New York rapper Skyzoo returns to Tampa this summer

Three years after teaming up with Tampa rapper Rahim Samad for “8th Wonder,” Skyzoo is headed back to the Bay area.

The 41-year-old New York emcee grew up a block away from Notorious B.I.G., and has released close to a couple dozen of albums and mixtapes since 2002, including last year’s The Mind of a Saint , a concept record built around Franklin Saint, a character from the FX crime drama “Snowfall.”

And while the man born Gregory Skyler Taylor is an East coast hip-hop legend in his own right, he’s also rocked the mid alongside luminaries like Black Thought and Jadakiss. He’s even done some of his best work as a ghostwriter, something he mainly sees as business.

“It’s cool because you get to work with people who you may not have ever been in the room with if it was just being an artist,” Skyzoo told Tidal. “The worlds I’ve been able to be in off of ghostwriting, people would never think Skyzoo, the underground “backpack” rapper, would be hanging out with some of the biggest people in the world.”

For his “Mic Masters” Tampa show next month, Skyzoo is joined by Bay area rappers Khighness, Chase Bankery, and Pusha Preme who recently signed a distribution deal with Roc Nation’s Equity Distribution.

Tickets to see Skyzoo play Crowbar in Ybor City, Florida on Friday, May 24 are available now and start at $30.

See Josh Bradley’s weekly roundup and newly announced concerts below.
The Dreaded Laramie w/No One Road/Nate Mosely Wednesday, April 24. 7 p.m. $10. Hooch and Hive, Tampa

Big Jada Saturday, April 25. 7 p.m. $20. Hooch and Hive, Tampa

Alejandro Santamaría (opening for Andrés Cepeda) Friday, April 26. 7:30 p.m. $49.50 & up. Morsani Hall at Straz Center, Tampa

Ortotasce w/Sleeping Pills/Get With This/Posh Boy/Soulr Friday, April 26. 8 p.m. $9. Hooch and Hive, Tampa

Neverless w/Atomic Treehouse/Better Place (opening for Keep Flying) Friday, April 26. 8 p.m. $15. Music Hall at New World Brewery, Tampa

Jimmie’s Chicken Shack w/Tropico Blvd/Pilot Jone zz Friday, April 26. 7 p.m. $5. Floridian Social, St. Petersburg

Gaza! Rising! Ybor City: Dea and Saint w/Pilot Jonezzz/Afterworld/Razor and the Boogiemen/Highway Advisory Radio/Offerings/The Tilt/Phlegm/Hovercar Saturday, April 27. 4 p.m. $20-$30 suggested donation. Crowbar, Ybor City

Juan Love and Friends Saturday, April 27. 2 p.m. $5 suggested donation. Hooch and Hive, Tampa

ArtSpace Tampa Community Fundraiser: Slam Anderson w/SydLive/Kat On The Keys/Tone I.E./Psych Montano/Kay Three/DJ Afro Blanco Tuesday, April 30. 6 p.m. $10 donation. Crowbar, Ybor City

Liliac w/Rozy Saturday, May 4. 6:30 p.m. $25 & up. Brass Mug, Tampa
Porch Coffin w/Fastwalker/Off Day/more TBA Sunday, May 5. 5 p.m. $10. Hooch and Hive, Tampa

'It will always be The State Theatre:' Victims of Circumstance Monday, May 6. 7 p.m. No cover. Floridian Social, St. Petersburg

Doyle and Otep w/ Red Devil Vortex/Bad Future/Voidrium Wednesday, May 8. 6 p.m. $25. Brass Mug, Tampa

Daniela Soledade Friday, May 10. 7 p.m. $22. Floridian Social, St. Petersburg

Discord Theory (opening for Geese) Friday, May 10. 8 p.m. $18. Crowbar, Ybor City

IV and the Strange Band w/Swamp Poney/Skinny McGee & the Handshakes/One Trip Little Saturday, May 11. 7 p.m. $15. Brass Mug, Tampa

Noche de Verano Sin Ti Saturday, May 11. 9 p.m. $20. Crowbar, Ybor City

Doom Flamingo w/MiniM Friday, May 17. 8 p.m. $20. Floridian Social, St. Petersburg

Savants of Soul w/Dionysus/HoneyWhat Thursday, May 23. 7 p.m. $5. Floridian Social, St. Petersburg

Domani w/Jinx/Nasja Friday, May 24. 7 p.m. $35 & up. 7th + Grove, Ybor City

Secrets w/Colorblind/Glasslands/Unwell/Chasing Airplanes Friday, May 24. 6 p.m. $18. Orpheum, Tampa

Anders Osborne Duo Saturday, May 25. 8 p.m. $30. Skipper’s Smokehouse, Tampa

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