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<\/p>\n\u201cI’m here to lay a foundation for people to step on to do what they need to do to get to
\nthe next level.\u201d Here\u2019s how Memphis native J Whitlow’s thoughts on the Memphis music scene
\nled him to create an outstanding annual Memphis Music Festival: Listen Out Loud Music
\nFestival (LOL Fest). With a love for R&B music and a disc jockey dad who continuously brought
\nhome the best records, J. Whitlow is now serving his community by providing them with an
\nunforgettable musical experience.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
J. Whitlow’s story began in 2017 when he quit his job to pursue a dream. He says that
\n\u201cThe Alchemist\u201d by Paula Coelho influenced him to take such a big step that he is forever
\ngrateful for. \u201c It really had me like \u201cYou’re not living mane!\u201d After years of party promoting and
\ncreating what he calls an experience for the city of Memphis, Whitlow took his skills to the next
\nlevel. What started as a party-promoting business that threw the best club parties is now a
\nmusic festival that promotes the best independent artists in Memphis and beyond.<\/p>\n
Prior to promoting parties and the LOL Music Festival, Whitlow was appointed by Mayor
\nAC Wharton to the board for a Beale Street Tourism Development Project. He was the youngest
\non the board at the time, and his young fiery ambition led him to see much more for the Beale
\nStreet area in which he was serving. Whitlow’s company, Privileged, began around 6 years ago
\nin the month of June right before his 30th birthday. Whitlow coined the company name “Privileged\u201d
\ndue to the vision and goal of making those in the city feel as though they were living a
\n\u201cprivileged lifestyle.\u201d \u201cWe do stuff that no one else does, and we live a privileged lifestyle.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s what I wanted to get across,\u201d said the creative. He says that the ultimate goal was to
\npush not only a lifestyle onto people, but also a culture. The brand made a name for itself
\nthrough Whitlow’s ability to get Memphis natives out of their homes and into the party scene to
\nhave a good time. He began taking his vision to Beale Street where he started an annual event
\ntitled \u201cEvolution of Cocktails.\u201d “I wanted to offer grown folks something different than a club,” he explains.<\/p>\n
The efforts of creating an experience were soon stopped by the pandemic; however, that
\ndid not keep the visionary from coming back stronger than ever. Now in 2023, J. Whitlow says
\nthat the Listen Out Loud Music Festival will be an annual gift to his community, but he has much
\nbigger goals than just creating a good time for natives. With many of his goals being rooted in
\nviews and changes that he sees fit for his community, Whitlow says that the festival is his way of
\ngiving back, developing the mindsets of citizens in the city, breaking new artists, helping the city
\nR&B scene get back on the rise, and creating music internship opportunities for the youth.
\nHere’s how!<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
The Listen Out Loud music festival happens annually in the spring and harbors the goal
\nof putting independent R&B artists on the map. Whitlow holds Memphis music dear to his heart
\nand has hopes of bringing Memphis music to the forefront. \u201c The rap game has taken off
\nand it\u2019s tight, but someone has to own R&B. I love rap; however, I don\u2019t want that to be the only
\ntype of sound that comes from our city. We are more defined than that, and there\u2019s so much
\nmore untouched talent out there.\u201d He feels that his goal will not only be great for the next
\ngeneration of artists and young people, but for older generations as well. \u201cI think it encourages
\nolder people to get out and lend their talents to the stage because they wanna see Memphis be
\nthe home of dynamic soul talent just as it once was.\u201d<\/p>\n
With that being said, the festival’s lineup has already been a huge representation of that. From singers like Carmen Hicks and McKenzie Thomas to Bar-Kays member Devin Crutcher, the festival has always been known to have amazing talents from not only Memphis but from other cities as well. This year a number of
\namazing artists made an appearance at the festival, including 2012 The Voice contestant Avery
\nWilson. A few other talents on the lineup include Anthony Q, Mille Manny, Doll McCoy, and even
\na number of great female deejays. As J. Whitlow gears up for next year’s festival, he says that
\nfor it to become bigger than what it is, the community should come together to bring the vision to
\nlife.<\/p>\n