Marco Patterson is an advocate for causes close to his heart, and he uses his passion for and talents in music to support them.
Patterson, along with his Jefferson City-based recording enterprise Grithouse Music Group, will host the 1st Amendment Flow benefit show for veterans Saturday at the Mission, with proceeds going to an organization in Columbia that aids homeless and at-risk veterans, Welcome Home.
"Using the platform of hip-hop, one of the elements (of these shows) is activism," he said. "I would like to produce more shows that help out people in our community and allow these artists to express themselves through their music."
Patterson, under his award-winning moniker in the music world BlackGrits, will host the showcase that will feature about a dozen independent hip-hop artists. The evening will feature performances from Renata, NKelly Grose, Robin Nicole, SvmDvde, Michael Azai, Jay Edd, MikeyChristian, Evi da Prince, Asaj, REACEYUNG, Jerrod Arvel and Polo Hendrixx.
Not only does the show support veterans in need with proceeds aiding Welcome Home, but about half of the artists are also veterans, including combat veteran Jay Edd and Patterson who served six years in the Missouri National Guard.
"Plus we have a lot of artists who may not be veterans, but are related to veterans like REACEYUNG. His uncle and grandfather were veterans, and REACE plans to perform his original 'American Made,'" Patterson said. "American Made," which REACEYUNG co-wrote with BlackGrits, captures "what is going on in America right now, being African-American and it is all in one song," REACEYUNG previously told the News Tribune after the album on which it is included, "Unlucky Me," reached No. 2 on Billboard's Heatseekers chart for new music. "We have someone singing the national anthem, and we are trying not to make a shot at anybody. To these people (veterans), this is the only thing that reminds them of home. It is about supporting these rappers for the greater cause that benefits the veterans and hopefully it will only grow bigger."
First holding a benefit veterans show in Columbia last summer, Patterson hopes its continued growth and success will allow him to develop it into a tour or a large community event, knowing the importance of what Welcome Home does with its transitional living program for veterans in need.
"My goal is to grow this showcase, perhaps using exclusively veterans performing and get it as big as Thursday Night Live," he said.
However, Patterson has already produced successful artist showcases that raise money for charitable causes in the past few years.
It started with his now annual Memphis in Missouri show, which highlights independent artists from Patterson's Tennessee hometown and raises money for Autism Speaks in honor of his autistic brother. He also would like to create a stop the violence program that utilizes hip-hop as a common ground to keep children and teens on the right path.
"I want to address the culture. Young kids get these guns and get involved in gangs. Folks like me can talk to them. They rap, we can use that platform as a dialogue," Patterson said, noting he would like to get counselors and others who can help these children involved in this program and possibly put on an event that showcases their music. "It becomes educational hip-hop. It all is about supporting these rappers for the greater cause. We just got to get it out there more and get the community behind it."
Patterson is continually supporting fellow independent artists through engineering and producing their music through Grithouse Music Group, as well as breaking ground with his own hip-hop originals. In fact, his first official album release "Paradox 88" came in at No. 3 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart for new music, making him the first independent hip-hop artist in Mid-Missouri to break the Billboard music charts. Also in Mid-Missouri, REACEYUNG followed in making that same Billboard chart about a month after in August and KronSax earlier this year.
As a member of the American Engineering Society and two-time winner at the Southern Entertainment Awards, Patterson also recently became a Recording Academy Member, which allows him to nominate and vote for artists for Grammy Awards. He is the only member in Mid-Missouri, and one of less than 10 in the state, he said.
"This is very critical," he added. "My goal in the next year or two is to get one of my projects nominated, to have a Grammy nominated project in Missouri. We now have three independent artists in Mid-Missouri that hit that Billboard chart. I want to keep that movement up here going."
Patterson is open to also hearing from the community to see how benefit shows like this can help more people in the community.
"These shows are avenues of activism. Right now they are for autism and veterans - things that are close to me. However, I would love to grow these shows. I need to know what the community needs," he said. "Share with me how to reach out to folks on a bigger platform. Let me know what you would like to see, what you would like addressed and what more we can do."
Doors open for the 1st Amendment Flow Benefit Show for Veterans at 6 p.m. with the show starting at 8:30 p.m. Saturday at The Mission, 915 E. High St. Tickets are $5 in advance and $10 at the door.
For more information or to purchase tickets, call Patterson at 901-335-8809 or The Mission at 573-644-6824 or by visiting themissionjc.com. For more information about Welcome Home, visit welcomeveterans.org.