Knoxville520.com

The Drizzle.

If you tire of referencing rappers from the Coasts, then you're lucky, 'cause we've got our own up-and-coming rap superstar to talk about right here on the banks of the Tennessee. Unless you've been under a rock all summer, then surely you've heard THE song that's become the unofficial summer anthem for Knoxville. No, not Gnarls going "Crazy." Not even that song from that Timberlake kid. If anything's bringing sexy back, it's "Where You From (Da 865)" by Alcoa's own Mack Williams, a.k.a. Mr. Mack.

Mr. Mack, representin' in the middle of a street near you

On his website, www.mrmack865.com, Mr. Mack describes his unique niche in the rap-o-sphere
as "gritty country hip-hop." And this gritty little city has eaten it right up. What's the number one song at 104.5 right now? Yep, it's Mr. Mack's, beating out big songs from huge national artists like Ludacris, Fergie, and Monica, to name a few. I can see why he's so popular: Any artist that can mention the Pellissippi Parkway in a song with a straight face gets street cred in my book, fo' shizzle. Go and listen to the song at www.myspace.com/mrmackbr and see if you can restrain yourself from proudly declaring where you're from. And if you like it, then go and see him in person next week.

What: "The Fall Ball" with Paul Wall, DJ Don Cannon, and, of course, Mr. Mack
Where: The Red Iguana
When: September 21st, 8 pm

Can't make it? Then check out this collaborative remix on YouTube with guest artists from the less-rapped regions of the 901, the 423, and the 615.