation 😊

[@seamusobrian9050]

This album absolutely helped me to cope with the loss of my sister which happened a month prior to its release

[@chrissalone636]

Hey Skye, in the video you asked about the movement in hip hop around the removal of drums and where it originated. While I don’t have a specific answer, I think you should check out Rick Rubin’s podcast Broken Record. Specifically, he has a 2 part episode with Kenny Beats and they spend a ton of time talking on the regional sounds and trends of hip hop and I remember him speaking a bunch on this topic. Check it out!

[@nathanshiferaw4459]

depends on the subgenre of hip hop but i'd definitely give some of that influence to roc marciano

[@ethanw2450]

Your videos are always tremendously enjoyable for their depth and consideration.

[@TeamAwesomeDK]

In some of clipping.'s stuff, Daveed Diggs (their rapper) raps with no instrumental at all. I'm sure there are earlier examples and I don't even know if clipping. "started" this sort of wave or trend you're noticing. Another interesting thing is their influence from an artist called Slauson Malone who they toured with previously to making this album. It's only natural for them to be influenced by him past that and it comes clearly out in the music. You might want to check out some of his stuff too

[@jm6406]

Slauson is an incredible artist, definitely worth checking out. Loved how his influence came out in this album

[@lamarodomsplug707]

Dang that’s crazy. he opened for them in New York a few days ago, insanely talented and off the wall

[@VulaneMthembu]

Insightful review to one of the most interesting projects this year. Also... FIRST! :)

[@stunnakhalil7670]

Zelooperz is probably the most versatile artist right now. his new album “Van Goghs Left Ear” is a great experience imo

[@mikegross6110]

I love what Professor Skye had to say about music myths. I can really get caught up in context, which really has nothing to do with the music in reality. Im going to take what hes saying and run with it. Im just going to listen to the album and enjoy it for what it is.

[@robertpark5992]

Lack of drums: clipping ( as I’m sure you know) The first song I heard of theirs was one of the intros. Caught off guard and pleasantly surprised by the no drums. -Mc talent ya -Over saturation of trap ya - Also I think the subversion of expectation of not hearing drums is very satisfying

[@joejoemojo]

i like the way you talk about music

[@loganhubbard1950]

Definitely keep an eye out for the new Blu record that's on the way next week too. Features production from Exile. Also liking the Lil Nas X album, but don't care for the run from Scoop to Dolla Sign Slime. The beginning and end of the record are great though.

[@maximilianmiller1963]

about the whole lack of drums thing you were wondering about, i think Ka was one of the first to rly lean into that

[@renanbrandaosoares8106]

sincce you mentioned in the review, you'd probably enjoy listening to Van Goghs Left Ear by ZelooperZ, it's some amazingly catchy yet experimental trap rap, a lot of Danny Brown vibes, one of my favorite projects this year

[@SuperTimtation]

Thank you so much! I especially love Injury Reserve. RIP Groggs.

[@laytonn1160]

Bye storm actually uses a Brian eno sample

[@bravemenrun.]

This album opened my eyes to so much music and I cannot thank it and my brother for showing me it enough

[@Ctopkis]

You nailed it with this one - Thank you!

[@callouslimerence]

i was so waiting for this !

[@dijidl]

Can I offer another perspective on 'Top Picks for You'. Cool... Thanks. When you get that "hole", after losing anyone, you have lost... Enemy or Friend, you are changed... You are changed. The "algorithm" is your newly complicated self, when those memories come back, and you realize that you are moving forward with that loss. But... You have to move forward with that new iteration of you, that didn't exist, before you heard this song. Sooo... The Mozart reference is a logical leap... But, this goes way beyond a 'Myth'. This is a real person, who is mourning an integral part of who is, now... He has lost a limb, metaphorically... He sees the impact on his life and where it goes, daily, without his friend and teammate.

[@obscurer1898]

on this albums credits they thank jasper marsalis (who goes by slauson malone as a musician) and who toured with them on groggs's final tour. Although this album sounds musically very far from slauson malone, the themes and tone reminds me so much of his album A Quiet Farwell, which is steeped in massive amounts of Afro-Pessimist and AP-adjacent theory that i cant even begin to explain fully. I would seriously LOVE to know how much influence he had on this record.

[@billyt8589]

He should definitely listen to a quiet farewell

[@tiagolourenco11]

yeah professor you get check all that left field hip hop of guys like Pink siifu, Navy blue, Yungmorpheus, Mike, Zelooperz and more

[@januskami8800]

Jay Electronica's Eternal Sunshine (The Pledge) was the first I ever heard without any drums. It blew me away. As to its origin, no clue... The Alchemist in an interview also announced that he is working on a project were his partner (?) is rapping on multiple movie scores. Either it'll be a drum less record or one with minimal drums. Well, this record was fantastic. The intro track made me tear up and though I heard the single: 'Superman That' prior to the LP's release, it strikes my emotional cord differently. It was a complete storm through this art. Beautiful.

[@bryanthayer1795]

Because of this review I discovered Issac Hayes’ album Hot Buttered Soul which is now one of my favorite albums ever. Thank You!!!!!!

[@professorskye]

It is one of my greatest joys to spread the gospel of Hot Buttered Soul.

[@Vence.]

Love this dude's content so much

[@Affirmingtree]

This is an excellent review, the first of yours I've seen, and no doubt I will now binge every single review of yours. One thing, when you talk about the song Wild Wild West, I think you missed what Ritchie was going for. Injury Reserve came up because of the internet, they were very heavily into "internet rap" culture before they even released something. I think Wild Wild West is mostly talking about how the landscape has changed for people using the internet to find music they like, or to find discussion around the music they like. When they talk about 5G, it kind feels like they're talking about these forums that feel alien to them; the way the forums talk about music is new, and the music being discussed is different.

[@Affirmingtree]

To add, when you talk about "no drum" hip hop, I think it comes from a lot of different sources. Minimalism has always been a style in hip-hop, starting with wu-tang, being adapted to pop by the Neptunes, and then being further used by the underground since... forever? So stripping off the drums from a song feels like a natural progression to me. You mention CLPPNG in this review, they strip the drums away a lot, easily noticeable in a song like Get Up. I don't think there's any one source of "no drum" hip-hop, but rather I think it's been present in hip-hop since the beginning. I'm sure you can find old cyphers of rappers from the 80s and 90s just rapping to no beat at all. Something odd and random to throw your way, have you ever heard of grime? That genre loves it's minimalism, it's kind of like London's answer to the 90s rap era. If you want a specific album, I'd listen to Boy In Da Corner by Dizzee Rascal. But that genre has something called a devil's mix, which is literally the same song, but with the drums removed, so when MCs freestyle over it on radio, it's a total different sound, and has much more focus on the lyrics and flow of the MC. kzbin.info/www/bejne/gpuxemeaj8R0oas This is a good example of the devil's mix freestlyle. It might also be worth listening to Trim's album 1800 Dinosaur.

[@SanFranFan30]

Zelooperz is your standard underground rapper, somewhere between Pink Siifu and Chris Crack.

[@JacksonCusick]

The whole time I was listening to this album, a part of me couldn’t wait for it to be over so I could watch your review 😂

[@BREATHER_]

On hip hop with no/little drums: If you haven’t heard “Honor Killed The Samurai” by KA, I highly recommend checking it out. He really paints a dark but beautiful picture with his poetry, rhyme schemes and flow. The atmosphere of that album still blows me away every time I listen to it

[@retnugnahte]

KA is so damn good

[@spongegar]

I like the toaster strudel

[@brandonfarr3167]

ZelooperZ’s Van Goghs Left Ear is one of the years best albums… you should check out for sure!

[@lilslimejunior1006]

It's the Wild Wild West out here I'm Willy Smith with the Inspector Gadget 5G, high speed, one click and let him have it The Epitome of Modern Poetry

[@TomMcisaac250]

Professor Skye, I am urging you to listen to the latest release by Maryland hardcore punk band Turnstile, GLOW ON. It has a very noticeable hip-hop influence/sensibility, as if it's on the opposite side of the sonic spectrum Injury Reserve is on, in the way that you describe here. Thanks for the Isaac Hayes recommendation, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[@professorskye]

will check it out

[@0oidiedinatimemachineo024]

A good MC that uses a lot of beats that don't have heavy drums in them is Ka. A lot of his stuff is very atmospheric with light drums the music kinda makes you focus on the lyrics.. Hes really great imo. I'm sure lots of people have suggested him before already lol

[@YeaBoi]

fantastic review - this is post-rap

[@MAandS]

The slower spoken word stuff gave me serious Big Rube(dungeon family) vibes. Loved it.

[@mikegross6110]

I think Wu Tang, specifically Ghostface in the early 2000s really experimented and played around with drum free beats

[@josephhamilton6612]

A lot of the drum-less scene at the moment has a lot to do with what the alchemist is doing. Taking the drums out tends to let denser samples breathe more. Some tracks on Haram and Nobles with Earl Sweatshirt do this rly well

[@iiinterpreter]

Please someone tell me more songs like knees, wild west and postpostpartum

[@jacobeson]

One of the first times I noticed the impact of no drums in hip/hop was on Blonde. “Siegfried” and “White Ferrari” make a lack of drums sound more powerful through the flow of lyrics, spacey chords, and melodies.

[@ethanverde2569]

I would love to smoke weed with this guy and show him my favorite trap albums

[@AngelRada]

Forgive, the music of the outside theme is mine from my álbum " upadesa" , es un álbum de culto de 1970,

[@owenhu9465]

SS San Francisco samples The Fall who, if you don't already know, are one of the most iconic and prolific bands in the post-punk movement.

[@AmyMorre]

Mos underrated video of this year

[@melik____melik]

listen to Jay Electronica Eternal Sunshine of The Spotless Mind

[@guillaumepreudhomme4800]

Fantano just gives an album a subjective rating based on his highly critical, insatiable taste. Professor Skye, on the other hand, despite having “review” in his youtube name, is actually an analysis channel. I love it. Keep up the good work!

[@ryanellis424]

Great video!!

[@jackbramhall-heck9172]

Roc Marciano and Ka are very much The Godfather’s of the low key drums de-emphasized scene that has been growing for the past ten years, but if you’re really looking back I think RZA very much pioneered the sounds

[@breakbearrr]

Zelooperz is a crazy dude, his 2016 album Bothic was really ahead of the curve. At the time I thought it sounded like Young Thug on bath salts because his vocal inflections are so over the top.

[@matthewmueller4851]

Re: your comments on the track Wild Wild West. This is my favorite track on the album although I recognize that other tracks carry more emotional resonance or are more sonically traditional. The concept is pretty simple. The lyrics “5G” “high speed” and “they putting up towers everywhere” clearly refer to cell phones and WiFi and internet etc. the track is an interesting play on these concepts just with the way the track is delivered and how it develops. Your summary of the track being “disjointed” is clearly because you missed the concept.

[@firezera]

bruh I love these reviews, mostly because unlike the simple, contradicting and somewhat overrated fantano's and other youtuber reviews, this kind of vids give an actual insight and perspective of the album.

[@jiffychips7517]

Alchemist is known for this drumless beats

[@BeniiHendrix]

Saw zelooper when he was the opening act for jpegmafia!

[@1999benr]

You should definitely check out zelooperz! Not all of his stuff is great, but often times there are nuggets of gold in all his albums. His continuous output is a testament in itself, but his exentricity and energy is only possibly matched by someone like Danny Brown. Quite a goofy, almost corny sound at times, but you can tell he’s having fun.

[@limbo1262]

greatest piece of music every written about death is A crow looked at me by Mount eerie.

[@ivanmoll9536]

If you haven't checked out ZelooperZ, I highly recommend you check out his work. He has been delivering unique and catchy off kilter flows and vocal inflections for the past decade or so. I would check out his most recent project "Van Gogh's Left Ear", along with "Dyn-O-mite" and "Gremlin"

[@ohsample1253]

Ghostface been doing no drums since the 90s

[@Spiffrat6]

Please start a podcast

[@ohsample1253]

ZELOOPERZ IS ESSENTIAL AS FUCK

[@simplynotENT]

Zelooperz is very interesting you should listen to Van Goghs Left Ear

[@loganhubbard1950]

😎😎😎

[@daviddevora8105]

Louise C.K.?

[@All13lackAF1s]

Yes professor listen to Zelooperz

[@2khound635]

Can you do kodaks album project baby 2 please 🙏🏿

[@2khound635]

It might be one of the best albums all time

[@brandonburroughs7128]

I wanna say the drumless hip hop aesthetic started with Frank Ocean’s Blonde

[@chrilborn4138]

Outkast - Extraterrestrial

[@thenameisomari]

Jay Electronica - Eternal Sunshine (The Pledge) came before Blonde. Not to say that it influenced all of the drumless hip hop, though.

[@mgintz]

videos like this are why im subscribed to this channel - WOW! i know basically nothing about music before 1960 (not like I’m proud of that, just happens to be the case for now), but the Requiem relation i think is really potent; I think as a listener it’s hard to ignore the context of the passing of Groggs but realizing that we can have the myth and still enjoy the music for what it is is good to remember i think also I love Wild Wild West. I have no idea what it’s -actually- supposed to be about, but I think of it as from the perspective of a conspiracy theorist, and I just think it’s a funny song which happens to sound great also (many youtube “mashup” artists check that box too i think, though this Obviously has the benefit of being wholly original). Arizona also has a lot of these kinds of people (I’ve moved away but I see it on my social media all the time from high school friends) and I think at the end of the day one of the best things you can do is just laugh at it. Also while I would absolutely love a Montero reaction, I’m curious to see if you have something to say about it. I think it’s my favorite this year (though not “the best” in a boundary pushing, academic sense), but I don’t think I personally could say anything interesting about it. Best of luck with it, and enjoy the record regardless!

[@jm6406]

The way I came to better understand Wild Wild West is through the particular feeling that comes from traveling through the desert between LA and Phoenix. Seeing the big 5g towers that have been planted recently. It’s such a specific vibe that I’ve not heard captured in music before

[@otaythen]

check out zelooperz if you're into danny brown!!