| JFP Mobile | Jackson, Mississippi

Artists To Watch

Skipp Coon

You gotta love the new mayor of Jackson. No, not that one. Skipp Coon, born Joecephus Martin, calls himself "the mayor of Jackson," and even raps about the current mayor of Jackson from time to time. Skipp Coon—a name he created to talk back to the stereotypes of the Jim Crow era—is an honors graduate of Jackson State with a degree in education, now working on his master's. Calling himself "more of a rapper than a hustler," Skipp says he is not solidly in the Dirty South rap-music camp with a lot of other area rappers. The Forest Hill High graduate likes Project Pat, 8 ball and MJG—and even Maroon 5. He said in a recent blog interview that he admires David Banner "because he reps Mississippi" and Kanye West "cause he made it big without killing anyone or selling dope." Last summer, Skipp toured Europe with his friend DJ Phingaprint, and played the biggest hip-hop festival on the continent—in the Czech Republic, where he was a sensation. Skipp is working on his new album with about a dozen tracks ready to go; you can hear "I'm Just Skipp" on the jacksonfreepress.com Podcast #1 right now. So come listen to the mayor.

DIYs For The Up And Coming

DIY: How (and Why) To Copyright Your Music

Although laws have changed, and now you are not absolutely required to register your work with the U.S. Copyright Office, it is still a very good idea to do so. Your work can become a source of income and recognition for you, but not if someone else takes credit for it. When it comes to music, there are two kinds of copyright: PA and SR. PA stands for Performing Arts and refers to the lyrics, music and arrangement. SR stands for Sound Recording and refers to the actual recording made. If you release a CD, for example, you'll want to register both kinds of copyright. If you are just writing songs (or other musical compositions) and have not recorded them, just use the PA form. And if you are working with a producer or record label, by all means try to keep ownership of the PA rights to your songs. Often a label will try to negotiate these away from you. This means they will receive the royalties if your song is used by another artist or in a commercial.

[Greggs] Male Rules For Dating

While sitting down and enjoying an "adult beverage" with a few guy friends the other night, the topic of dating came up. Now, I've always maintained that I wouldn't write about dating in a column. I've previously mentioned that I just don't do it well, and recent events in my life prove it. Dating for me at this point consists of believing that Michael Buble speaks to me through the radio. He is commanding me to stalk him. Every time he sings "Save the Last Dance For Me" with that Sinatra-like smoothness, he's shooting a rainbow straight through my heart laced with obsessive compulsion and covered in a restraining order. That man knows exactly what he's doing.

Barbour: 'Why I'll Veto the Tax Bill'

*verbatim via e-mail* There has been a lot of discussion over the past few days about Senate Bill 2310, which proposes to eliminate the sales tax on groceries and increase the tax on cigarettes. Despite the initial claims that this proposal is simple and revenue neutral, this bill in fact shortchanges our towns and cities which are already strapped in post-Katrina times and destroys our ability to increase needed funding for education in the future.

[Music] What's Happening, Mississippi?

Daniel Johnson, 26, and Walter Young, 22, are on a mission to publicize the talent and power of Mississippi rock bands through "Mississippi Happening," a radio show on WLEZ 103.7 FM (Friday 10 p.m.-midnight). The show is a "showcase of explorations of rock in Mississippi," though the two try to be broad in their definition of that genre, including everything from indie to metal to instrumental. But you won't hear any rap or electronica here; at its heart, "Mississippi Happening" is about rock. "There has to be a line drawn to have some integrity about calling it a Mississippi rock show," Johnson says.

[Greggs] Hear Me Roar

The other day I was reading a news brief about Heidi Fleiss opening the first all-male brothel in Nevada. It has all the other cathouse owners in the state, the owners of the regular brothels, in high dungeon. They complain she is drawing attention to the sex trade in Nevada. They've obviously been trying to hide the fact that they operate whorehouses from the religious population and don't want her sashaying in and "causing problems."

[Kamikaze] The Apocalypse Is Nigh

I'm back from a couple of weeks in the media capital of the world—New York City. Bright lights, big dreams and bad weather. Unfortunately while I was there, the Northeastern seaboard experienced some of its worst weather in years. Here I am running from the remnants of Katrina and Rita and, POW!, seven straight days of blinding rain and flooding in New Hampshire. Methinks this is yet another sign that the Apocalypse is nigh.

Radical Right Targets Girl Empowerment Effort

Oct. 14, 2005—AP is reporting that the Tupelo wingnuts are at it again:

UPDATED/URGENT: What to Donate NOW in Jackson/on the Coast

This thread orginally started Tuesday, Aug. 30, and has been updated over the last several days. Be sure to read the comments to the bottom to determine the way you can help as the needs change. And please post information here about donations, specific needs and where to take them.

Heaven's Kitchen

The air in St. Andrew's kitchen is filled with the heady aroma of garlic and roasting chicken as a dozen volunteers prepare meals for those displaced by Hurricane Katrina's devastation.

Times-Picayune's Open Letter to the President

OUR OPINIONS: An open letter to the President

Reprinted verbatim from the Sunday edition of the Times-Picayune:

Money, Supplies Needed for Nursing Home Residents

September 4, 2005/verbatim: Hurricane Katrina Destroyed Several Mississippi Nursing Homes Needs of Senior Citizens Continue to Grow

Honoring Our Soldiers: Are Mississippi Lawmakers Doing Enough?

Mississippi is paying dearly with our soldiers' lives in the Iraqi War. Since the war began in March 2003, at least 37 servicemen from Mississippi have lost their lives. In fact, Mississippi currently ranks fifth in the nation in per capita loss of servicemen.

New Artistic Ground

Some people think that you have to live in a place like New York City to break new artistic ground. The upcoming Fondren Theatre Workshop (FTW) presentation features four dramatic works by local playwrights—all performed by local actors. It may not be in New York City, but it does break new artistic ground. The variety of drama, comedy, themes and styles promises a wonderful mix of intelligent, entertaining theater. The staged readings of the plays will take place at The House of Brews Coffee House at The Artery, 3220 N. State St., July 14-17.

Music Street: Where Is the Studio Melton Promised?

During Frank Melton's mayoral campaign, he told an audience of young African American musicians at The Birdland that he would bring a world-class recording studio to them, to Farish Street, once he was elected mayor in June. "I'm entering the fall of my life," Melton said. "The only thing I have left now in my life is to make sure you all have the same opportunities I had. I want a studio on Farish Street." Melton promised that the studio would be one of his first priorities when he took office July 4.

Bobby Bare, Jr. at W.C. Don's July 18

Bobby Bare, Jr. shares his famous father's musical genetics, but he's hardly hiding in dad's shadow with his own blend of R&B swagger and SoCal country rock. He and his band of merry misfits, The Young Criminals' Starvation League, released one of last year's gems, "From The End of Your Leash." Think it's all talk and no walk? Well, SPIN called it "One of the 10

Living, Breathing Art

The Mississippi Museum of Art is the perfect place to while away a few hours, indoors, away from the heat and humidity. But, more than that, it's the perfect place to stimulate your mind with the several exhibits on display right now.

After Killen: What's Next For Mississippi?

A common, and easy, response to race-dialogue efforts today in Mississippi is that there is racism everywhere, so why should Mississippians keep apologizing, or be constantly under the microscope.

Men We Love

by David McCarty, Emily Braden Knight, Robert Williamson, Casey Parks, Thabi Mooyo, Swetha Regunathan, Todd Stauffer

Matador Records News

Interpol: Currently in the midst of playing radio festivals across the US, Interpol have recorded a new song, "Direction" for inclusion on compilation CD 'Six Feet Under: Everything Ends, Music From The HBO Original Series, Vol. 2', coming out June 21 on Astralwerks.

All results / Stories

Sort By

Date

Authors