FLINT, Michigan — Over the last few years, the
Flint music scene, famously coined the 'Flintdustry,' has strived to bridge the gaps, build new relationships, and push back against the practices and policies regarding the city's pop, rap, Hip-Hop, and R&B artist's notable absence and often downright dismissal from the downtown Flint landscape.
Noteworthy events and spaces like Porch Fest, Local Fest, Glizzy Fest, Antidote Fest, the opening of Queen's Provisions, Feimstro and The Farts performances at Blackstones Smokehouse, Jeff Skigh's recent event at Soggy Bottom Bar, and more have marked a gradual shift.
However, one change that many local creatives are watching is the recently announced FIM event '
Flint Under the Stars: Hip Hop Friends of the Flintdustry' at the Capitol Theatre in downtown Flint on Wednesday, May 15, 2024, at 7 P.M.
Handpicked by FIM,
Tay Boogie,
Figga Da Kid,
Jeff Skigh, and
Feimstro of Feimstro and The Farts are the four Flint artists leading a first-of-its-kind event that announces FIM's investment to invigorate downtown Flint while creating new access to performing arts experiences and spaces under its Music Around Town program.
As a bonus, the event's donations will benefit FIM's
KidsTix program, established in 2023, to promote the future of performing arts in Flint and remove financial barriers for families to attend FIM shows.
The occasion is a major milestone for Flint artists. Still, the atmosphere inside the Anderson Room at FIM — decorated in a mixture of vintage furniture, plants, and modern electronics with tall glass doors that open into a stunning courtyard — is easy and level-headed.
It feels business as usual for the four artists who, in between getting their photos taken, plot, plan, laugh, and banter back and forth. There's no pressure or fear, only the expectation that 'Flint Under the Stars' will be a marquee show for the city, a desire that this will give 'Flintdustry' artists access to more venue spaces, and a hope to be heard and treated as equals for their contributions to Flint and its culture.
Flintside caught up with the talented artists to talk about 'Flint Under the Stars,' what they've been up to, and how they see Flint culture moving forward.
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"At the end of the day and prayerfully, with the creative direction on how this goes, maybe there’s room if they’ll allow the creative voices to speak,” says Feimstro, pictured in FIM's courtyard on April 22, 2024. (Anthony Summers | Flintside.com)
Flintside: You all are part of this programming by FIM which has big goals. How does it feel to be a part of this opportunity?
Figga Da Kid: “I always feel good when I get the opportunity to give back to the community when I’m a part of events like this.”
Tay Boogie: “It does feel great, especially to be doing it with artists who have been around and who, for me at least, have pioneered. I’m grateful to be on the same stage with them and share the stage in the program.”
Jeff Skigh: “I feel the same way. I’m glad they’re trying to do more to bring back downtown. Also, I feel it’s about time, so I’m grateful.”
Feimstro: “Grateful to be playing and singing with some of the people I admire in the community. It’s a dope opportunity to showcase what we love to do.”
Flintside: Things seem to be opening up downtown — Blackstone’s, Soggy’s, and Queen’s Provision. What are your opinions about what’s happening in Flint regarding access and new venues to perform at?
Figga: “I feel the powers that be recognized the necessity of growth in the downtown area. They also understand how important it is to tap in with the people already making moves in the downtown area. I think they finally got to where they’re ready to do that, and we have been preparing ourselves for a long time. Before you get a seat at the table, you have to have your own. It’s gotta be people who’ve been making moves themselves, so when you get an opportunity like this, you know you can provide something to the group.”
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"I feel the powers that be recognized the necessity of growth in the downtown area. I think they finally got to where they’re ready to do that, and we have been preparing ourselves for a long time," explains Figga Da Kid on April 22, 2024. (Anthony Summers | Flintside.com)
Flintside: I’ve always considered you all part of a collective pushing the needle for breaking barriers in the city and beyond. Another piece of 'Flint Under the Stars' is to inspire the next generation of performers. What do you think about that statement as it relates to your careers?
Jeff: “I hope it inspires some young people to keep pushing it or take it even further. I wouldn’t necessarily say it’s something I think about daily. Certain things happen, or people might say things to make you realize that you are inspiring people and that people are watching.”
Feimstro: “I don’t think we as artists think about that as much as people think because I feel like it comes off as fake. That’s not what we focus on. That’s why it shows so much in these types of artists. It’s not intentional to inspire. That’s after we give ourselves to the art completely.”
Tay: “I don’t think that it’s something that I necessarily think about every day, but you sit back sometimes and look at what you’re doing or involved in. You might just be performing and look out at the crowd and realize how many people from the community are here and how many people are watching and paying attention.”
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“I think this is going to help me lay the foundation for the type of career I want. I want to do things of quality, not just do everything just because I have access to do it," alludes Tay Boogie, pictured inside FIM on April 22, 2024. (Anthony Summers | Flintside.com)
Flintside: This is something that FIM has never done before. Is there a sense of pressure from being the first to do this?
Jeff: “I hope the door we’re opening stays open, that we can maneuver, have more leeway, and bring in more of a collaborative [approach].”
Tay: “I think it does add a certain level of confidence to what I’m doing as a whole and to be considered doing it with the artists already doing it. That’s what it is to me. I don’t feel like it’s pressure, but a level of excitement and confidence.”
Figga: “I wouldn’t say I feel pressure. I feel pride because it is a representation of the work that I put in up to this point. To be considered for something like this is the first of, I hope, many.”
Flintside: Tay, you’ve been quiet outside Krispy Life Juice Mixtape Party and your song with Daedae Flint. I also think it speaks volumes that you’re the sole Black female artist on this show. How do you see this being the recipe for your career and craft?
Tay: “I think this is going to help me lay the foundation for the type of career I want. I want to do things of quality, not just do everything just because I have access to do it. So, part of me being quiet is trying to figure out how I want to be marketable and a plan that makes sense. I think this would be something that would help me lay the cement for what I’m trying to do and how I’m trying to do it. [With the 810Flow], we have been talking about new ideas and ways to take it from being social media to something physically in the city where we’re interacting with people more to become relevant again.”
Flintside: Feimstro, I love the rollout for your release, This Ain’t No Joke. Can you share a few details on this?
Feimstro: “Growing up, I was a big Cliff Huxtable fan. [With] Bill Cosby and everything he was dealing with while I was creating this, it wasn’t no joke. But he’s hilarious to me, so my music was kind of playing off of that musically and instrumentally. It’s on the cheesier end, but the topics are real heavy. [Also] with me being a comedian part-time, I wanted to play with that. So, this ain’t no interview, this ain’t no t-shirt, this ain’t no whole shebang. The music ain’t no joke!”
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“I hope the door we’re opening stays open — that we can maneuver, have more leeway, and bring in more of a collaborative [approach],” says Jeff Skigh, pictured in the Anderson Room's courtyard on April 22, 2024. (Anthony Summers | Flintside.com)
Flintside: Figga, it’s been almost a year since your last project. Recently, you performed at Soggy’s for The Flatlot Chronicles sessions and returned from Florida for River Jams. From the Leaf Chronicles to the pop-up shop to The Breakup Tape, what surprises do you have to showcase next?
Figga: “I like to think I’ve been growing as an artist, and I hope my next project speaks to that. I don’t want to give too much away about what I’m planning because it changes every day, but the project is almost done. If I had to put a percentage on it, I’d say I’m 75 percent done with it. But it’s been 75 percent for a few months. I’m working on the last song right now.”
Flintside: Jeff, the donations from this event benefit KidTix. With you having a son, how critical is it to showcase what’s possible and support opportunities that help families?
Jeff: “It’s extremely important to be a part of stuff that’s giving back, especially having kids of my own. I think it’s important to show them that somebody from their area can do different things and accomplish big things. I think that’s very important in that respect. I would like to be a part of anything that’s geared towards being involved in the whole community and not excluding people.”
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Handpicked by FIM, and pictured on Apr. 22, 2024, Tay Boogie, Figga DaKid, Jeff Skigh, and Feimstro of Feimstro and The Farts are the four Flint artists leading FIM's first-of-its-kind event. (Anthony Summers | Flintside.com)
Flintside: When you look to the future, where do you see this and the culture going?
Jeff: “The goal is to make Flint a place people want to visit for the culture and music. People go to places for Coachella and SXSW, so the goal is to bring people from everywhere here and appreciate what we are doing.”
Tay: “I want Flint to be where people look forward to certain events. We know Porch Fest is coming in the summer because it’s a big deal to be able to see what we have going on and see the culture being maintained.”
Figga: “I understand the whole world can’t come here to perform or see artists, but I think it would be super dope if people saw Flint as a place where they can come and create because it’s an artist hub. We have so much creativity in the city, but because we’re small, we don’t have the benefits of a large city. We have to hone in on creativity and create the best art we can.”
Feimstro: “Once we lock in and understand that we need entertainment in this community, this is the first step. I feel we need more support from the city to make it what it needs to be. At the end of the day and prayerfully, with the creative direction on how this goes, maybe there’s room if they’ll allow the creative voices to speak. Since we’re a part of the community and live here, we sense what the issues are; let us be a part of that so that it goes deeper than just us performing.”
To purchase tickets to FIM's 'Flint Under the Stars: Hip Hop Friends of the Flintdustry,' visit: tickets.thefim.org/hip-hop