Posted on Thu, Jun. 15, 2006

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'Nobody's gonna give you anything'

Flowjack Family's SOA (South of Atlanta) sound winning over tough audiences

BY BRAD BARNES

Staff Writer

The five rappers in Columbus' Flowjack Family were backstage at a Myrtle Beach, S.C., club, set to open for Young Jeezy.

The crowd, anxious for Jeezy, mercilessly tore up earlier acts.

"It was a real hostile crowd," says Flowjack's Jermaine Jackson, better known as Slick Jay. "They were like, 'Boooo! We wanna see Jeezy.' "

As the rappers walked out to the stage, someone in the mob lobbed a bottle stageward, and it struck Shannon Long, a.k.a. Gangsta ERB, on the head. It was intentional, she thinks, but the incident didn't exactly make for a smooth entrance.

Flowjack presevered, though, and after a few of the group's crunk-flavored songs: "We turned that crowd," says Jackson. "Everyone else got throwed off the stage, just about."

What was it that won over the audience?

"I think it was good, old-fashioned music," says Terrence Flowers, whose stage name is Ol Blac Blu.

The incident reinforced something the rappers already learned, growing up in Columbus, a city that doesn't have the best reputation for supporting its hip-hop artists.

"Nobody's gonna give you anything," says Jackson. "You've got to earn it."

Flowjack's been earning it for the past three years.

Flowers, Jackson and Long are joined by Darrius "Big D" Lakes and Shaun "Lil Re-Up" Flowers. All grew up along Columbus' Northside Drive -- or just "The Drive," as they call it.

The act was noticed, and signed, by Columbus' Bases Loaded Records. That company's promotions arm has allowed Flowjack to play shows throughout the Southeast and opening for the likes of T.I., Bun B, Bow Wow and Gucci Mane. A gig at Saturday's Family Day in the Park is Flowjack's second appearance at Columbus' biggest hip-hop show.

Now they're setting their sights on breaking into Atlanta with hopes that the city is ready for an act with a different take on the Dirty South sound.

The Flowjackers calls their sound SOA, for South of Atlanta. "It's a whole 'nother sound," says Terrence Flowers. "It's similar to Atlanta. We respect what they bring to music. We are part of their sound."

But Flowjack's flavor?

"It's got a trap-gangsta-crunk theme," says Jackson. "I like to call it a gumbo. We're bringing a Columbus point of view."

The group's singles -- "They Ain't Ready" and "Stomp" -- are getting radio play throughout the Southeast, including Texas. Even satellite provider XM Radio is playing Flowjack on its underground rap station.

Latest out is a Flowjack mix disc hosted by Greg Street, DJ with Atlanta hip-hop station V-103.

The group has a lot going for it, with five MCs who write their own material. That one of the rappers is a woman -- one who's becoming adept at dodging bottles no less -- gives them diversity behind the mike that many acts don't offer.

And if they can get the eyes of the Dirty South looking down Interstate 185, Flowjack thinks rap fans will like what else they see out of the Chattahoochee Valley.

"Columbus is a melting pot for the hip-hop scene," says Terrence Flowers. "You might just hear about Flowjack and Scoundrels, but it's dozens."