Miners Foundry Presents Epic Hip Hop show with Talib Kweli, Skyzoo and Landon Wordswell

Nevada City, CA – The Miners Foundry Cultural Center is pleased to present hip hop legends Talib Kweli with Skyzoo and Landon Wordswell on Thursday, July 18. Bar opens at 7 p.m. and the show begins at 8 p.m. 

After nearly 20 years of releasing mesmerizing music, Talib Kweli stands out as one of the world’s most talented and most accomplished Hip Hop artists. Whether working with Mos Def as one-half of Black Star, partnering with producer Hi-Tek for Reflection Eternal, releasing landmark solo material or collaborating with Kanye West, Pharrell Williams, Just Blaze, J Dilla, or Madlib, Kweli commands attention by delivering top-tier lyricism, crafting captivating stories and showing the ability to rhyme over virtually any type of instrumental.

“Talib and Mos Def were really pivotal in keeping the original hip hop culture alive and well, especially at a time when it was going through a lot of changes. They were enlightening people with their songwriting and they were living life to a certain excellence,” said DJ StepDaddy who will be spinning during the opening set from 7 to 8 p.m. and in between acts, all night long. 

Talib Kweli

The Brooklyn-based MC earned his stripes as one of the most lyrically-gifted, socially aware and politically insightful rappers to emerge in the last 20 years. 

“I’m a touring artist. I’m an artist that’s internationally known. I’m not just a local artist at this point in my career. I’m cognizant of the fact that what I do is beyond where it started. I’m trying to reach the apex of where I am now, but without turning my back on or dismissing what I’ve done before.”

In 2011, Kweli founded Javotti Media, which is self-defined as “a platform for independent thinkers and doers.” Kweli has set out to make Javotti Media (which released his 2011 album, Gutter Rainbows, and is named after his paternal grandmother) into a media powerhouse that releases music, films and books. 

Skyzoo

Gregory Skyler Taylor (born December 24, 1982 in Brooklyn, New York City), known professionally as Skyzoo, is an American actor and rapper. He has released a number of notable solo and collaborative albums, including “Cloud 9: The 3 Day High” with 9th Wonder in 2006, “The Salvation” in 2009, “A Dream Deferred” in 2012 and his most recent solo album, “Music For My Friends,” which peaked at No. 15 on the US Top Heatseekers chart in 2015.

Throughout his career, Skyzoo has also released a plethora of free online mixtapes such as “Corner Store Classic” and “The Great Debater” and has worked with artists such as Jill Scott, Wale, Lloyd Banks, Tyrese, Dr. Dre, Raheem Devaughn, Black Thought, Jadakiss, Talib Kweli, Spike Lee, John Legend and others. Skyzoo has headlined or co-headlined often-yearly tours throughout Europe, the United Kingdom, Africa, Australia, and Asia, and he owns and operates the independent record label, First Generation Rich.

Landon Wordswell

Landon Wordswell is a Tampa-based, St. Louis area-raised touring artist that has taken his talents just about everywhere. Wordswell has been fortunate enough to sharpen his blade among some of the best emcees alive doing shows and touring both nationally and internationally alongside greats such as Talib Kweli, Mos Def, Bun B, The Game, Raekwon (Wu Tang), Elzhi, Skyzoo, Gift of Gab (Blackalicious) and more.

Landon’s live show effortlessly engages the audience with his unique and natural personal touches and a heavy dose of introspective lyricism behind each precise delivery. Wordswell’s most personal album, “Remember To Breathe” was released on Skyzoo’s label, First Generation Rich.

DJ Stepdaddy 

DJ Stepdaddy has been entertaining folks with records and turntables since 1991 when he was a senior in high school creating mock radio shows with a cheap Radio Shack mixer for his neighborhood. 

That morphed into a 30 year gig playing with some of those most influential names in Hip Hop: Gift of Gab, Blackalicious, A-Plus of Souls of Mischief, Scarab from Living Legends and @mex and Awol1 from the Famous Shapeshifter Crew and many others.

KVMRx DJ “Capt Save a Show” aka DJ StepDaddy, his genre bending show, “JIVE AF” takes listeners on a musical journey through the art of “DJing” or “Turntablism.” These days, he loves playing his collection of 45 records, “Dusty Doughnuts.” 

“It’s so much fun. When you do something for 30 years you have to find ways to keep it fresh,” he said.  

Tune in to JIVE AF Saturdays 8-10 p.m. on the radio dial 105.7 FM, or streaming at kvmrx.org

The Miners Foundry Cultural Center is a living historic treasure serving Nevada County as a cultural art and community events center producing 400 events annually. More than a venue, the nonprofit’s mission is to preserve, enhance, and utilize the historic Miners Foundry for cultural, educational, and social activities in Nevada County. It is a symbol of California’s rich historical heritage, providing an educational and social bridge from our past to the present and future. Membership supports ongoing events at Miners Foundry such as these and many others.