Landon Wordswell
Phoenix, AZ | Established. Jan 01, 2010
Music
Press
New duo, DJ Surebert and MC Landon Wordswell, are releasing the first official single from their forthcoming album, “The Numbers Game.” “The Numbers Game” isn’t just the title track, but reveals the ideas and spirit of the album. Michael Bernier brought a subtle reggae touch to the song adding to Surebert’s steely production and Wordswell’s rapid-fire rasp. Landon drew inspiration for the record from Michelle Alexander’s thought-provoking and critically acclaimed book, “The New Jim Crow.” Her ideas and influence are found both in Landon’s lyrical work and his live shows. Conceptually, the album weaves together stories of people affected by “The Numbers Game,” a never-ending cycle of discrimination and economic woes in the United States.
The Emcee has stated, “Corruption is everywhere. The schools, the mass incarceration systems, the justice systems, the hospitals. Every bit of our lives is being manipulated in the name of oppression. Classism is real. Racism is real. We are the culmination of America’s biggest fears and guilts. It’s not something to just talk about. It’s something to be about. Especially as an artist.”
Landon Worsdwell has hit the road often this year with the likes of Talib Kweli and Skyzoo. He’s been the frequent tour partner of Blackalicious’ own Gift of Gab and last year performed with The Legendary Artifacts on a European run as well as a tour with One Be Lo (Binary Star). The Emcee has his sights set on embarking on international travel even more to push the music and the message of “The Numbers Game.”
The Numbers Game is a Dual Project fully produced by Surebert (Portland, OR) and mixed and mastered by Landon’s trusted team of Carl Roe and D-Sane of Seattle, WA. - We Run The Underground
New duo, DJ Surebert and MC Landon Wordswell, are releasing the first official single from their forthcoming album, “The Numbers Game.” “The Numbers Game” isn’t just the title track, but reveals the ideas and spirit of the album.
Michael Bernier brought a subtle reggae touch to the song adding to Surebert’s steely production and Wordswell’s rapid-fire rasp. Landon drew inspiration for the record from Michelle Alexander’s thought-provoking and critically acclaimed book, “The New Jim Crow.”
Her ideas and influence are found both in Landon’s lyrical work and his live shows. Conceptually, the album weaves together stories of people affected by “The Numbers Game,” a never-ending cycle of discrimination and economic woes in the United States. - Stop The Breaks
New duo, Surebert and Landon Wordswell, release their first official single from their forthcoming album, The Numbers Game. The first single not only shares the same name as the album, but it also shares the same spirit throughout. Lyrically speaking, Landon drew inspiration for the album in the midst of thumbing through the critically acclaimed book, “The New Jim Crow”, penned by none other than Michelle Alexander. The emcee has been quoted at shows nightly on tour stating the importance of her influence through out the upcoming album. Conceptually the album will relatably give listeners from all walks of life a personal view into the many other stories directly impacted by “The Numbers Game”. The duo reached out to Michael Bernier to bring in a subtle reggae touch through out the track.
The Emcee has been heard stating, “Curruption is everywhere. The schools, the mass incarceration systems, the justice systems, the hospitals. Every bit of our lives are being manipulated in the name of oppression.” He continues on to say, “Classism is real. Racism is real. We are the culmination of America’s biggest fears and guilts. It’s not something to just talk about. It’s something to be about. Especially as an artist.”
Landon Worsdwell has been on the road since February 4 with the likes of Talib Kweli for a portion of it and Skyzoo for another. Landon seems to always be in good company as a frequent tour partner of Blackalicious’ own Gift of Gab. This year seems to be a continuatual string of successes for the young emcee stemming from last years runs with The Legendary Artifacts on a European run as well as a tour run with One Be Lo (Binary Star). The emcee has his sights set on embarking on international travel even more this and the following year to push for the new Surebert laced full length Album. The Numbers Game is a Dual Project fully produced by Surebert (Portland, OR) and mixed and mastered by Landon’s trusted team of Carl Roe and D-Sane of Seattle, WA. - Hype Magazine
To say Landon Wordswell knows his way around a microphone and a lyric sheet is an understatement. His most recent album Prayer and Whiskey, which he’s touring in support of, is a great testament to his abilities.
A true successor to the underground hip-hop scene of the past, the smooth and ear-grabbing MF Doom-style production plays perfectly off Wordswell’s urgent lyrics. Just listen to bars like, “I’ll never pledge allegiance to some thieves, who won’t be satisfied until they see us on our knees,” and try not think of the ’90s, when rap was more punk than punk. His fifth-gear flow on tracks like “Eat” is only matched by his emotional delivery of lyrics like, “I missed my son’s first steps trying to give you this music.”
Overall, it’s an intimate album. The record consistently references his ex-girlfriend and the places their breakup took him. “I was praying a lot and got really spiritual because I was drinking a lot,” says Wordswell. “I kept looking for answers in an empty bottle.”
The album can be a heavy trip at times but always feels like a trip worth taking. According to Wordswell, it also shows growth in his music.
“I didn’t feel like myself … I felt different so I made something different,” he says.
Wordwell is on tour with Boise soul-pop singer-songwriter Darian Reneé. Local emcees Damn Skippy and Bad Mojo will also perform as duo DBL DRGN, for the first time, while Luis Skye will helm the ones and twos. An open-mic-style freestyle performance will close the show.
Wordswell struck up a friendship with Damn Skippy during his stop in Charleston a few months back with Gift of Gab, and Wordswell hopes they’ll record material together soon. - Charleston City Paper
Discography
The Mourning After Pill - March 1, 2013 (Cult Classic Records)
DAD - December 12, 2014
Prayer & Whiskey - 2016
Photos
Bio
Landon Wordswell is a 30 year old Phoenix, AZ resident by way of the St. Louis area and Portland, OR. Those cities combined have influenced and crafted the emcee's tenacity, perspective, and insight. Landon's stage performance & delivery have been praised on tours both nationally & internationally for it's captivating crowd appeal. Wordswell specializes in utilizing intricate rhyme schemes often being coupled with tightly knitted personal lyrics and a bold truth. He has mastered his stage performance over the years by performing nights with audiences enjoying intimate settings as well as honing his skill in state of the art venues mounting in as many as 10,000+ heads in attendance. It's safe to say that Landon is comfortable in any environment.
The Indianapolis, IN born emcee was immediately moved to Brooklyn, IL (St Louis Area) where his single mother taught him honor, resilience, and hustle on a day to day basis by simply living as an example of it. Seeing these qualities pay off led to his family relocating to a much safer, well established area in his late childhood. Wordswell's vast experiences have shaped him into a lyricist who effortlessly relates to fans from all walks of life. From college student to military vet, the emcee's world views seem to evolve annually. Wordswell never omits the fact that traveling internationally on tours has encouraged him to expand more as both an artist and human being. Such a growth can be heard as time lapses through each album. From his first solo effort, "The Mourning After Pill", to his last, "Prayer & Whiskey", you begin to identify with who this artist is becoming.
Along with touring the United States with his frequent tour partner, Gift of Gab (Blackalicious), he has also completed a full European tour with the Artifacts and and national tour with the very legendary Talib Kweli in 2018. Landon Wordswell has also performed alongside greats such as Mos Def, The Game, Slum Village, Warren G, Mobb Deep, Binary Star, Blackalicious, Lyrics Born, Skyzoo, Black Milk, Zion I, Raekwon (Wu-Tang), Jeru The Damaja, Guilty Simpson, Sir Mix-A-Lot, Devin The Dude, Aceyalone, Freestyle Fellowship & many, many more!
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