My Music Mood for the New Year - 2023

Music 🎶🎶was made to move you, to evoke emotions😄😍😠😢😇, to tell a story, to rid your mind of the demons 😈👿.

Music is for Everything and Everyone

If you're an artist, you can't resist the itch of the call. Whether it's strumming a note 🎵, singing a tune𝅘𝅥𝅲𝅘𝅥𝅱𝅘𝅥𝅮, writing a lyric🖎, or busting a move💃, music reaches deep inside and touches the parts we think we keep hidden from the world 👀. 

I'm a firm believer that no matter what you're going through, what you're feeling or thinking, there is a piece of music to which you can relate. Good or bad, happy or sad, pick a genre, choose a song, find an artist, or catch a line. 

Motivation for Cleaning House

I love music so much that I listen to everything. Any genre. I throw on a random playlist based on my mood and what I'm doing. Cleaning house? 🧹90s hip-hop makes it a blast. 

And I get to show my swag by hitting all the lyrics to Ice Cube, Snoop Dogg, and the one and only D-R-E. Or I go with local hits like Memphis legends - Three 6 Mafia (RIP Gangsta Boo), Juicy J, Gucci Mane, Moneybagg Yo, and Young Dolph (RIP)much to the shock of my unprepared kids.

Music Mood for Being on the Road

But when I'm on the road? ✇ Nothing gets me going like putting on my favorite long-term artist - Jelly Roll. I got to see him and Brantley Gilbert in concert recently and it was AMAZING! I cannot wait to go see him again. 

Son of the Dirty South - Jelly Roll and Brantley Gilbert

If you've only just started listening to Jelly, you may think he's a country artist. After all, he's got some amazing hits playing on country radio! Props to my man. It's been decades in the making. 

Like his brother from another mother says, "I'm hot but the radio won't play my damn songs." Preach Lil Wyte! The radio world may not see you but us real fans have always had your back! "You'll always be tearing up the stage with some of the very best."

 But, despite Jelly Roll's appearance on the Grand Ole Opry stage 👏👏he got his start as a badass mf'ing rapper. Proud of being white trash and all of the mistakes he's made, Jelly's songs have always kept it real and hit home like no one else can do. 

Finding an Artist That Speaks to You is like Finding a Best Friend

My personal mantra and a song that the entire house knows every lyric to - including all four of the kids (even the 9 y/o who loves Jelly more than me) - is Jelly's song "Save Me". But the littlest's absolute favorite song is Creature. 

She can flow with it better than me! It makes this TN momma's heart proud to pass along a good taste of music and a pride in the successes of hometown legends. 

Promoting Artists Helps Them Get More Fans

If you're looking for a new country album that you won't hear played on a pop station with Taylor Swift and Bruno Mars, this album is right for you. Check out Self Medicated now.

 

Need to feel a bit more in touch with your savage trashy side? I got ya, freak. You can't go better than checking out Jelly and Lil Wyte's album - No Filter (and No Filter 2). 

No Filter - Jelly Roll and Lil Wyte

 

While you're checking out duets, be sure to give a listen to Struggle Jennings. Jelly mentions him in several songs and his sexy deep drawl and OMG arms will make you a quick fan. "Fall in the fall" is FANTASTIC! 

 

Do you listen to any of the artists I've mentioned? HMU with your favorite lyric! Drop a story of what makes you a fan. Introduce me to someone or something new. And be sure to send a shout out to these amazing artists if you give them a listen. It's fans like us that help them get the recognition and success they deserve! 

Jelly Roll Facebook

Lil Wyte Facebook

Struggle Jennings Facebook

Me and the hubs enjoying Jelly Roll LIVE with Brantley Gilbert

 

Mardi Gras and Frank Foster - My Favorite Time of Year

King of Country Music Frank Foster

Hey everyone! How have you been? I know it's been forever since I've posted and I promise I will get better at posting more often. It's one of my New Year's resolutions for 2020. Have you set any resolutions for yourself? I've decided to focus on being happy and expanding my own blogs rather than focusing so much on writing for other people. Of course, spending more time with my kids and boyfriend is another resolution but who doesn't make that one for their families?

Big things are coming so y'all need to be sure and check in often. If you're not already, you should be following me on social media. I've got two more blogs in the works so y'all can get your fill of me for all types of topics - animals, motherhood, relationships, music. I've got it all.

It's slow going at the moment and I'm a random poster but that will be changing soon too. I'm about to blow it up!

So I know you're not here to hear me ramble about resolutions. You're here to talk about our very serious addiction: music. And music is exactly what has inspired me to jump onto here and shout to the world how excited I am. It's my favorite time of year - Mardi Gras. And Frank's back!

As a music lover, Mardi Gras is a blast for me. You get to watch all the cool floats go by. You get to dance to music. You get to catch beads. And for those of you who like to party, it's the perfect time to par-tay. My children have been begging to go to a parade for the last few years so I think it's time to take them down to the Coast for a visit.

Come February 21st, we hope to be southbound in time to be screaming "Throw me something mister" at the parade Saturday morning in Biloxi. We're all pretty excited so fingers crossed that things go right so we can take a Mardi Gras vacation.


As much as I love Mardi Gras, it doesn't compare to how excited I am for March 20, 2020. My all-time favorite artist, Frank Foster, is coming back to Memphis and yours truly will be at the show, for the third year straight. Folks, if you enjoy country music, I cannot stress enough the urgency with which you should check out Frank.

As the new King of the South, Frank reminds fans of what country music is supposed to be about. You might not have heard of him because he's an independent artist who's found tons of success from his loyal followers. But you rarely hear his music on the radio. Why not? Because he paved his own way in the music industry by opening his own record label, Lone Chief Records.

He's been on the billboard charts and yet most people haven't heard of him. Like seriously, why the hell not? We're all Blue Collar Boys (and girls). I mean, I'm cool with things as they are because his shows are the best around because they're smaller. You get more interaction with him. And let me tell you folks, this man knows how to put on a show!

The band is freaking awesome and knows how to get your feet moving. Frank stays full of energy and interacts with the crowd. You're guaranteed to have a damn good time. I'm happy to say I'm one of Frank's Biggest Fans (yep, it's a song!). And let's not forget the rest of the fans of FF Nation. We come from all around and congregate together to share our love of the best country star in existence today. Even Hank Williams loves him. Just last year, I was at a Frank and Hank show in Tupelo, Mississippi.

So worth the drive! Everyone knows I'm a music junkie but I'm here today to admit that I'm also a hardcore Frank addict. There is no cure - not that I'm looking for one. I'm happy to travel to another state to get my fix a few times a year. Yeah, my problem is that bad y'all. I'm just a Good Ole Girl. Listen to his music. Come to a concert and see if you don't feel the same!.

Have I convinced you that you want to check out Mr. Frank Foster live? His tickets for the Memphis show are on sale now but you have to hurry if you want to get them before they sell out. And trust me when I say they are going super quick. This isn't a concert you want to miss, folks. Let me know if you're going to be there! I love meeting fans.

And as a word of advice, tickets were cheaper through this link than using StubHub or any other ticket agency. Frank's worth every penny you spend but you'll certainly want to save enough money to bring home some Frank fan wear. I've got a shirt and koozie from every concert I've been to. Even my kids love Frank! Here's their favorite song.

We're a Frank Family around here! My daughter likes to match her dad's support for Frank.

HMU in the comments and let me know what's your favorite Frank Foster song. Until next time, let the good times roll.

Local Artists Feature

Getting your name out there is one of the most important, and hardest, things an artist has to do. If you're self-promoting, it's even harder because there's so much. Website. Social media. Blog. Concert schedule. Fan response. Updates. It goes on and on.

Since I know what it's like to self promote, I'm always helping promote others in my own way, even when they'll never even know because they have so many loyal fans out there. But if I can bring even one new fan their way, then I have succeeded. I believe music should be shared. It should be appreciated. That's what this blog is all about. Sharing music.

Memphis Bridge, spanning the Mighty Mississippi River
#photooftheday

I was listening to my Spotify playlist today when a song came on that gave me the inspiration for this post. Lil Wyte said it best when he said, "I can't even count how many legends my city's made ..." It got me to thinking, just how many artists do I know that is from my area? For those of you who don't know, my area is about 30 miles north of the city of Blues, Memphis. Guess you might be able to see why I'm such a music lover, huh? I grew up going to concerts on Beale Street. So let's see who hails from here, shall we?

Beale Street, Memphis, TN

Justin Timberlake

Justin Timberlake (Image: GQ)

Who doesn't know this household name? This famous singer came from the same podunk area I'm located and it's not hard to find someone who remembers growing up with Justin, pre-Nsync (for you younger generations, this was a boy band he belonged to in the '90s to early 2000s).

He's certainly come a long way from appearing alongside Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera on The Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and is now one of the most known singers in the world. This just goes to show that you don't have to be from a big city to make it in showbiz.

Three 6 Mafia

Nothing brings back the nostalgia of my youth like Three 6 Mafia. Living in a small town meant we spent Friday and Saturday nights cruising the strip, bumping Two Way Freak or Baby Momma. Yeanknow? Some members of this group have broken out on their own and found success, while others might not be as well known. But you know what they say ... it's hard out here for a pimp. That's right. If you've seen Hustle and Flow, you've heard Three 6 Mafia.

Three 6 Mafia

• DJ Paul

DJ Paul is one of the founding members of Three 6 and one of the only two original members left. He's also the producer of all of their albums. He's tried his hand at a solo career and is one of the more well-known members.

• Juicy J

Juicy J is another founding member of Three 6 and is also still active. He is one of the members that went beyond the group and really found success. My kids love his remix with Katy Perry "Dark Horse". He's also collaborated with well-known artists like Kevin Gates, 2 Chainz, Wiz Khalifa, and Lil Wayne, just to name a few. Not bad for someone who started out in one of the most dangerous cities in the country.

• Lord Infamous

Lord Infamous is another one of the co-founders of Three 6 Mafia and was also born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee. He was the half brother of DJ Paul. Lord Infamous wasn't able to become as successful as some of the other group members and ended his partnership with Three 6 after getting arrested. Sadly, he passed away from a heart attack in 2013.

• Koopsta Knicca

Koopsta Knicca also isn't very well known. He was with Three 6 Mafia from 1991-2000, when he had to leave the band due to incarceration. He released multiple albums was never able to gain much of a fan base, outside of Memphians and loyal Three 6 fans. He passed away in 2015 after complications with a stroke that left him unresponsive and on life support.

• Crunky Black

Crunky Black joined Three 6 in 1993 and continued to collaborate until 2006. At that time, he dissolved his role in the group, citing a desire to branch out as a solo artist. There were some disputes between him and group members, Juicy J and DJ Paul, which also contributed to the breakup. Since being solo, he hasn't released anything since 2015.

• Gangsta Boo

Gangsta Boo was the only female to ever be an official member of Three 6. She's had a bit of moderate success on her own but she's collaborated with tons of folks. To me, she is the Queen of Hip Hop and helped pave the way for artists like Lil Kim and Nicki Minaj.

Lil Wyte:

Lil Wyte (Image: Lil Wyte)

If you listened to Three 6 back in the day, you've no doubt heard some collabs between them and this rapper. Nowadays, you'll most likely hear him with Jelly Roll. Lil Wyte is at the top of my favorite artists from my area and my kids love him too. He raps about what life is like around here. Some of his songs are about the hardships of life and growing up in Frayser, a very dangerous place, and some are about living it up country style. The song Come Ride was actually filmed right next door to my best friend's house. His line, "80 acres in Tipton County is where I be kicking ..." Yep. That's my area!

Leebo:

Leebo Music (Image: Leebo Music)

Since I've mentioned Tipton County, let me introduce you to a new up and coming hick-hop artist Leebo. He's from the same stomping grounds as me and I've seen him perform a few times at local bars. He keeps the raps real about country living. If you've never experienced backwoods country, give this man a listen and learn how it's done.

Part 2: Coming Soon
These are just a few artists that emerged from the infamous land of Blues. Keep an eye because part two will be coming soon with even more artists.  Do you know a local band or artist that's trying to get their name out there? Comment in the links for your chance to win a free promotional piece featuring them.