Nesby Phips: Video Premier Event “Word To These Bo Jacksons”
This past Friday December 3, 2010, The JETS affiliate Nesby Phips hosted a video release party for the popular single “Word To These Bo Jacksons.” Produced by Ski Beatz with Dame Dash’s DD172 on the Blu Roc label, the single, which was due on Phips’ B-Side mixtape, racked up an incredible 25,000 downloads within in 24 hours of it’s release on hotnewhiphop.com. With those kinds of numbers, certainly, the next best thing would be to appease fans with a follow up music video. The visual version is produced and devised by The Legion Media Group and Creative Control, who also presided over the event. Held at a local Harlem venue called Vault, the screening lived to be a night to remember.
Located at 2498 Fredrick Douglas Boulevard, Vault hosts a plethora of sneakers, accessories, and trendy clothing apparel. From the walls filled of shoes, including a glass display in the floor, to the neatly stacked and mounted jeans, cardigans, t-shirts, and outerwear, the view was nothing short of a spectacle. The ambiance was truly welcoming, adept with a rousing energy, which flowed ever more naturally as the night progressed and people began pouring in. As a compliment, guest where provided with drinks, courtesy of Nude Vodka.
By 9 o’clock, after the DJ warmed up the crowd with her satisfying set, Nesby was ready to reveal his latest project to all those who came in support. Before airing the video, Nesby first went into the origins of how the single came to play. As he describes it, “a freak accident,” caused him to lose a great deal of personal items. In a fairly recent interview with HipHopDX, the artist put it clearly, “In conversation with someone, I was making a point, and to emphasize it, I said, ‘Word to these Bo Jacksons.’ It was like putting something on everything I own, and at that time, those were all I owned.” While the track pays homage to the Nike shoes, it also lends tribute to the duality of the great Vincent Edward “Bo” Jackson, who excelled at two professional sports (Baseball and Football), as Nesby Phips serves as both a producer and emcee.
Without further adieu, “Word To These Bo Jacksons” projected onto the screen. It starts with a shot of a red Nike box containing “those sneakers” on a counter top. At once, the shoes are off on there own, as if being propelled by some invisible string or a divine sense of direction towards their rightful owner; a bare-footed (well, socks-footed) Nesby Phips. While waiting for his package, the artist raps about his prize, as the scene switches back and forth between the footwear’s journey through an urban jungle and Nesby’s shoeless state. The special effects are eye catching and original, which only adds to the allure of the already sublime record. For first time listeners, it is a treat. After the music video fades to black, a jovial and quite funny Nesby Phips walks around personally greeting and thanking each person that came out to see his work. Noticeably humble and down to Earth, the New Orleans native takes some time to talk with CLE and share his thoughts on the video and some upcoming projects. Most notable is his latest arrangement with fellow producer Ski Beatz. The two have been granted the green light to work with the recording of late Jazz musician Miles Davis. This is nothing short of an honor, as the producers are sure to cook up some soulful music for all music lovers to enjoy.
For more info on Vault, check out www.vaultharlem.com/blog. One can expect an official release of Nesby Phips’ video “Word to these Bo Jacksons” in the days ahead to come.
