Friday, April 20, 2007 was one rockin’ night at the Macon Centreplex as the Price Of Fame Tour blew through Macon, Georgia.  Hip Hop artists Bow Wow, Jibbs, and Chuckee were joined by several other rappers in a concert that left you poppin’ lyrics and still wantin’ to walk it out the next day.  Joined by Huey, Shay, Sammie, Crime Mob, 3D, and Semi, the stage was alive the entire 3 hours as audience members screamed themselves hoarse and danced atop chairs. 

Jibbs gets crowd rocking for the Price of Fame Tour at the Macon Centreplex 

Playing to a crowd of about 1000 people, the artists performed their biggest hits as well as new originals.  Jibbs was hot onstage and had the crowd going strong long before he was done and Bow Wow opened his act with “Fresh As I’m Is” to screaming fans and wooed the crowd with hits like “Shorty Like Mine” and “Like You.”  But the big boys had nothing on Chuckee, an 11 year-old rapper who performed his hits “You Already Know” and “Walk Like Chuckee” and was as energetic, talented, and professional as anyone else performing that night.

Chuckee & me after his performance

But probably the best part of the night was the time I spent backstage meeting and interviewing the guys.  I asked Bow Wow, already a seasoned performer at the ripe old age of 20, to describe the perfect woman.  “She would have to be smart, beautiful, and independent,” he quickly answered.  When asked what he wanted to be when he grew up, he was just as quick to name some pretty lofty goals.  “I want to be a hip hop mogul and a record label owner and still maintain my rappin’,” he answered.  “I would like to own an NBA team, too and I’m working on that right now. I guess you could say I’m realizing my dream more every day.”  When I told Bow Wow how much my teenage son would like to talk to him and asked if I could ring him up real quick on my cell phone, he readily agreed.  Now that was really cool!  What a genuinely nice guy.

When I asked Jibbs to describe his ideal girlfriend, he was quick to point out that he is SINGLE!  He says he’s looking for a girl who’s “cool, calm, sexy, and smart.”  I guess Jibbs believes in having things in common with your better half, because he was definitely “all of the above.”  At the age of 16, he was mature beyond his years, very professional, and polite beyond words.

Chuckee was a trip!  He immediately stuck ou t his hand and introduced himself and was very well-mannered for the interview.  When asked what he wanted to be when he grew up, he said, “I wanna be the CEO of my own record label and be able to help other kids get started doing what they want to do.”  I started to break down and tell him that he already is!  I interviewed him in a room with his parents present and found out from his father that, although managed by his parents, Chuckee is indeed the CEO of Child’s Play Entertainment in Lithonia, Georgia.  Chuckee’s mom and dad were two of the nicest people you would ever meet; very accessible and very unassuming; just nice folks.

In fact, all of the guys were just as nice as they could be.  I have a real affinity for stars that are grounded enough to know that they’re still just like anybody else. I found my faith in the younger generation renewed when I finally left.  These were just a bunch of normal young people doing what they love doing and making their dreams come true.  Very refreshing!

Macon Centreplex Executive Director Regina McDuffie and Hip Hop Star Jibbs backstage at the Macon Centreplex

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