#MicControl - Mal Jones and The Lyricist Live

Courtesy of Mal Jones and Coral Castle Entertainment

Artwalk is the first Wednesday of every month. It spans more than 15 blocks of downtown Jacksonville and includes more than 40 galleries, museums, cultural venues, restaurants, bars and businesses, plus dozens of artists in Hemming Plaza, street performers and live music (Source: Jacksonvilleartwalk.com).

Nested in front of the Midtown Deli is The Lyricist Live, an open mic street party that hosted by Mal Jones. Mal is a hip hop veteran, emcee, CEO and founder of The Lyricist Live. He brings the elements of live Hip Hop to the streets of downtown Jacksonville.

 Courtesy of Mal Jones and Coral Castle Entertainment

“I’m trying to use The Lyricist Live as a platform for Duval artists because hasn’t been getting shine in this city”, Mal said.

Translated in “laymen’s” terms, Mal emphasized the lack of exposure for local artists and uses the event to expand that exposure.  Every month he puts local and national artists on display as a live moving portrait of Hip Hop's golden era. He uses the classic park jam model from the origins of the first Hip Hop jam created by one of Hip Hop’s greatest pioneers DJ Cool Herc.

 

The show uses a live DJ, two turntables, a sound system, and a Microphone to host the live freestyle cypher while engaging a crowd with his own improvisational form of freestyle rhyme, and blends that in between the live performances from other artist. The masses of diverse audiences of many ages flock to downtown to be educated on Duval's historic Hip Hop scene and experience it's very rich culture (Source: The Lyricist LIVE Fan Page)

“It’s just another platform or springboard for artists, and that’s what I am trying to do here”, Mal continues.

The Lyricist Live changes locations from time to time. One of its primary locations is The Midtown Deli located on Laura Street in downtown.

Photo by Terrance Brown

When we have Mal coming out like this, we like that he brings the energy”, Kelly says. Kelly is one of the
managers at the Midtown Deli. He continues by stating that Mal is all about education and inclusion. He has nothing but high praise for the event and all who participate.

In 2013, Mal made Florida history becoming the very first artist of the hip hop genre to perform at the Florida Folk Life Foundation Festival and the first hip hop artist to be archived by the Florida Folk Life Foundation. He has been featured in several publications such as the Movement Magazine. He is active in the community and has lectured at several institutions and events.

Facebook: Mal Jones
Twitter: Malsmind
Instagram: Malsmind
Facebook: The Lyricist Live