There’s no better way to end the year than with a 2021 “Rap Up” from Mad Skillz. The Virginia-bred rhymesmith announced in December 2021 that he would not continue his popular year-end tradition, and the pleas from fans seemed to multiply. Well, Skillz took to Instagram Saturday (Jan. 1) to deliver one more “Rap Up.”

“2021 Rap Up feat @koron.don “The End Of An Era” #0 Thank You for rocking with me for 20 years! This is the last one. Mad Skillz Out! *mic drop,*”he wrote via IG.

The demand for a 2021 “Rap Up” from Skillz was astounding. One fan direct messaged Skillz — now an educator at the University of Richmond — explaining how his playful rap ups have been a part of their family’s tradition for over a decade.

“Skillz… I know you don’t know me & I’m a fan and all but pleeaaase reconsider the rap up. My son and I have listened to it together for years,” the fan wrote. “We wait for it to come out. It’s a real part of our traditions together. From the time he was 11 or 12…. He will be 30 next week. We love you. No one does it like you do. We are grateful for all the years you’ve done it. It’s brought so much joy & laughter….”

However, when one of his followers asked Skillz if the message moved him enough to do a “Rap Up” for 2021, Skillz replied “Nah.”

Skillz’ first “Rap Up” was released on Dec. 31, 2002. He rapped over Common’s “Come Close” featuring Mary J. Blige and joked about Christina Aguilera, Slick Rick, Suge Knight, Eminem, Justin Timberlake and the Clipse’s “Grindin’” being the “hardest record of the year.”

Fans weren’t sure if Skillz would follow through when he tweeted “2021 Rap Up on the way” on Thursday (Dec. 30), but the hip hop veteran — who wrote for JAY-Z, Beyoncé, and Blue Ivy this year — delivered.

Over JAY-Z’s “Encore,” Skillz raps: “I aint sure what next year got in store/ but after this, there will be no more/ so for one last time, ya’ll make some noise/

“The year went by fast, that’s a well-known fact/ So for one last time, I’mma run it back/ So ya’ll pull up I got some shit to discuss/ This the Mad Skillz 2021 Rap Up/

Listen to Skillz’ “2021 Rap Up: The End of An Era” below: