MISSIPPI

When it comes to soulful serenader Missippi, one doesn’t have to utilize a superfluous vocabulary to hype up his poignant voice or depend upon studio wizardry to enhance the Rhythm & Blues melded with Pop sound he was innately blessed with. The magic of his musical capabilities lie deep within; much like the rich complexity of his Southern heritage. Although he deliberately misspells the moniker of his birth state, Missippi’s talent is anything but haphazard. His indescribable sound is like a cosmic force of soaring gospel melodies meets electric funk rhythms; an effortless skill that comes as natural as breathing. And on The Book of Life, his debut album, each composition speaks volumes about his multifaceted artistry and history.

Much like the legendary Soul greats Sam Cooke, James Brown and Stevie Wonder, Missippi was enrolled in the school of music known as Church at an impressionable age, subsequently earning a name for himself throughout the community as a singing sensation.

“My grandfather was a preacher and being that my mom directed two choirs, I was made to go to church every Sunday and sometimes during the week. At 5, I used to sing in front of the congregation, which was fun and then I started being asked to sing at funerals, weddings and birthday and anniversary parties. Basically, I sang and performed all through my years in school.”

As a high school student, Missippi’s most memorable experience came when he toured with the renowned Gospel singing group, the Mississippi Mass Choir for two years developing a profound maturity and respect for being an authentic artist.

“Gospel is what really influenced me. Through all of the hardships many African-Americans have suffered in the South, it’s shaped a lot of great people who’ve turned their internal pains into words that make you want to scream and make you want to shout. That’s what Gospel music is all about; celebration, praise and victory.”

Growing up in the heart of the South, Missippi had his share of facing prejudices with pride.

“My mom didn’t allow us to use foul language, even when other people used it to degrade us. She would tell us that no matter how someone treated us, we shouldn’t do the same to them. She trained us to remain humble and think before we acted, which is how I’ve been able to steer clear of trouble.” Part of that escape came when the college bound singer made a leap to Texas where he received a Bachelors of Art degree in music from Texas Southern University. While earning an education, Missippi successfully competed in talent shows and began experimenting with various genres of music including Classical, Folk and Country, the latter of which he was already familiar with.

“My mother loved Kenny Rogers. She’d put his tape in the 8-track and would clean and cook to it. If it wasn’t for him back in the day, we probably wouldn’t have seen it through.” After graduation, the crooner migrated further West spending time in Seattle, Washington before making Oakland, California his permanent residency. The left coast would prove to be the corner of the earth where he would set his life story to music, however the remnants of his southern roots remained.

“Music is a joy to my heart and there weren’t too many opportunities in Mississippi, which is one of the reasons why I left. I’ve endured a lot over the years, having to chop cotton because those were the only jobs you could get growing up. Times were really rough on whole family and your strength of survival is following your ancestors. So to be able to go into studio and express myself, it has been therapeutic and spiritual. I’m glad I grew up in a place called Mississippi, it helped my music a lot.”

The formula for creating The Book of Life was quite simple. Come up with melodies in your head and write about all things personal such as love, life, relationships, nightlife, spiritual awareness and tragedies of the world. “I’m concerned with topics like the negative impact drugs have had on this country, mending broken hearts and preserving the beauty of earth.” Standout singles on this 16-track CD include the punchy-rhythm club jams, “Shake It” featuring the notorious Vallejo, California rap phenomenon E-40 and “This One,” an energetically super-charged R&B laced track that guest stars the Funk-Soul hitmaker Rick James. Missippi shines on the hauntingly classic Contemporary Gospel song, “Heaven,” an ode to his religious roots, where he soulfully sings and masterfully rhymes about the end of earthly life over a bass-induced beat.

From Nat King Cole, Fats Domino, Sam Cooke, Curtis Mayfield, James Cleveland, Mahalia Jackson and Muddy Waters to Lionel Ritchie, Michael Jackson, New Edition, Johnny Gill, Van Halen and Kiss, Missippi salutes his influences and credits them for molding his musical career. “All those artists have a certain characteristic that relates directly to me.