Hip Hop Showcase: Vitamin Cea, DevMacc, & Phingaprint

Mississippi is known for its rich music scene, and its hip hop community is no exception. Although stylistically, it is very different from the state’s iconic blues music, both are rooted in Black traditions such as oral and musical improvisation that can also be seen in work songs, spirituals, and verbal games. Hip hop, from its origins in the South Bronx, quickly became a cultural phenomenon throughout the United States and around the world, easily adapting and transforming itself to its local environs. In Mississippi, it continues to be infused with new life as seasoned and emerging performers play with the genre’s roots and experiment with new sounds. The Hip Hop Showcase at the 82nd National Folk Festival features three Mississippi artists who exemplify the best of the genre.

Charity “Vitamin Cea” Hicks is originally from Gautier, Mississippi. Inspired by her youth pastor’s teaching that “we are the medicine,” she adopted Vitamin Cea as a nod to the process of healing. Her musical style is versatile and conversational, combining storytelling and gospel influences.

Devin “DevMacc” Cousin is a hip-hop and R&B artist from Jackson. His love for music was fostered by his family, particularly his mother, who was a gospel singer. After her diagnosis with breast cancer, DevMacc turned to music as refuge, writing about his experience and emotions as he grappled with depression and grief.

Timothy “Phingaprint” Washington is a self-described “turntable alchemist” who has been deejaying, mixing, and producing for decades. Originally from Jackson, Mississippi, he started deejaying school dances and talent shows in the late 1980s, and cohosts Breaks n Brews events at Offbeat in Jackson, where attendees are encouraged to bring their own vinyl records to play.