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
Following the meteoric success of her summery single âWake Upâ ft. Chris Brown, Skylar Blatt is continuing her push for superstardom. Her new single, âHold Me Down,â is out today viaILWT/Saint Ka$h/Arista, delivering another hit that showcases her slick vocals and attitude.
âHold Me Downâ features a skittering and sparse beat that holds its bass drops back until absolutely necessary, making each low-end hit even more rewarding. Blattâs melodic charm is on full display on her dynamic verses and catchy hook, crafting a sticky and memorable melody well-suited to blasting out of Bluetooth speakers and car stereos. Skylar Blattâs cool confidence permeates the track, as she flexes her drop top Bentleys while acknowledging the road that got her there. Dodging the haters and staying focused on herself, âHold Me Downâ is a song for standing on a beachfront balconyâbasking in the wind and sun, and feeling every ounce of gratitude for what success may bring.
âHold Me Downâ is the highly-anticipated follow-up to âWake Up,â which was released in late April to much fanfare. It has generated more than 30 million streams to date, with TMZ proclaiming itâs âalready being nominated to be a song of the summer,â Billboard selecting it as one of its R&B/Hip-Hop Fresh Picks, and ESSENCE crowning it as one of its âBest New Musicâ of its release week. Skylar’s breezy single reached the Airplay Top 10 at Urban Radio and Rhythmic formats (it currently sits at #14 and #10 on each chart, respectively). She recently appeared on Angela Yeeâs Lip Service to talk about âWake Upâ and much more.
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 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 impacted 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 2024. Watch this spaceâthe Sky is the limit.
Stream “Hold Me Down”:Â https://skylarblatt.lnk.to/HoldMeDown
Watch the “Hold Me Down” lyric video:Â https://skylarblatt.lnk.to/HoldMeDown
Photo credit: Shawn Hanna
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.
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“Hold Me Down”:Â https://skylarblatt.lnk.to/HoldMeDown
“Wake Up” (Acoustic):Â https://skylarblatt.lnk.to/WakeUpAcoustic
“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