Many in the state of Mississippi have come to know him for his connection with JacksonNCrowd, however, Derian Knox is better known for being one thing: a businessman. After finding success in a number of projects over the past decade he is now the President of a new organization called Sipphop.com that has made its mission that of encouraging and inspiring recording artists and even businesses throughout the state. Here is his conversation with Conversations LIVE! Radio Show host Cyrus A. Webb.
Derian, thank you for taking out the time to talk with us. I know you are busy with events throughout the city of Jackson. Before we get into the new endeavor you are a part of, tell our readers a little bit about who Derian Knox is.
Well, I am originally from McComb, MS but I have been native Jacksonian for about 21 years. A graduate of Jackson State University with a BBA in Marketing and a graduate of Belhaven College with a Masters of Business Administration. I am the President of the SippHop Movement and the Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of JacksonNCrowd.com. I am also the Publicity Director for the Mississippi Blues, an American Basketball Association franchise. And lastly, I co-own DerKnoCo Auto Sales with my father. I have been in the entertainment business for about 11 years now, starting out as a club DJ and eventually promoting and hosting my own events as well as others. I am married with 1 son, a newborn.
I first met you through one of your other projects called the Jackson-N-Crowd. Why did you feel as though it was important to offer people a different type of entertainment experience?
JacksonNCrowd.com was the brainchild of my business partner, Larry Leggett (Co-Founder). We wanted to give people another option to the norm. We felt that the professional crowd was being left out. There are many 8AM-5PM working professionals who don't listen to radio or have accounts on these social networking websites. With JacksonNCrowd, there is need to set up account. You can come to the website and know whats going on and where. We also wanted to give people an opportunity to build their brand. By posting pictures and videos, people can get a feel for the event that they missed and they are more likely to attend the next one.
J-N-C has really caught on and changed the way events are done in Jackson, Mississippi. Has it surprised you how people from all backgrounds have come together and rallied around what you are doing?
It was very surprising in the beginning. We started the website at the beginning of the web-based advertising media boom and it really took off. We looked up and we were being contacted by people in other states who say the site. A lot of alumni that come back into town for homecoming or Capitol City Classic use the site to know what is going on around town. We have even talked to soldiers in Iraq who tell us that the site kept them in touch with what was going on back in Jackson. We have also been recognized by the Jackson Free Press in the Best of Jackson awards for the past two years for Best Website. And this year we are nominated for a Southern Entertainment Award for Best Website. So it has really taken off and we thank everyone for the support.
Mississippi has become known for producing some of the best when it comes to entertainment, however, we don't have a lot of our celebrities that are still in the state. Do you think this adds to the way people sometime view Mississippi?
Yes. I feel that on a national level people have the wrong perception of Mississippi. We seem to be one of those states that people have to leave in order to shine. When I talk to promoters from outside the state, they are reluctant to bring events here. Also, the statistics don't help our case either. We seem to always be ranked in the bottom on education, poverty, and obesity. It is up to us to change these negative connotations that are connected to our state.
Read the entire interview here: http://bestofmississippi.blogspot.com/2008/11/spotlight-derian-knox-president-of.html
