Oak Ridge native brings unique blend of country and hip-hop to the national scene
Picture caption: Brian Jones, Jr. performs as “Camo Brian,” infusing a unique blend of country and hip-hop on “Already Famous,” his debut EP with Colt Ford’s Average Joe’s Entertainment, out now on all major music outlets.
Today, Brian Jones, Junior–’Camo Brian’ to rabid fans of his positive, unique blend of country and hip-hop– meets up at the Blank Fundraiser at Merchants of Beer to discuss all he’s got in the works.
Today, a month later, he posts images of himself hand-delivering tickets to his show opening for the Yin-Yang Twins at Cotton-Eyed Joe’s next Friday, June 25 to various fans all over town, stopping to take selfies.
Today, a year ago and every day since then, I take notice of Jones performing at car rallies, marinas and a host of other various and sundry events throughout the area, and personally delivering his branded merch as well as his side business, a personal cooking spice blend called “K-Town Krack.”
Jones, an Oak Ridge native, father and former director of a center for troubled youth, has a mature perspective having worked on honing his personal brand and ethos for years, in the past as a straight hip-hop act and in the newer country-rap iteration he says feels more authentic to his roots, which has taken the countryside by storm, catching the eye of industry veteran Bubba Sparxxx, which eventually led to Colt Ford signing Jones to his Average Joe’s Entertainment.
Today, In June 2020, Jones posts a picture from the News-Sentinel in which a female officer hugs him during a rally in Oak Ridge. He tells Blank he sees himself as able to bridge that cultural divide and approach race relations from a place of grace and healing (not that it doesn’t make for some awkward moments in his industry, he adds).
Today-a few weeks ago– Camo Brian posts a link to an official video for “Already Famous” and stills from or casting calls for several more in the works. Days later he appears guesting in a video for “Moosie Green,” a new single from his labelmate ShelbyKay. His “Country Soul” single is featured on Mud Diggers 12, a popular compilation series, and in a featured post with Vent Magazine talking about the behind-the-scenes of a video shoot. He hints at an upcoming collaboration with Josiah Atchley of Josiah and the Greater Good and further national opportunities coming down the pike.
The music is hypnotic, featuring the tightest, most natural fusion of the two unlikely bedfellows – country and hip-hop, replete with the best common features of both: the rugged individualism and unwavering, even swaggering belief in the self, the big beats and the sticky hooks. Watching Camo Brian do his thing–both on wax and how he works a photo opp with line dancers at an area car show, the genre makes sense as a potentially potent unifying force bringing together the working class over hard work, good music, food and drink, and a little partying.
Today, whatever date this story is published, it’s almost a guarantee that somewhere out there, Camo Brian is hustling. This was a story without quotes because with Camo Brian, the actions speak louder than the words.
But one thing is for sure — this is what “making it” looks like, in real time.
Camo Brian next performs at the Hamblen County Juneteenth Celebration on June 19.
