‘The Spot’ brings back the hip hop countdown show

by The People’s Minister of Information JR

Many of us grew up watching music video shows like “Yo! MTV Raps” with Dr. Dre, Ed Lover and Fab 5 Freddy; “Soulbeat” with Rock and Cindy; BET’s “In the Basement” featuring Big Tigger and Donny Simpson; and “106 & Park” hosted by AJ and Free. Years ago we also had the Source, Vibe and Murderdog Magazine to keep us up to date with the culture, but today nothing matches these hip hop media outlets.

‘The-Spot’-hosts-Jametria-Johnson-and-Benny-Franco-on-the-beach-225x300, ‘The Spot’ brings back the hip hop countdown show, Culture Currents
“The Spot” hosts Kyss Couture CEO Jametria Johnson and Real Niggas N-Corporated CEO Benny Franco on the beach

With the invention of the internet, blogs and YouTube, classic shows and magazines featuring our music, fashion and culture are a thing of the past. Or are they?

Benny Franco and Jametria Johnson are the creators of a new video show for independent artists called “The Spot,” based out of Jibril James Fashions in Las Vegas. Although it is music-based, “The Spot” also explores fashion, sports, entrepreneurship and more.

Check out Benny Franco in his own words as he gives you a dose of this West Coast hip hop life from the desert of Las Vegas.

M.O.I. JR: Can you tell the people a little bit about the name of your music video show and how it started?

Benny Franco: Basically, me and Jametria wanted to do something different out here. Almost everybody is doing the same things; Internet radio shows, open mics and whatnot.

We decided to step away from the crowd and create a different outlet for serious indie artists who are actually investing in their careers and making a visual push via music videos.

We kept the name simple and chose it because although we’re centralized out of Jibril James Fashion here in Vegas, we plan on traveling wit’ the show and turning whatever venue we use into “The Spot.”

M.O.I. JR: What inspired you two to come with a video show? Is it intentional that you have one male and one female host?

Benny Franco: The inspiration for the show was to simply be different. Like I said, almost everybody we came across is out here doing the same things.

We have too much talent and work way too hard to place ourselves in a category with everybody else.

It isn’t intentional that we have one male and one female host. Jametria and I work very closely on a lot of different projects and since we came up with the concept together, it was only right that we both host the show together.

‘The-Spot’-at-Xtreme-Couture-MMA-Gym-300x300, ‘The Spot’ brings back the hip hop countdown show, Culture Currents
Check out the fifth episode of “The Spot” filmed at Xtreme Couture MMA Gym in Las Vegas.

M.O.I. JR: How long have you been doing it, and how have people responded?

Benny Franco: We’ve only been doing the show for five weeks and actually just shot the fifth episode at the Xtreme Couture Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) gym out here in Las Vegas to switch it up for the viewers.

At first, people weren’t really that receptive. There were a few people who were impressed and supportive, but over the past month we’ve seen steady progression with the show.

More people from different states are reaching out to be featured. We’re starting to get a lot of positive feedback.

M.O.I. JR: Do you plan to take “The Spot” to other places besides Vegas?

Benny Franco: Of course. We’re not from Vegas and we both grew up traveling around, so I definitely see us taking “The Spot” on a couple dope ass road trips in the very near future.

M.O.I. JR: How do y’all choose which five videos are going to play each week?

Benny Franco: We were posting polls on Facebook and letting the artists and the people who’ve been tuning in vote, but because we were just starting off not enough people were paying attention.

So we created a voting system within the company where we vote on categories such as music quality, video quality, the artist’s push and fan base. The highest number gets No. 1; the lowest gets the No. 5 spot.

M.O.I. JR: How do you choose who you are going to interview for the show?

Benny Franco: We look for talented people who are doing something different in their respective area. So far, we’ve interviewed a few rappers, MMA fighters, singers and a DJ.

We respect everybody who’s out there trying to get put on and do better, so we want to touch on that and help them get some exposure.

‘The-Spot’-logo-300x116, ‘The Spot’ brings back the hip hop countdown show, Culture Currents
Vegas-based “The Spot” highlights hip hop music, culture, fashion and independent artists.

M.O.I. JR: How can people watch the show?

Benny Franco: We’re working on getting the show syndicated, but of course that’s gonna take some time. For now, we’re uploading the show to YouTube every Tuesday. Y’all can catch it at “RNC247” or just google “Real Niggas N-Corporated.”

M.O.I. JR: Do you have a website or social media pages?

Benny Franco: Yeah, you can catch more of what we do at rncorporated.wix.com/thespot. Or just look up “Real Niggas N-Corporated” and “Kyss Swimwear” on Facebook.

The People’s Minister of Information JR Valrey is associate editor of the Bay View, author of “Block Reportin’” and “Unfinished Business: Block Reportin’ 2” and filmmaker of “Operation Small Axe” and “Block Reportin’ 101,” available, along with many more interviews, at www.blockreportradio.com. He can be reached at blockreportradio@gmail.com.