Photo: Capt. Flint, Stone Mecca, and Chris Wind The EMA at Fall Line Jam 2019
MACON - It's no secret to the people of Dallas, TX, and surrounding towns that soul musician and long-time collaborator of Wu-Tang Clan's RZA, Stone Mecca, is making moves to bring his local music scene together for the sake of saving music programs for children and the creation of music with empowering themes.
What isn't so well known is Stone's connection to the city that proudly boasts the title "Where Soul Lives", Macon, GA.
In early 2019, a conference call was organized by Chris Wind the EMA as part of his mission to unite Macon described in our previous blog post. In attendance was special invited guest speaker Stone Mecca and his road manager, Matt Le-On; Macon Arts Alliance Director, Julie Wilkerson; Bert Cabasares of Operation HOPE; and long-time local record producer/musician, James "Jay Mixx" Johnson. Using the origin story of Wu-Tang Clan as an example, Stone Mecca shared his personal observations of the family dynamic in Wu-Tang and how musicians similarly unifying can improve their local community as a whole. It also served as an opportunity for individuals who had worked in very different capacities to affect change in Macon to connect despite having been “ships passing in the night” for so many years, only vaguely aware of one another if at all.
Stone's suggestion of creating an inclusive grassroots festival ultimately culminated in the creation of the 1st Annual Fall Line Jam music, food, and film festival in Sparta, GA, the first ever of its kind in the small town. With Stone and his band headlining, The Madvocates were formed as a way to present as many Macon hip-hop artists as possible within one allotted performance slot and promote the city’s growing scene. This resulted in solo artists and members of other local groups coming together to form the core of what is today's Madvocates crew.
Fall Line Jam solidified the idea that, while many perceive that there's little to offer in Macon compared to nearby Atlanta, to surrounding towns like Sparta that are overlooked by major events and booking for well-known talent, artists visiting from Macon to provide high quality entertainment are just as welcomed and beloved, if not more.
A LESSON IN MUSIC HISTORY
Though Atlanta is the clear dominant force in popular music today, Macon was once largely regarded as one of the great music cities of the South, especially as it relates to its soul music roots with origins in the Black community and churches. Genre-defining artists such as Otis Redding and Little Richard were born in Macon; and many legends such as James Brown, Wilson Pickett, and more were regulars on the local scene. Following the tragic death of Otis Redding, his recently purchased studio would eventually become Capricorn Records Studios, home of fellow Rock and Roll Hall of Famers, The Allman Brothers Band. This led to Macon becoming largely associated with Southern rock music.
With local organizations like the Otis Redding Foundation keeping the spirit alive providing music programs and camps for youth, the next generation is finding its way to the soul at its core.
BRIDGING THE GAP
The type of soul that emerges from places like Macon has found its way to new generations through various forms of media. Aside from his recent work behind the scenes with Wu-Tang: An American Saga currently streaming on Hulu, anime fans may recognize Stone Mecca as a contributor to the soundtrack for the Afro Samurai series. Stone, who opened for Wu-Tang Clan during the Texas stretch of touring in 2019, has played alongside acts ranging from Earth, Wind & Fire to Snoop Dogg and is therefore no stranger to bridging the gap between soul and hip-hop. A rekindling of mainstream interest in soul and funk thanks to Grammy-winning releases by artists like Kendrick Lamar and Childish Gambino in recent years have stimulated renewed interest in soul-inspired musicians of all types and have allowed them to engage with new audiences.
THE SOUTHERN INFLUENCE
Stone Mecca's soulful sounds and affiliations unveil yet another not-so-obvious connection between Southern music and New York hip-hop. Long before acts like Geto Boys, Goodie Mob, and OutKast came along to kick down barriers in hip-hop that opened the doors for Southern hip-hop artists in the music industry, a young RZA was getting a Southern soul education after being sent to live with relatives in North Carolina as a child.
The RZA has cited this time in his early life as a major influence on both his spiritual and musical development. With the majority of New York hip-hop being largely influenced by Harlem jazz, reggae, James Brown-style funk drum breaks, etc, isolation caused by Staten Island's scant presence in the industry allowed for RZA and Wu-Tang Clan to develop a sound that drew from a number of non-traditional influences. In addition to the kung fu film samples that RZA's production has become known for, the Wu-Tang sound is heavily rooted in soul music, such as Memphis singer Wendy Rene's "After Laughter Comes Tears" which is sampled on "Tearz" from Wu-Tang's debut album Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers).
It's then no surprise that RZA connected with Stone Mecca who has played a large role in bringing live instrumentation to RZA's live shows bringing the trademark sound to life in a new way and capturing the soul of the music that inspired it.
WHERE SOUL LIVES
Soul music served as a backdrop for the Civil Rights Era with messages of empowerment and at times vocals saturated with audible pain in the wake of social injustice. As injustice evolves decades later, so, too, does the soul that inevitably finds its way back into the music one way or another.
With sampling being a fundamental element in hip-hop music, the genre gives new life to classic songs by reinventing and repurposing it to the tastes of new listeners too young to remember the original release of these powerful works. It is a testament to the endurance of strong messages that survive the test of time, continuing to inspire and guide us forward.
As budget cuts continue to impact funding of arts and music programs in States under leadership that prioritize elsewhere, creators like Stone Mecca and The Madvocates continue to demonstrate what's possible when a city cultivates and harnesses the energy produced by its creatives. Accounting for over $700 billion in revenue, the entertainment industry is one of the most valuable exports in the U.S. Not coincidentally, cities such as Los Angeles, Atlanta, and New York City that allocate resources to their entertainers and programs that support them see an uptick in tourism, commerce, job creation and entrepreneurship, and other activities that generate revenue for the city--revenue that can be used for any number of improvements and initiatives.
Continued collaboration between soul musicians new and old and up-and-coming talent from the city Where Soul Lives allows a new generation to connect the rich legacy of Macon not just with the current music industry and the influence of black music and culture, but also with its relevance to the current social climate.
Partnerships such as Mercer Music at Capricorn, a revitalization of Capricorn Records Studios by Mercer University, are finding new ways to connect Macon’s rich music legacy with opportunities that grow the current music scene and display local talent to the world.
Keep your eyes and ears open for projects and programs with Stone Mecca and many others coming soon to the city Where Soul Lives.
WATCH Stone Mecca with RZA on the Craig Ferguson Show