Photo credit: Anthony Summers, Flintside Magazine
Flint, Mich. –Four local hip hop acts who together are known as Friends of The Flintdustry – will offer their talents on the the FIM Capitol Theatre stage tonight at 7 p.m. on May 15. The show is as part of the free Flint Under the Stars concert series.
Friends of the Flintdustry is made up of Feimstro and the Farts, Tay Boogie, Figga da Kid and Jeff Skigh. The term Flintdustry was created after the pandemic by 810 Flow, a group of two Flint women, including Boogie.
Frankie “Figga Da Kid” Harris
Flint native Figga Da Kid’s musical journey started in 2011 when he bought his first laptop. While he started creating and releasing music from home, it wasn’t until 2016 when he released his debut song, “The Leaf Campaign.”
Five years later, and with only his 2018 EP “In the Meantime” between albums, he released his follow-up album, The Pop-Up Shop, featuring singles like “FaceTime” featuring Cameron Tyler, and “Make It Good.”
Figga continues to create and release content, with his most recent offering, “The Break-up Tape EP(2023),” chronicling his experience from failed relationship to rebound and the self-growth – or lack thereof – in between.
Figga’s expedition continues as he discovers himself and digests the art all around him… and remembers, The Journey is the Reward.
Figga is especially proud of having been able to perform at the Comic Con event in Virgina called BlerdCon, of performing in Jacksonville, Florida and performing in Austin, Texas in the South By Southwest festival.
“My musical style in general I would say is laid back, conscious hip hop/rap,” said Figga.
Jeff Skigh
Born in Flint, Jeff Skigh has a voice that cannot be confused with any other. He brings a very mellow yet fun bravado to any track. Growing up in Flint isn’t the easiest, and Jeff has taken the city’s struggle and brought it out uniquely. His last album (Smokin in Kanto; streaming on all platforms) shows Jeff’s versatility while also giving you a deep look into his creativity.
Jeff has become a leading representative of Flint’s emerging music scene and a great sage to peers.
After taking the time to perfect his craft of jazz-blended trap music sound, Jeff continues his wave of positivity and good vibes to thrive in any situation. Jeff has been paving a safe concrete path for the independent artist to build flourishing independent careers in Flint.
Skigh feels when he passed a million streams on a song in 2021 it was one of his biggest accomplishments, along with performing at a music festival in Jacksonville, Florida and performing in South By South West festival in Austin, Texas.
“I think hip hop is extremely important in Flint because it’s a way to express ourselves amongst all the other stuff we’ve been going through,” Skigh recently told the Courier.
Skigh said he talks about a lot of his struggles in his music and he feels he is a person the city can relate to.
“At the events I do, I try to bring out a lot of the positivity in the city and bring people together,” Skigh said.
Anthony Feimster of Feimstro & the Farts
What would an African American male musician from the toughest streets of Flint sound like? How would he be judged? What would he wear? What music would he listen to? Would it be a shock to say his greatest inspirations are giants such as James Taylor, Ray Charles and Esperanza Spalding? Is it typical for this young man to conduct an orchestra even though he could not read music until 2nd year of college?
Well believe it. Anthony Feimster Jr, also known by his stage name Feimstro is a soulful yet creative individual who refuses to dream small and fits this description!
With his 2021 release, “YAKO,” on YouTube, Feimster effortlessly captured attention, amassing an impressive 100k views within two months, setting the stage for his rise in the music industry. The inspiration, supported by the single, allowed him to release his first album titled “Nina,” as a tribute to the legendary Nina Simone. Additionally, he released a live piano version of this album exclusively on Bandcamp.
In 2023, a defining moment occurred when Feimstro was honored as the Artist of Residence at UMS.
Feimster conducts orchestra and pointed out he is one of the only African American males who does jazz piano, as well as classical piano. So, the name “Feimstro” came about when friends said Feimster was “like a maestro.”
“My sound is stemmed around the soul realm of music, which is like a combination of gospel, jazz and R & B, with some folk as well- country,” Feimster explained to the Courier. “It’s like an inspirational sound – the inspirations of Ray Charles, or Stevie Wonder, James Taylor or P.J. Morton. The name “farts” was given because I felt our music and our style was kind of funky.”
Taylor “Tay Boogie” Brooks (Co-founder of The 810 Flow with Shareese “Boss Lady Reese’” Johnson )
Introducing Tay Boogie, a rising star in the music world, born and raised in Flint. Bursting onto the scene around 2020 with her smooth yet ear-catching single “Tapped Out,” Boogie quickly captured the attention of listeners far and wide. Her unique blend of lyricism and charisma propelled her to stages in iconic music hubs like New York and even earned her a spot at the prestigious South by Southwest festival in Texas.
With her debut project, Boogie showcased her versatility and raw talent, solidifying her position as a rising female artist in the city of Flint. Beyond her solo endeavors, she collaborated with various artists, filling the local music scene with her distinct style.
Not content to simply shine on her own, Boogie and her business partner founded The 810 Flow, a platform dedicated to amplifying the voices of artists in her city. Through this initiative, she committed to providing fellow creatives with the recognition and opportunities they deserve.
With her unwavering passion for music and dedication to her community, Tay Boogie is not just a rapper; she’s a trailblazer, paving the way for the next generation of artists from Flint and beyond.
Boogie told the Courier the 810 Flow was created because she had the idea of trying to bridge the gap between different artists in the city that were not already collaborating in single rooms together.
“Being a new artist myself, I felt it would be a great position for me to be in,” Boogie added. “I was a new artist that was eager to collaborate with other artists and wanted to help level the playing field with artists in the city. I knew what I was wishing the city had when I was starting out.”
Boogie said showgoers can expect a “raw, but intimate performance” from her at the May 15 show.
Flint Under the Stars is a Music Around Town production of FIM that spotlights local talent. Held on the third Wednesday of each month under the starry dome of the FIM Capitol Theatre, the donate-what-you-wish ticket price benefits the KidsTix program which provides free admission to live performances for children and their families who might not otherwise approach or be able to afford live performances.
The May 15 Friends of The Flintdustry show is recommended for ages13 and up.
Registration and donations are accepted at www.tickets.thefim.org, at FIM Ticket Center box offices at FIM Whiting Auditorium and FIM Capitol Theatre, or by calling (810) 237-7333.
