Scottie Flippen w/ Kelsey Lu

Q&A

With Scottie Flippen

October 2010

1. How long have you been:

(A)Writing

SF – As long as I can remember, I’ve always been a writer. I have memories of writing little songs when I was nine or ten years old. Obviously, the quality has gotten better over the years. The way I go about it is the biggest thing that has changed. I used to just jump right in and put the pen to the paper, and whatever came next is the direction I took. Now I like to sit down with the beat and give it some thought. I may play with it in my head for a few days before I come up with that perfect concept, but when I do it helps to make the song a lot more cohesive. I know exactly what I want to say and how I want to say it. I think a lot of cats in this industry rely on the strength of the beat and the skill of their producer more so than the actual song writing. All you have to do is turn on the radio to hear some bullshit that sounds like they spent about 15 minutes on the song. Or maybe these cats are just dumb and lucky, take your pick.

(B)Recording

I recorded my first song at Dru from the Runners studio when I was 18 years old. We went to high school together, and he was doing big things even back then; I could tell he was going to take his music to the next level. About five years later he produced “Everyday I’m Hustling” by Rick Ross and “Money on My Mind” by Lil Wayne. That was a learning experience for me because it was the first time I had ever been in the studio, and I was a little in awe with the high dollar setup he had as a 17 year old producer. To make a long story short, the track wasn’t much to talk about, but it inspired me to put together my own studio and start getting more serious with my music. I ran like that through college, but eventually I had to step it up to industry quality recording, which leaves me where I am today – copping the best studio time money can buy.

(C)Performing

I did my first live show in 2004, and I’ve pretty much been out there since then. I stepped it up about three years ago when I moved to Winston-Salem, and I have played pretty much everywhere inNorth Carolina and a lot of places in the southeast. It’s all part of a building process. My goal was to build a solid draw locally in Winston-Salem and in my hometown of Cullowhee, NC then take it on the road and try to do the same around North Carolina. Once I felt like I had gotten out there enough, I started making moves up and down the East Coast from DC to Atlanta. Next it’s nationally and internationally, but like I said, it’s all a building process…one step at a time.

(D)Producing

I relied heavily on the producer in the early stages, but I feel like I know exactly how I want everything to sound before I get in the studio now. I’m a lot more hands on in the mixing process, and I always have the final word on every track.


2. What/Who/Where influenced you to take music as serious as you do and as a profession?

More than anything else, I think it was the competitive nature I have inside me. I was always an athlete and losing was not an option. I had a line in a song that started, “It ain’t that I love winning, I just hate to lose.” I think that plays hand in hand with my drive, I’m self inspired. I grew up listening to the same music that everyone else did, we all have similar influences. I think that early on in my career when I felt like another more seasoned artist got more love than I did, it pissed me off. I decided that no matter where I went or who I played with, I was going to put down the best set in the building that night. If I didn’t, I left feeling like I just lost the state championship or some shit. From that point, I took it upon myself to put in the hours and hours of practice and preparation before I went to the studio or a show that would ensure the end result I was looking for. Nobody is going to outwork me…nobody.


3. Describe your style of music

Style…that’s what most of these cats are lacking. Most artists in this industry follow little trends or what they think is “hot” at the time. I’m always going to be me; no gimmicks, no image, no bullshit, just me. With that being said, I feel like I’m pretty diverse as an artist because of the many different places my life has taken me. I try to make a little bit of something for everybody, not just one facet of hip-hop. I bring together 90’s west coast sounds with a hint of down south flavor and a piece of New York consciousness. No matter what, I’m always talking about something. You’ll never hear me on a track talking about my fucking watch or chain and how stupid fly I am. That’s up for the fans to decide, let the music talk.


4. Do you believe there is a difference between “Hip Hop” and “Rap” and what comes to your mind when you hear the phrase “Real Hip Hop?”

Hip-Hop/Rap is a culmination of a lot of other genres combined, a melting pot of music if you will. I really don’t pay much attention to the labels people try to attach with the music. What’s “real” for me may not even apply to someone else. My homie Renaissance from Solos had a line that said, “Is this hip-hop or something else? I don’t know what to call it myself.” Those words hit the nail on the head for me. I will say this though, if what they play on the radio is “real” hip-hop then I’m on some whole other shit.


5. Give us a little background on your musical accomplishments and pinpoint the most rewarding of those.

I try to stay humble with all of this right now. Awards and accolades don’t mean anything to me at this point. I’ve never promoted myself for an NCUMA or CMA award because they’re bullshit. They have no real panel of judges and the majority of nominees are people that haven’t really accomplished anything musically. I think a lot of cats put stock in this type of thing just to give themselves a pat on the back that no one else will. We have an ongoing joke that NCUMA stands for the “North Carolina Unheard of Motherfucker Awards.” It’s nothing personal towards the people who throw these events or the artists that participate, but if you place a label on your product that represents the state of North Carolina then you open yourself up for scrutiny if it’s not done right. Get back at me in a couple years, and I’ll tell you how many records I’ve sold, that’s the true test.


6. What is the meaning behind your stage name?

Scottie Flippen…it rings bells. Even if you’ve never heard of me, you’ll be sitting there like, “I think I’ve seen that name before.” Obviously, it’s a play off of Scottie Pippen; I was a huge Bulls fan growing up before they started drafting all those Duke players. That’s their biggest problem haha!


7. Who do you work with and who do you look forward to working with in the future?

Most of my beats are made in house by Turn Two Productions, Conbud & Mike Machete. They bring that fire on every track and have a sense of creativeness not shared by many in this game. They work a lot locally in Winston, having already produced the 2nd Revolution album and the last Pic Squad tape. We’ve had the needle to the record for a while, and our chemistry is only improving. I record at Underground Sound in Greensboro, NC. It’s a state of the art studio and has been a really good fit for me so far. I also recently added another important dynamic to my live set, the female vocalist. If you’ve been to see me perform then you know who Kelsey Lou is. I bring her up on stage for about four or five tracks per set, and it adds a lot of soul and feeling to the performance. It’s definitely one of the separating factors between me and other groups. It adds an element they don’t share.


8. Talk a little bit about the current state of the North Carolina Independent music scene.

It’s without a doubt as strong as it’s ever been. North Carolina is country music territory, and it’s taken a long time to not only warm up the people to hip-hop, but the venues as well. I’ve made a conscious effort to try and start doing more shows with bands from other genres, and it has worked out great so far. I think that if we start doing more of that, it could help bring all of our crowds together and be beneficial for everyone involved. Beyond that, the biggest thing we’re missing is a presence on local radio. How the hell are artists like myself going to make it if our local radio stations won’t support us? It’s crazy to me that I can get radio play all over the country but not right here in my backyard. They’ll tell you they have no control over what they play and that it’s all corporate…bullshit. I’ve got a couple good ideas in mind to get past that, but I think I’ll keep that to myself.


9. What are your upcoming projects/shows and is there anyone you would like to shot out?

First off I gotta thank Ty Bru, MTTS & Vinny Savage from HypeNC.com for taking the time to do these 10 questions with me. That’s a real good look, and I hope I’ve answered everything to the fullest.


I’ve been working religiously on my album, “You Bouncin With Scott: Volume 1.” I haven’t set a release date yet, but it will be at some point in early 2011. I’ve made enough progress now that I can actually say that with full confidence. I didn’t want to just throw some half ass project together and hate myself for it later. This is a culmination of several years of hard work and from the time you hit play on Track 1 until the final beat fades it’s gonna have that bounce.


I’ve also got some pretty big shows coming up in the near future. I’m playing in the A3C Hip-Hop Festival, which is the southeast’s premier event. You can check out www.a3cfestival.com for more details. It’s held in East Atlanta Village, and I’ll be on the outdoor Jakprints Stage at 2:10 PM on Saturday, October 9th. There aren’t a lot of North Carolina acts performing, so I’ll make sure I rep to the fullest. I’m looking forward to the networking more than anything else, and I would advise any of you who are serious about your music to attend regardless of whether you got in or not. Cats like Erick Sermon, Murs, Killer Mike, Camp Lo & 9th Wonder will all be performing.


I’ve also got some pretty big dates coming up here in North Carolina. I haven’t announced these yet, so you heard it first from HypeNC. I’ll be playing with Jadakiss in Greensboro at the end of October and Nappy Roots back in the mountains in early November. I’ll be announcing the details at some point in the next couple of weeks, so make sure you stay up on that.


10. What kind of stamp or legacy would you like to leave behind when it’s all said and done?

It’s pretty simple; I’m coming for that #1 spot. Download my single and the title track from my album, “You Bouncin With Scott (#1 Spot),” turn it the fuck up, and I’ll fill you in with the rest of the details.


Get the Free download by following this link - http://www.divshare.com/download/11484098-d10

- HypeNC.com

In an era where the ability to create digital music has opened the doors for pretty much anyone with a computer and a microphone to record an album, the market has been flooded with mediocrity. A lot of people would rather drive in silence than turn on their radio to hear what the industry is putting out. After touring up and down the East Coast from Washington, D.C to Atlanta and hitting everywhere in between, Scottie Flippen separates himself from that.

Although not opposed to partying and having a good time, Scott has developed the keen art to separate from the mainstream and shape his music into depictions of the injustices and hypocrisy that have crippled American society in recent years. With a style that encompasses 90’s West Coast sounds, combined with East Coast & Down South flavor, the diversity in Scott’s music shines with every bar. Couple that with the lost art of being a true emcee, and you’ve got a party that doesn’t stop until they make you leave (but that doesn’t mean you gotta go home). A lot of artists can rap, plenty of studio artists make good music, but not just any emcee can rock a crowd like Scottie Flippen. Add vocalist Kelsey McJunkins’ powerful voice and beautiful smile to the mix for a set that isn’t rivaled by many. Whether it be on a college campus or a hole in the wall in your city, he always leaves his audience with something to think about. Thought…an interesting word that has disappeared from most Hip-Hop.

- A3C Hip-Hop Festival

"This track possess the qualities to be an underground classic! The lyrics are impressive with the multis and rhyme progression. The balance overall is good. The mood is also great!" - Terry J - Forest City, Florida on "Lyrical Symphony"

"Nice intro , I like the bassline. Scottie Flippen sounds like LL Cool J from back in the day, and that's a compliment - I mean the good stuff! Flippen can rap! I like the lyrics and its a good hip-hop ballad...keep it up!!!" - Afterglow - Canada - Review of "Pourin Out Liqour"

"The track is dope...well produced! I like it homie....The flow is cool but humble...Love the hook...biggups to hip hop!"
- Cinemacks Productions - Kentucky - "Pourin Out Liqour"

Main Review:
Production-Above Average
Lyrics-Above Average
Content-Above Average
Performance-Excellent

In depth review:
The production on this one is solid. It's got a good balance of instruments that keeps the song engaging to the listener. Most things are balanced really well. I will say that the piano lines at about the 1:25 mark really bring out the tone of the song. Vocals are up front and everything is balanced nicely. Good job on this one.

The lyrics are above average. Some of the lines you put together are clever, such as the Russell Crowe line. A cliche every now and then is to be expected, so that didn't hurt you. I do like the thought that seemed to go into what you're saying. Seems genuine.

The content is also refreshing. The emcee gets on the relative level of the listeners by talking about subjects that are personal, but everyone can relate at the same time. Good job on putting this together. Your lyrics never stray from what you're saying either.

Performance is the best part of this track. The emcee sounds genuine and accents the words he wants the listener to remember. He's quite confident and has a very interesting voice for hip hop.

Overall, a very good track. Thanks for sharing and good luck!
- Poetic LieSins - Kansas City, Missouri - "Pourin Our Liqour

"Questo pezzo mi piace molto...Davvero magari il suono della base curato un po meglio. La voce è stupenda!" - Simone Dubbio - Iglesias, Italy - "Pourin Out Liqour"

Fred Parent and Justin Roper - or Soul Rebel and Scottie Flippen, as they are also known - are two Guilford students from "the grimey Winston City" and "Tha Whee," North Carolina in love with making music.

Parent and Roper came together in January 2005 to form their group, The Slick Click. Parent and Roper also created ways to manage their own music.

The two of us came together as if by accident: "We ended up at the same spot one night and everyone started free-styling," said Roper. "That's when me and Fred started free-styling together, and then we started making it a regular thing; to go down to the apartmetns and free style.

"Next thing we knew we hung a microphone down from the computer. It was some ghetto ass shit, but everybody seemed to like it - especially the ladies, definitely all the ladies."

When the duo had no place to record, they built a small recording booth in a closet in the old apartments on campus. Mike Machete, the duo's producer, created beats in his room next to the closet. They threaded wires through the wall to Machete's room and soundproofed the studio with egg crates used to soften beds.

"The apartments were a gold mine,' said Parent. "I wish we didn't have to move. The sound quality in there could rival about anything I've heard. You could hear our shit on the radio and now know we recorded it in the Guilford College apartments!"

Slick Click's music is a blend of different genres, incorporating blues, reggae, hip hop, country, and southern rap.

Parent described the duo's music as similar to Outkast.

"We're like Big Boi and Andre," he said. "I like to paint pictures, I like to tell a story and to be a lot more abstract. Justin writes more about the hustle."

Rappers like Jay-Z, Notorious B.I.G., T.I., Mos Def, and Big L also influence the Slick Click. Friends and family are other sources of inspiration.

"When I was growing up, all my friends (were into) music," said Roper, adding that he has friends in the industray who have already recorded his with Fat Joe, Rick Ross, and Lil Wayne and are selling beats to artists like Trillville, Snoop Dogg, Ludacris, and Brittney Spears.

"I'd be sitting around in the locker room and everybody be free styling. It made me think, 'You know it's my time to start being serious 'bout this too,'" said Roper.

"My brother got me real into hip hop," said Parent. "He used to drive me round in the car and have me listen to CD after CD. I'd say it was last winter when I really started getting serious about music. Mainly cause I already have the prior influence and he (Roper) is always trying to get me more serious and have me write my ideas down."

Nine months after thr group was formed, it has already begun to work on hits. The Slick Click has recorded with new artists from around the area such as Sampson Weinfeld, Rebecca Adams, The Solos Unit, and Nino Blaq.

"Somebody was saying they were downloading out shit man - they already stealing our songs ... but hey, I'd rather have fans than be worrying about the money," said Parent.

Parent and Roper are hard at work these days: in addition to promoting their own groups, they are trying to begin the process of releasing a project, which will be released soon - "definitely before Christmas," according to Roper.

They also want to create more opportunities for hip hop in Greensboro. Parent and Roper have put together Wednesday night parties at Amigos and are planning on hosting Free Style Fridays and DJ battles there as well.

"We setting up shop," said Roper.

Roper asked to end the article with a shout-out:

"We just wanted to give a shout out to Isore Records and the Poetics, and good luck with their album Living in Contradiction. These are two other up-and-coming groups. And to my boys Stokes and Pierre who used to kill those free style sessions. Those old school Guilford cats got me motivated."

-Emilie Grant - The Guilfordian, Greensboro, NC - 2005

"I REALLY like the use of the bass and piano in this track. The strings work very well also. Vocals sound good and the lyrics seem more well thought out than the general hip hop stuff. The soul aspect of this song is it's greatest strength."
- Dope Engineers - Austin, TX - "Pourin Out Liqour"

"THIS IS SCORCHIN!! FLIPPEN'S VOICE GOT ME ATTRACTED ALREADY!!! THE CONCEPT OF DA SONG IS COOL! THE BEAT, FLOW IS TIGHT!! THE HOOK IS HEART FELT...KEEP BANGIN!"
- PHLUFF - Harlem, NY - "Pourin Out Liqour"

"Awesome beat... love the guitar and piano... thats my shit! This has mad heart.. props for spillin..you can really hear it! Flow is great, lyrics are great. Awesome song overall!! Keep it up.. I'm stoked bout this.." - Attie Beck (guitarist/singer) - Nashville, TN - "Pourin Out Liqour"

"I don't think too many people are gonna really understand this track cause they're not on this level of American nature yet...They touched on some real shit on this beat..Could've been slowed down a little so people can hear what they were really feelin on this track...The beat was in tune with the song and I'm glad this song was as real as I heard it!" - Paybak, Inc. - Broward Co., FL - "Loose Change"

Hustle Mill: How would you describe yourself as an emcee?
Scottie Flippen: Being an emcee is an art form in itself. I’m confident but humble at the same time and always try to give the crowd their money’s worth with a hype set. I’m not just a studio artist; I’m out here on these stages from DC to Atlanta every weekend getting it in. I try to make a little bit of music for everybody, so I feel like I’m pretty diverse an artist. Content is something that you’ll always find in my flow though, no matter the type of song.

Hustle Mill: What does Scottie Flippen get into outside of music?
Scottie Flippen: I love sports, so you can usually catch me at a game or watching one on TV. I grew up playing point guard, quarterback and shortstop, so playing ball was a year round thing for me. I think performing has replaced the adrenaline I used to get from hooping or busting heads on the gridiron. Obviously music consumes most of my time, but it’s good to kick back and relax with friends and family when I get a chance.

Hustle Mill: What type of beats bring out the best in Scottie Flippen?
Scottie Flippen: I can usually tell within the first 15-30 seconds whether I’ll fuck with it or not. I don’t like using the same old candy ass beats that everybody is into copping; I need depth to the instrumental. Give me something that I can write a REAL song too, not just put some verses on. You feel me?

Hustle Mill: Speaking of beats, what producers have you worked with in the past?
Scottie Flippen: I try to keep it in house with Turn Two Productions out of Winston-Salem as much as I can. Conbud & Mike Machete (Turn 2) have been with me from the start, and there’s a reason that I still fuck with them…they bring that heat on every track, and they have their own style. I also did a couple tracks for the album with JJ the Jenius who makes the music for Cartoon Network’s “The Boondocks.” Beyond that, I’ve done a couple joints with Tone P from up in Harlem , but if it ain’t broke don’t fix it, I’ll fuck with Turn 2 all day.

Hustle Mill: What artists have you worked with?
Scottie Flippen: 2nd Revolution is like family to me, they hold it down in Winston for sure. Renaissance & Mr. Mohalyn from what was formerly Solos Unit are always on the scene with us too. I’ve shared the stage with so many artists on the East Coast it would be tough to name them all, but I’ve done a lot of shows with Mack Jones, Ed E. Ruger, Kaze, Young Flu, etc. The list goes on and on. I don’t have a lot of features on the album but I will have a track with Pic Squad (another group from Winston), a joint called “Rooftop” I gotta lay down with Kaze, and a couple joints with Kelsey McJunkins, who is probably more talented than myself or anybody I named above…we call her “the light.”

Hustle Mill: Who would you like to work with in the future?
Scottie Flippen: J. Cole and Immortal Technique…it’s a short list.

Hustle Mill: What has been one of your greatest achievements in your music career so far?
Scottie Flippen: We could sit here and talk about awards and accolades, but more than anything else, getting a good crowd reaction at each and every show I perform at is top priority to me. I try to go so hard that nobody wants to get on stage behind me. Trophies and plaques just sit around and gather dust; if you give people something to think about, they’ll remember you forever.

Hustle Mill: What was one of the worst experiences you have in the music industry so far and how did you bounce back from it?
Scottie Flippen: I definitely feel like I’ve been looked past or stepped over a couple of times. There were a couple opening spots for some big names I had secured, but I got fucked over in the end by some groups or individuals who went under the table and agreed to perform for free. It’s all good though, someday they can open for me…for free.

Hustle Mill: Where do you see yourself as an artist in 5 years?
Scottie Flippen: I really try to take this one day at a time. Although I do have long term goals and an idea of what I want to do in the years to come, I feel like this game changes so much from day to day that artists have to be ready to evolve with it. I stay humble, don’t project myself as something I’m not and try to be realistic with where my career stands. A lot of cats want to be Jay-Z or Lil Wayne overnight…pace yourselves. It’s taken over ten years for me to put in my miles and come into my own as an artist. I’ve still got room to grow, we all do.

Hustle Mill: How was it on the Middle East Micfest Tour?
Scottie Flippen: It was a great experience, and I got to hit a lot of spots outside of North Carolina for the first time. I don’t have anything but good things to say about the other artists from the tour – Mack Jones, Kaze, K-Beta and Jah-I-Witness. It was one hell of a lineup and anybody who made it out to a show saw some great hip-hop.

Hustle Mill: Are there any wild experiences that you would like to share?
Scottie Flippen: The craziest show I ever did was at Guilford College in Greensboro . They were having this event that the art department throws every year called the Draw-A-Thon. They hired models from around the area to come and pose nude for hours at a time so the students could draw or paint the scenery. They also invited us to come and do the music for the event. So here I am rocking it out in front of a table of like eight naked ass girls. There was this thick Amazon looking shorti who had me all tore up haha. Needless to say I was a little distracted, but it was definitely a show I will never forget.

Hustle Mill: So you are working on an album to be released this summer, could you talk more about that?
Scottie Flippen: No doubt, it’s been a little over two years in the making, and I’m in the finishing touches of the recording process. It’s titled You Bouncin With Scott and will feature about 14 tracks from all over the hip-hop spectrum. I talk about a lot of social issues and injustices on the album along with a few club bangers and ballads. Songwriters are going to really appreciate this piece of wax, and I hope it will serve as a challenge for other emcees to step their game up with the content.

Hustle Mill: What are some of the topics you are talking about on this upcoming release?
Scottie Flippen: We live in a country where people’s entire lives are based around money and the pursuit or lack of it. I’m throwing all that money, cash, hoes bullshit out the window and coming at you with a project about real life and real people, not just fantasies about shoot outs and million dollar dreams. I’ve got tracks like “Proud American,” “Better Way,” “The Day I Shot the Former President” and “Writing You a Letter” that cover some of the injustices taking place in capitalist, greedy America. Then I’ve got joints like “You Bouncin With Scott,” “98,” and “So North Cack ” that are a little less serious and have that old school hip-hop feel. I’ve got something on there for pretty much everybody, and it’s as diverse as a hip-hop album is gonna get. Stay on the look out for that joint this July. Thanks for having me!

- Hustle Mill

Rhyming about social issues, sports figures, and just partying, Scottie Flippen has been on the Mid-Atlantic Hip Hop circuit for the better part of the past five years. This coming summer, Scottie plans to take things to the next level, with his new release, You Bouncin' With Scott: Volume 1. Mr. Flippen spoke with AYP Magazine about all things Hip Hop, politics, lyrical skills, sports, and even his grandparents!

AYP MAGAZINE Who are some of the artists who have influenced you?


SCOTTIE FLIPPEN Well, first off man, I just wanna thank you guys, thank AYP Magazine for having me here for this interview, giving me a little press, it's always good. Anyway, I guess to answer your question, my influences, as far as that goes, I was born in '83, so you know, I was kind of there for the start of Hip Hop going mainstream. It was early '80s when Aerosmith did that joint with Run DMC, "Walk This Way" or whatever, it kinda brought Hip Hop into the mainstream. It was a little before my time. I really started getting into Hip Hop around the time Tupac and Biggie were reaching their height. I remember the first album I ever bought was Warren G G Funk Era. You know, the joint that had "Regulate" on it and all that. I just loved that west coast sound, man. I mean, I grew to love Tupac, I had all of his albums. I knew the words to every song, still do. I never have been a real Biggie fan. It took me until I got older to appreciate Biggie more as an artist. Beyond that, as far as content wise, Nas, Jay Z......everybody names those guys. But a little bit more off the cuff, as far as where I kinda got my style and how I'd like to come across and address things, Immortal Technique is another name. He showed it was cool not to just follow the mainstream. You know, you can really put tracks out there about what's happening in our society. People dig that too.


AYP What current emcees inspire you to up your game?


SF I'm kinda still living in the past man. If you get in the car with me, in my disc changer, I'm gonna have Tupac's All Eyes On Me or Jay Z Unplugged. That's one of my favorite albums, where he did the MTV Unplugged show. You might hear The Black Album or you might hear any of Nas's joints, y'know what I'm saying? So, like I said, I'm kinda still living in the past, and I still follow those artists from my childhood. As far as the new groups, it's really tough for me to come up with them off the top of my head, because I feel like the radio, mainstream industry caters so much to the 14-18 year old demographic. I'm past that, and I think I'm not the only one who feels that way.


AYP How do you feel about the media's dumbing down of Hip Hop?


SF Well, it's like this man, I know that cat, Wacka Flacka, I can't even keep up with these names they're so ridiculous these days. He said something to the extent of, "What is the point of even being a lyricist? What are y'all doing? Cats like me are the only ones getting money these days." And so, therein lies your problem. When I first got into Hip Hop, it wasn't about, "I wanna be famous," or "I wanna make money." I wanted to be the best fucking rapper where I was at. I wanted to be the best fucking rapper period. I wanted them to know that, when Scottie Flippen steps on that stage, Scottie Flippen is the best fucking rapper in this area, y'know what I'm saying? And it wasn't about fame or money or anything like that. A lot of these.....I don't know if they do it because they're a slave to their label or that's the kinda stuff that the label wants them to make. Because it's hard for me to picture Soulja Boy sitting around in the studio, laying down one of these dumb ass tracks and then looking around, and the producer saying, "Yeah, yeah, that's the shit!" or "That's hot!" I find it really hard to picture, so obviously these cats are doing it for the money, and you really can't hate on anybody for that, but at the same time, you can. They're the ones putting themselves out there to be one hit wonders and forgotten about next week, laughed and joked about. The cats with the staying power in this industry are the cats like Wu Tang, Nas, Jay Z, cats with real lyrical content.


AYP Considering your lyrical content, do you find that sometimes your lyrics cause your audience to take longer to get into the groove of it, or more likely, do they initially get into the music and later realize that you're actually saying something of substance?


SF The best way I've got to describe it comes from a good friend of mine. Her name is Beth Ann and when she came to a show she said, "The first time that I heard you guys, I couldn't even dance because I had to stop and listen to what you were saying. It was like really, 'Is there an emcee out here who's actually talking about something?” He's not just up there talking about, 'I got money, I got clothes, I got hoes,' all the same bullshit." It's like what you were saying, I think some people are taken aback a little bit when they first hear it, it kinda puts them in awe. But then, along with that, I've got more shows under my belt, I've learned to incorporate that side of the music, the lyrics and what not, but also bring these party tracks, throw those in the set so that there's that happy medium between, "He's giving you a bunch of conscious lyrics, and we're over here partying and dancing on the other side." I try to bring that double dynamic.



AYP How do you find a balance so that your music is serious enough to get your message across but still has enough humor. Do you find it challenging to find a balance?


SF It has been a challenge through the years, finding that happy medium that you're talking about. Basically what I've tried to do, especially with this new album that's coming out, I tried to put something in there for everyone. I've got the serious political tracks, talking shit about the government, all the fucked up ass shit they do, and I've got other tracks over here where I'm talking about partying on Friday night, talking to some honey. I've also got a couple ballads, telling stories about losses and bad things that have happened in my life. I try to put a little bit of it in there for everyone, and even within one song you can do that. There are a lot of people who could care less about politics, so if I'm talking about a social issue, I can't just make the song completely about that. I like to throw in a couple punch lines here and there, to keep people listening, about an actor or an actress or an athlete. It takes a lot of work to find that happy medium, that balance, but once you do, I think you're golden from there.


AYP Do you ever have fans that go to a show just looking to have a good time and party, approach you after almost surprised at how your lyrics may have heightened their awareness to social issues?


SF Constantly, at every show. There's always somebody coming up after the show like, "Yo man, I really appreciate what you're talking about, that's what's up." People are so disenfranchised with mainstream or popular Hip-Hop right now. When they actually do hear somebody who's talking about something, they're gonna let you know about it. After every show, there's always somebody that's coming up to me, giving me love, you know, "I appreciate what you're doing." A lot of that even comes from other artists as well. I can see them even look at me like, "Damn I really have to perform after this cat right here?"

AYP What do you think of the Obama administration so far?

SF With the hand that Obama has been dealt, there's only so much that he's going to be able to accomplish. He took over the presidency during the worst recession we've seen since the Great Depression itself, so he's really coming in facing the biggest challenge we've seen from a president since FDR. Our last president, George Bush, graduated toward the bottom of his class at Yale. If you've heard the man speak one time, you could tell he's not a regular Doogie Howser. I can appreciate that our new president, and he's not just some failed businessman who ran four companies into the ground, he graduated first in his class from Harvard Law, which is debatably the most prestigious school in America, at least one of the top three most prestigious schools in America, and this man graduated first in his class. More than anything else, I feel comfortable that we have someone intelligent who's actually overseeing this nation, this fucked up shit we call America.

AYP What should be known about the new healthcare bill that most people don't already know?


SF Despite contrary information prior to when the healthcare bill actually passed, there was no Armageddon, there were no death panels lined up, the government didn't start coming to take anybody's gun and the free market didn't collapse. When you have all the conservative propaganda out of the way, which is what most of it was, like a lot of things I just listed, all this talk about socialism and commucare, and all these other terms that they come up with that resonate to conservative ears. Well after you get past all that stuff and get to the actual piece of legislation, I mean, how do you justify opposing healthcare to over 30 million Americans or college kids? Not even college kids, kids that didn't even go to college who don't have any insurance right now, just trying to make it out there for themselves in the world for the first time. Now they're gonna be able to stay on their parents' coverage until the age of 26. It's gonna cut down the cost on medication for seniors, and that's not even to mention the things that are gonna go into effect later. But even beyond that, this is not only a healthcare bill; the majority of this bill is an education bill. The things that it's gonna do for that are just too numerous for me to get started on right now. So I think that when people actually got the facts, the tide turned very quickly. The other thing to note is that a lot of people who were not in favor of the legislation, based on polls I've seen, 15-20% of that group who was opposed to the legislation weren't against a governmental run healthcare plan. They were opposed to the fact that they thought it didn't go far enough. When you take all of that into account, public opinion starts to sway a little bit.

AYP Are you in favor of the final bill that was passed, or is there anything different you'd like to see?

SF I really am, but I wish it went further…I'm all for a single payer system. When you approve healthcare for the public across the board, that helps things. First of all, as far as cleanliness, communicable diseases, things like that, why can't someone just go to the doctor's office and be taken care of? We can spend billions and trillions of dollars to blow people up halfway across the world, but we're not even willing to give the same amount of attention to our people right here in America. I think it's good that the government has actually created a piece of legislation to help out the American people as a whole instead of catering to the top 10% of Americans who made the biggest donations to their campaign.

AYP Are you a registered voter?

SF Yeah, I voted in every election I've been able to in my life since I turned 18.

AYP Are you aligned with any particular political party?







SF I try not to really affiliate myself. I've taken steps to move a little further away from the Democratic Party, but I am a registered Democrat voter. It's unfortunate we have a two party system, but I feel like my views align more closely with Democrats than Republicans, although I don't always vote for the Democratic candidate. For example, in this upcoming election, I'm registered in Western North Carolina where the representative is a Democrat, Heath Shuler. He used to play quarterback for the Tennessee Vols and then the Washington Redskins & New Orleans Saints. The last election, he beat a guy named Charles Taylor, who was a four or five term incumbent. I really supported him in the last election, but every issue that he's voted on in the past few months, he's been tied in with the conservatives. He voted against the healthcare bill, and I won't be voting for him. I don't always align myself with the parties. I try to be an informed voter and look at what the candidates actually represent. Even though I know behind the scenes a whole different situation is really taking place, but you've got to make the best decision based on the information that's out there.


AYP Is there any advice you'd give to someone who believes it's better not to vote?


SF Yeah I really can, 'cuz whether you like politics, whether you're involved in politics or not, they're going to affect you regardless of whether you want them to or not, and that's basically what it boils down to.


AYP In our fast moving, disposable society, do you think people realize just how screwed up this country and its economy is right now, or do you feel it's not all that screwed up?


SF I think that, especially in this generation that's growing into adulthood right now, that everything has been made so convenient their whole lives. I'm more interested in social and domestic issues than I am economic issues. Money doesn't equal happiness to me. Yeah it's great to have money and buy cool shit, whatever, but money is not the end all be all for me. I really pay more attention to social issues than economic issues. I feel like there are a lot of people out there who still have a lot of hate in their heart. I still feel like some people try to hold others back and feel privileged enough to make decisions for other people. People still feel like they are empowered enough to tell someone else what he or she should not do, and that's the biggest problem we have in this country. Everybody needs to mind their own damn business, worry about themselves and let everybody else live their lives like they want to.



AYP What do you expect in the next two and a half years? Do you see any change socially, any follow up to the healthcare bill?


SF We've already seen some economic growth. All you have to do is look at the statistics, and it's blatantly obvious. I think the biggest thing he's gonna be focused on is employment, getting people their jobs back, getting people out there, making money, working, and putting money back into the economy. He said he's gonna compromise on a lot of things. If you look right now at what's going on with energy, Obama has angered a lot of people during his presidency because they feel he's not liberal enough, but that's only because he has an ear to the moderate and even conservative side. Even if you look at what's going on with energy right now, he said he's gonna open up bidding for off shore drilling on the east coast. That's pretty much a compromise to the right wing. "Help us pass our healthcare, but at the same time I'm going to cater to you." Obama realizes that this energy crisis doesn't only have long term solutions, but we're also going to have to take care of some things in the short term as well. I look for him to try to continue to be a level headed and compromising president. I also look for him to be re-elected in 2012.

AYP Who are some of your favorite athletes of all time?


SF I've got a few absolute favorites, Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen, hence the name Scottie Flippen. I grew up, me and my pops man, my pops is a huge basketball fan, and we used to get this satellite feed where we saw every Chicago Bulls game. So I grew up in the '90s watching Jordan just dominate, sending the Pacers or the Knicks home, or whoever wanted it. I'm a big Cowboys fan, so I like Emmitt Smith, Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin, that whole crowd. As far as people who are out there right now, I'm all about the game. All this money is really taking the heart out of the game. I like cats that really go out there every game and play their hardest and wanna win, and are competitors. The first guy I can think of in the NFL who is like that, Hines Ward man. This dude is like 34 or 35 years old, maybe older, I don't know exactly. He goes out there, he plays wide receiver man, he'll block your ass, and he'll hit your ass. He does whatever it takes. If I was telling a little kid who played wide receiver, if you wanna go watch a player and learn how you play the game of football, go watch Hines Ward. Another guy I like is Tom Brady. I feel like every time he brings it to the field, he's coming to win. I love to see him get fired up on the sidelines, sends chills down my spine, kinda reminds me of my old days.


AYP If you had to pick the top emcees you couldn't live without, who would be on your list?


SF Tupac, you just can't deny talent like that. All Eyes On Me could be the only album I had to listen to for the rest of my life and I'd be happy. Jay Z, Nas, they played a big role in my lyrics, my music, my style. I have to throw them in there. Biggie gets some credit. Like I told you, he's never been one of my favorites. And another cat I always liked, I don't know why or whatever, but you know, his flow always resonated with me, Sheek Louch from The Lox.

AYP You're wrapping up the Middle East Micfest tour as we speak. Tell us about this tour.


SF Basically, what it is, you got Poe Mack and Case Jones out of Roanoke, Virginia. Together they make up a group called Mack Jones. Awhile back, I guess it was winter of last year, they approached me about this tour, this Middle East Micfest tour. It's something that Poe had in the works for awhile. We felt like if we kinda combined our efforts and brought in a few more artists that we could really start a movement. Trying to get some shows in some places that we hadn't performed before, kinda just set the foundation outside of North Carolina and Virginia, which is primarily where I had performed before this tour. I really went hard to try and build my draw here in Winston Salem, back in my hometown Cullowhee, North Carolina, the Raleigh area, Wilmington, just really been working hard to get my name out there in those areas. Other than that, I hadn't expanded much, so it was a really good opportunity for me to venture outside of North Carolina and get up and down the east coast. Basically, what we tried to do was get ourselves gigs everywhere from Baltimore, Maryland all the way down to Atlanta, Georgia. It all came together pretty well in the end. Also on the tour, alongside of Mack Jones, you've got Kaze. He's reppin' Chapel Hill, North Carolina. He was the only other North Carolina artist on the tour with me. You also had Jah I Witness and K- Beta. They're both from around the DC area.


AYP Let's break the tour down by artist......Mack Jones


SF Mack Jones, man, that's my fam. Anything I've needed throughout this process or they've needed in return, we've been there for each other. I communicated with them almost on a daily basis throughout. Not only are they great musicians, coming up in that aspect, but they're great people too. That always means a lot more than the music itself. They've got some good projects out there. They work harder than anybody else I've seen. Look for some good things from them in the years to come.


AYP Jah I Witness


SF Jah I Witness, man, this dude has got the most energy I've ever seen. If you're looking for an energetic set, this guy comes with it every time he performs. He's all over the stage and he's got these in your face lyrics. He's another cat that, like I was talking about before, he's a lyricist. He talks about the struggle that's going on out there. He's not just rapping about the cars and the cash and the good life. He's actually talking a lot about the struggle in his music, and I respect him for that.


AYP K-Beta


SF K-Beta is a dude that you're gonna see out there, like, I think really see him out there in the next couple years. They've got their own thing going up there. We actually went up and did a show with them in the DC area at Jammin Java in Vienna, VA. You could just tell that the whole show was surrounding K-Beta, like he's that dude. And when he got onstage, he's obviously a great lyricist, he brings great energy. He's actually got a new project out called Inglorious Beta, so y'all be sure you check that out.


AYP Kaze


SF Kaze's my NC fam from the tour, so we took a lot of the road trips together and what not. I approached Kaze about getting on this bill with us, and he wanted to do it from up front. Kaze's another one of those cats, he's a hard worker, and he's gonna get his name out there any way that he can. A lot of people know that he signed, he got into that LoudRecords.com competition last year. He got himself a deal with SRC/Universal, Steve Rifkind's company, and it's really helped boost him up. After seeing Kaze and how he handles himself professionally, like, he's a real professional on that stage man. And he's one of the top cats out there in North Carolina right now. He's setting a standard that everybody else in NC is gonna have to step their game up to reach.



AYP Why don't we see many independent tours like the Mid East MicFest Tour?


SF There's a lot that goes into this. First off, you have to have the venues that are willing to book you. It's not like a band who's never played a show before can go book an east coast tour. You have to spend years working to get your name out there before these venues are even willing to bring your product in. Then beyond that, there's promotion, there's websites, organizing everybody, trying to make some money off of it. And when you're doing it yourself, I think it's so hard to do everything that I just said. People don't have the will to do it, or can't do it for some of the reasons that I just spoke about.

AYP As a college graduate, do you ever get any negativity from your family or friends about pursuing your music career?


SF Well actually, to the contrary, my family has been so supportive in everything I've done with music. When I first started doing shows and rapping, they always knew I was on the scene and into the music. I think that when they saw me perform and heard some of my music and realized, "Oh, he's not like the stereotypical rapper out there," it was a little bit easier for them to accept it and support it, especially like my grandparents, them coming from an older generation. Actually my grandparents, they're both in their 70s, they came to my last show that I did in my hometown and they stayed there 'til like one o'clock in the morning. It was great that I could share that with them, and they didn't look down upon me. They even actually looked like they were having a good time. Beyond that, there's always gonna be people out there that wanna dap you up to your face and go behind your back and talk shit. I know that stuff goes on, and I'm not naive about it. I just try to focus on what I can do to make myself a better artist everyday. I worry about the people who genuinely do support me, not the bumps in the road.

AYP Did having your grandparents attend a show make you nervous at all?

SF I thought it would at first. As far as being onstage, I'm a hundred percent comfortable about it. People ask me, "Do you ever get nervous?" I'm sure this question comes up to a lot of artists. Truth be told, I really don't get nervous, because there's nothing I would rather be doing in the world than getting up on stage and rapping. That's my favorite thing to do in the world, that's what I love. That night in particular, with my grandparents being there, I was thinking, am I gonna have to censor some stuff, am I gonna be my normal energetic self up on stage? Once we got going, they were back in the back, smiling, standing up, just to make sure they could see everything. I kinda just went from there man. I went with the flow. It ended up being a great show, it was a packed house, and everybody had a good time.

AYP You have a new cd coming out, tell us more.


SF The title of the album is You Bouncin With Scott: Volume 1. It's actually the title track from the album, the first track which is actually a newer joint. Like I was talking about earlier, during the MicFest tour, I wrote some of my best stuff. Amazingly, the album as a whole, I tried to create something that's a project to think about, and also throw a little of that bounce in there too, so that when you're riding down the street, they're gonna hear you around the block too. One of the unique things about this project is that I got to work with some of my best friends, we all do this together, Conbud, Mike Machete, Turn Two Productions, check 'em out. They pretty much make all of my beats. I've got a few off the album that came from other sources, and they do my production. So a lot of this project is owed to them and all the hard work that they've put in to help me out without even asking for a dime. They're gonna end up making it on the back end, I'm sure.


AYP Are there any guest emcees we can look forward to hearing on your new cd?


SF Yeah man, I'm supposed to be getting into the studio later for a joint with Kaze, got Pic Squad from Winston Salem, another up-and-coming group, we've got them featured on a track. Of course, you know my fam from 2nd Revolution. Every show that I've done, they've been there to help me. My boy Sef Sajjid and my boy Soul Rebel, who's held me down through this MicFest tour. He's made the trips with me, rocked out onstage with me, I'll have them on there. And then I've got another surprise for y'all. She goes by the name of Kelsey McJunkins, I'm gonna have her on a couple of tracks, singing some hooks and what not. She's gonna blow ya'll away...a diamond in the dirt right there for real.



AYP Does the state of the music industry concern you?


SF Obviously it's always concerning for a cat like me who wants to stand on this for a career. I don't really make the type of music that is on the radio. Obviously it's always a little concerning, but at the same time, if you had conversations with people who love music and listen to it every day, then you've probably had the conversation about how the quality of mainstream music is ruining everything. I feel like cats like myself, that there's gonna be a window for us to break through and really bring it back to cats who are talking about music that's moving, not only for individuals, but masses of people, like John Lennon, Bob Marley type stuff with a message. Eventually cats like that, cats like myself, we're gonna take it back where it belongs.

AYP With You Bouncin' With Scott: Volume 1 is your marketing scheme different than it may have been five years ago? Have you found any unique ways to market despite the nature of today's industry?

SF First of all, there are a lot of avenues to explore with marketing and selling your album. We've got things like iTunes and Rhapsody; you can put your album up online and sell it just like that, with the click of a button. That's a huge advantage we have. You've seen me out here; I've got a lot of online promotion going for me and what not. And another avenue to sell my albums, which is really how artists sell the most, I do a lot of shows, I'm out there grinding. I do shows almost on a weekly basis, probably eight, ten shows a month, and that's going soft, y'know what I'm sayin'? The biggest way we sell our albums is actually, we go to the show, you lay it down, people like what they hear, and they come and cop the album after the shows. So getting out there, more shows that I wasn't able to do five years ago is also gonna help sales as well.




AYP How important is it, as a young artist, to have a web presence?


SF You know that's the biggest thing, you have to be able to change and adapt with the times. It's almost like you have to have Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, in this game you have to have that kind of stuff. It's also staying humble with it, being real with who you are. A lot of artists create a persona online and in the studio that's a 180 degree turn from who they really are out there every day in the street and how they really are as a true person. There's a thin line there. You wanna promote yourself, you wanna send out stuff, tell your peeps, get your name out there, but at the same time, you don't wanna use the internet to try to create a facade that represents something you're not. I'm sure you see a lot of that out there, especially in the rap game.



AYP With the decline of the major labels and the emphasis being more on independence, how important is it for young artists to be aware of the business aspect such as bookings, merchandise, etc.?


SF This isn't something that just happens overnight. This is something you have to stick with five or ten years, and you're always learning new ways to help promote yourself or new ways to book shows. Even beyond that, other avenues within the industry, managing, booking, trying to get your hands in on as many facets of the industry that you can, and make money off it. Basically I consider myself, just like everything else I've ever done, self made. Not to say that there aren't good deals out there. If somebody came today and offered me a million dollar record deal, I'd sign that shit right on the spot, no questions asked. But those aren't the kinda deals that cats are getting. They're getting thirty to fifty thousand dollar deals out there, or maybe even a little bit more in some cases, but not only do they get that deal, they go in and their label basically owns them. They try to tell them what kind of music to make. They're gonna send them out on tour to pay for the money that they've already invested in the artist. Coming from the indie point of view, you owe nothing to anyone but yourself. And granted, it's a hell of a lot harder to make it going that route, at the end of the day, when you look in the mirror you can say, "Everything that I've done, I created for myself. I don't need somebody, some fucking promoter, some fucking record label to push me." In the end, real talent shines through.



AYP You've leaked two tracks on your Myspace page, "So North Cack" and "Proud American", do you wanna break those tracks down for us?


SF Yeah “So North Cack,” that's a track I actually recorded that track up at JJ the Genius's studio in Greensboro. He's the guy who does the music for that cartoon, "The Boondocks". He's got a great set up there, great sound man. Ty Bru & Phillie Phresh hooked me up with JJ, and he did a great job on the production side. Besides that, as far as the lyrics go, like I was telling you earlier, I got to a point when it was like, I've got all these tracks where I'm talking about different things that are going on out in society. I really wanna make something laid back, that you could ride to, that you could bump in the club. The beat was actually made by my boy Mike Machete. I went over to his crib, he told me he had some new shit. Well I listened to the beat and what not, I was diggin' it at first. Then I was like, "Hold up man!" He had this real hot part with piano on it. I was like, "Move that and let's make that the hook, and let me spit over the other sixteen." We switched it up, and I wrote the joint, I spent about a week on it. Everybody will be talking about, "Oh I wrote my rhyme on the spot and laid it down." Well, that's probably not the best rhyme that you could have written. You've gotta really put some work in it if you wanna have dope content. You know you gotta spend a week on a song if you really wanna make it top notch. You could make a good song in a day, but you could make a really good song if you spend a week on it. I never write anything down, I just keep it all in my head, so it takes me a little longer. I wanted to make something with a little bounce, a little more laid back, kinda some funny punch lines. "So North Cack" turned into a banger, and it's gonna be out on the album. And the joint "Proud American" actually, I wrote the song, I guess it was 2007, 2008, I'm not sure. This is a two or three year project in the making. I wrote it when the Bush administration was still in, and I just didn't agree with anything that they were doing. The chorus goes, "I'm a proud American/ I'm proud of my roots/ but I hate the system that makes the rules/ I shake the system as I make my moves/ Awake my listeners and make them choose." Within the song, I talk about a lot of things that were going on during that time period. It also has a guy by the name of Geoff Brewer playing some live bass guitar on the joint and Kyle Phelps, the guitarist from Inflowential, he laid down some live electric guitar as well. So you're bringing a couple added components into the track. Beyond that, I've got a couple more tracks, like I said, the title track, You Bouncin With Scott, people are gonna enjoy that, I won't shed anymore light on it. But I've also got a couple more joints I think people should really look out for. One of them is called "The Day I Shot the Former President", you know, not to mention any names specifically, but it basically takes place down in Dallas, Texas. It tells a story about this guy who makes his way into the former president's house and has a nice little sit down with good old George, so look out for that one. And there's another song called, "I'm Writing You a Letter". It basically explores some of the things that are happening right now in 2010. The first verse, it's about a little boy who's from a broken home and basically his mother's out turning tricks whenever she can. His father's gone, not even a part of his life. He gets picked on in school for whatever reason. He walks to school one day, gets caught up in a drive by. They have to take him to the hospital. The first thing that they do when they get to the hospital, they ask for his insurance card. In the midst of that, he dies, before they can give him attention. The second part is a little bit of inspiration I got from one of my friends who was actually a soldier who fought in Iraq. He goes and fights for five years, serves his five years, does two tours in Iraq, and the government, once you serve your five years, they have a certain amount of time that they can call you back. Well this guy's already served two tours in Iraq, he's got two kids, got another one on the way, he gets called back to do another tour in Afghanistan for Obama. I can't just single out George Bush, Obama's got us over there in Afghanistan, fighting another capitalistic war. But basically, he gets over there, has an unfortunate accident and ends up dying. In both cases, from the first little boy I talk about and the soldier, at the very end of each verse, they hand someone else a letter before they pass away. It's addressed to their mother or their wife. It's one of those emotional songs, one of those things that makes you think a lot. Those are some of the tracks I think the people should look out for.


AYP Do you have any final words or shout outs?


SF Oh yeah man, let me get a couple of shout outs. I'd like to shout out 2nd Revolution, Conbud, Mike Machete, and Z-Boy, that's family. Thanks again for having me man, hope to catch up with you again when I'm down in Wilmington on May 6th for a show I'm doing with Ed E. Ruger at 16 Taps. I appreciate your time!



- AYP Magazine

Written by admin
Monday, 19 July 2010 20:02

2nd Floor Basement brings you Vol I. A twenty track guide through North Carolina's rich Hip Hop underground scene. All bring their "A" game to this great project with a wide range of concepts, sounds and styles and production by Dana Lucci, JJ the Genius, Genghis Khan and Unconscious Rascal. It starts with Virgil Kent and Advice going "Coast to Coast" with a head boppin' (Dre Era) feel. Glueasy (A.O.G) bring Ricky Ruckus (A.O.G) and Billinoz to "work work work" an awesome head banga remix. But for Ed E Ruger (Iconoclast) and Ricky Ruckus it's "Lights Out" a great party anthem to get ya crunk! Kaveman and Hawkface bring a nice rock type track on "These are the Days". King James with the RnB element with "It Just don't Matter" Even if you're not from N.C Scottie Flippen will have ya feelin' "So North Kak"! Just to mention a few. No weak tracks here, all hold their own on this mix tape which is like a warning shot across the bows of "The Industry" as if to say N.C got next!" This mix tape is definitly a sneak peek into what N.C's Hip Hop has to offer. So you may ask "who's the one to watch"? Your guess is as good as mine!! So get ya Cheerwine and this mix tape n show North Carolina some love!!

- Rago Magazine

For six years, Roanoke rap group Mack Jones has brought other hip-hop artists into town from the mid-Atlantic region for its annual Middle East MicFest.

This year, the act took the show on the road, hitting cities including Baltimore, Washington, Richmond, Norfolk, Charlotte, N.C., Atlanta and Nashville, Tenn.

"Taking it on the road was just kind of a natural progression, pretty much the next step," said Mack Jones' Casey "Case Jones" Jaffa. "We'd wanted to do it for about two or three years now and just didn't have the right combination of people."

This combination has produced some great shows, with audiences growing of late, said Jaffa's partner-in-rhyme, Byron "Poe" Mack.

"The last three shows we've done have really, really been great, packed houses," Mack said. "So we can't wait for the one in Roanoke, because it's a really strong lineup."

That lineup -- Mack Jones with North Carolina rappers Scottie Flippen and Kaze, and the Washington-area's K-Beta and Jah I Witness (of Blacksburg act True Sound) -- hits Awful Arthur's, Towers Shopping Center, on Friday night.

- Roanoke Times