A line from one of southern rapper Mike Jones’ newest songs can be misinterpreted.
“You can’t see me baby!” Jones blurts out in the song “Mr. Jones,” one of the hits on his sophomore release, “The American Dream.”
The blinged-out, self-promoting Texas native would likely be the first to tell you that for about $40 bucks, you most certainly can see him; he’ll be performing for the first time in Oregon on Friday night at McDonald Theatre, located at 1010 Willamette St., in Eugene.
Now, who exactly is Mike Jones?
He’s the owner of record label Ice Age Entertainment, a platinum-selling artist, an aspiring actor and a self-described hustler. He wears diamond-studded and platinum-covered accessories in his ears, around his neck, and in his mouth – where, quite frequently in his songs, his name comes out.
Amidst the catchy background hook sung by a younger, female vocalist, Jones chants his name during parts of the song “Mr. Jones.”
The 26-year-old Jones is also on tour promoting his latest cut, released May 8, which includes guest vocalists ranging from West Coast rapper Snoop Dogg to fellow Texan Bun B. Already, two songs on it – “Mr. Jones” and “My ’64” – have proved to be popular, receiving heavy rotation across the country.
Jones has garnered fame for his raw lyrics and entrepreneurial spirit. He brandishes his experiences – often intertwining them with explicit exuberance – through song, describing life as a hustler and now as a businessman with a few extra million dollars to burn. One observation he makes in a few of his songs is that women seem more attracted to him now than they used to be.
Building a reputation in the industry can be a challenge, but Jones has made a name for himself with a recognized habit of shouting out his name on songs and at concerts. Jones also reportedly gives out T-shirts with his cell phone number (281-330-8004) on the back. Don’t bother calling, though: No one picks up.
It’s been publicized that Jones’ underground roots are in Houston, where he’s rumored to have personally distributed his music until the owner of record label Swishahouse heard his work and inked him to a deal. Since then, he has also created and sustained his own brand: Ice Age.
Jones, who’s done work as a contributing artist with the Ying Yang Twins, Bun B, Juvenile and T-Pain, has released two major albums in his career. He signed a major record deal with Warner Bros. Records for his heralded debut, “Who is Mike Jones?,” which came out in April of 2005 and quickly went platinum; roughly 1.6 million copies were sold in the U.S. Jones’ film, “The American Dream,” which he stars in, was also released on DVD last month.
Doors for the show, hosted by DJ Tekneek, Endr 1 and Eric B, open at 8 p.m., and the show starts at 9 p.m. Animal Farm, DZO and Zsa Zsa will also be performing. The advanced ticket price is $35.94 plus a service fee or $39 at the door. There is also a $50 VIP deal available to people 21 years of age or older. Tickets are available at ticketswest.com, the 94.9 JAMZ office or the EMU Box Office.