When Kwasi Brown hosted Black Nerd Mafia's first concert at Curiosity Coffee Bar two years ago, it spawned a movement to promote independent artists in Columbia, particularly for Black creatives.
“There’s so much talent here and we don’t need to go to Charlotte or Atlanta or New York,” Brown told Free Times in November. “We just promote the people we have, who people don’t even know about. Quite frankly, if you guys were doing your job, people would know about these (artists).”
Brown invests in the indie artist community through concerts, events and The Cool Table, an invite-only collective of creatives who serve as support and resources for each other in their creative endeavors.
The group's motto is "strength in numbers."
Brown walked Free Times through the Cool Table's members, all of whom are independent artists in Columbia he wants y'all to check out:
Tam the Viibe
A rapper and hip-hop artist, Tam the Viibe has been performing in Columbia more than 20 years. Follow her on Instagram @tamtheviibe
Ija Monet
You've probably seen an Ija Monet mural while driving through Columbia. Monet's artwork is an explosion of color and sentiment. Follow her on Instagram @ijah_monet
Milah
A rapper, singer and songwriter, Milah has put out several albums from her homebase in Columbia. Follow her on Instagram @beenmilah
Aisa Blue
An artist and spoken-word poet, Aisa Blue is a Columbia local who expresses her artistry through of myriad of artforms. Follow her on Instagram @_thoughtsinblue
Eezy Olah
Eezy Olah is a rapper and musician steeped in soul and based in Columbia. He performs regularly around town. Catch him on Instagram @eezyolah, though he's on a social media break at the moment.
J.B. SamSon
A rapper, artist and singer, J.B. SamSon performs regularly around town, including Uncle Fester's Last Call's Hip-Hop Showcases and, recently, at the South Carolina State Fair. Follow him on Instagram @jbsamson.music.official
Darius Dior
Darius Dior is a Christ-centered artist who also runs his own video production company, Thinking Kingdom. Find him on Instagram @thinkingkingdom
Yyusri
A musician and an illustrator, Yyusir's animated style of pop art is vibrant and modern. Find him on Instagram @_yyusri_
Death Ray Robin
Desiree Richards is a local musician who performs in the band Say Femme, but her solo project, Death Ray Robin, combines her silky, soulful vocals with a rock/pop sound. Find her on Instagram @deathrayrobin
Airborne Audio
One of a select number of producers in town, Airborne Audio works with rap and hip-hop artists in the Columbia music scene. He's also one half of the duo Black Chefs. Follow him on Instagram @airborneaudio
Kenya Spinz
Kenya Spinz is a local producer and DJ who combines nostalgic throwbacks with a vibey sound. Catch her on Instagram @kenyaspinz
Corey Stone
A saxophonist and musicians, Stone's music has a jazzy sound with R&B influences. He plays gigs around town regularly, so follow him on Instagram @musically_stoned
PATx
A true Renaissance man, PATx is a an alternative rapper, producer, songwriter and a professor at Benedict College. He recently worked with ONE Columbia to produce a Lo-Fi remix for the city. He's on Instagram @iampatx
