From The Yard is the 4th Full Length Album from Cleveland Alternative Hip Hop duo Smoke Screen. The overall theme of the album is primarily centered on their upcoming move from Cleveland to Los Angeles (‘Make That Move’, ‘New Mug, New Pot’, ‘This Is Not A Test’) but there are also plenty of other topics covered in the album.
‘See You On Tuesday’ is about a weekly bike night the duo (plus a third friend) was hosting last Summer, while ‘Time Flies Pt. II’ is a sequel to a song from their first album that details the past 15 years of their career.
‘Operation Swirl’ is about various psychedelic experiences, and ‘Nighttime Plays’ is a song dedicated to nightfall (which is a recurring theme throughout the Smoke Screen catalog).
‘Inspiration Interlude’ is one verse from each emcee referencing an artist they consider an influence (Mooke’s verse is filled with Toro y Moi references and Broken Keys’ verse is packed with Khruangbin references).
On the opening song Leave You Frozen, the hook interpolates lyrics from the first Smoke Screen song ever (Career Roulette) while the album closes with a fitting song called ‘New Years Eve’ which is about embracing the inevitable change that comes with each new year.
All tracks produced by Broken Keys except: ‘Inspiration Interlude’ Keys by Tall Black Guy ‘Operation Swirl’ Live Bass by DJ Geauga Lake ‘Roses Are Red’ Co-Produced by Mooke Da God
All tracks written by: Mooke Da God and Broken Keys Recorded, Mixed and Mastered by Broken Keys at the Ecto Cooler in Cleveland Heights, OH From November 2022 to January 2023
“Named after the South Euclid neighborhood that Rodney Mynatt and Tommy Sheridan grew up in, From the Yard serves as the collaborators’ shared goodbye letter to Cleveland.” – Annie Nickoloff (Cleveland Magazine)
“Now they’re celebrating their fourth full-length album, titled From the Yard, with a show at — where else? — the Grog Shop. Opening acts will be their own solo projects, MOOKE DA GOD and Broken Keys.” – Cool Cleveland
Tonight! We’ll be on the Catch A Break radio show on WCBS 89.3 at 11pm talking about our upcoming album and release/farewell show! Tune in to hear some previews from the album!
We decided to call this one ‘Inspiration Interlude’ because each of our verses are packed with references of a specific artist that we’re both inspired by. Toro y Moi in the Mooke Da God verse, and Khruangbin in the Broken Keys verse.
The video was filmed 100% on location in the neighborhood in South Euclid we grew up in (The Yard, which was coined by Rio The Mechanic and A/V) and features the houses we grew up in and the park that was our home away from home.
‘From The Yard’ is out one week from today, Friday 3/24.
Video shot by Smoke Screen / edited by Broken Keys Produced by Broken Keys Additional Keys by Tall Black Guy