Resurrecting the Jam

Since announcing that Scribble Jam wouldn’t happen in 2009, Beacham has been inundated with suggestions. “It’s easy to step back and say ‘This would save Scribble Jam,’” Beacham says. But he thinks many of the suggestions he has received are already things they’ve done or tried to do. Many of the suggestions relate to the labels Beacham says have been unfairly placed on Scribble Jam.

People say they’re too dominated by “backpackers,” or that there are too many white artists and fans. Beacham insists that most of these criticisms are completely unfounded. He wants the festival to “evolve with the times,” but in general, he says, “we have just about all the bases covered.” He doesn’t foresee any sweeping changes in the program if and when Scribble Jam does return. Accurso said he’d actually be more open to a whole different kind of festival that incorporates graffiti, skateboarding and rock-and-roll.

There’s also the possibility of reconciling with G-Fresh. The DJ says he’d be willing to bury the hatchet and work with Accurso and Heitz again if they reached out. Even if he can’t single-handedly resurrect Scribble Jam, an extra set of hands might at least ease the event’s production burdens. Dibbs insists that if G-Fresh were still part of the festival’s coordinating team, he could tap a deeper reservoir of sponsors and help secure funding. “He always found a way to make the money work,” he says.

All of the current and former organizers — Accurso, G-Fresh, Beacham and Dibbs — agreed that putting the festival together was a time-consuming, year-round commitment that paid very little. For each of them, not presenting the festival brought both disappointment and relief. “We’re all getting old. A lot of us have families now,” says Accurso.

In the meantime, Scribble Jam’s organizers have been busy with their own personal projects. Accurso owns and manages a clothing store called Unheard Of and Anonymous Skate Shop. Beacham hosts a radio show on Current radio in Minneapolis and works at hip-hop record label Rhymesayers Entertainment. G-Fresh hosts Cincinnati radio shows like “B-Boys Underground” on WAIF 88.3 FM, produces beats and promotes shows with companies like Truth Music Productions. Meanwhile, Mr. Dibbs tours and DJs all over the world with artists like El-P, Atmosphere and 1200 Hobos, while promoting his albums on Rhymesayers Entertainment and his own label, SelfCore Records.

But Scribble Jam’s founders and fans have a lot to be proud of. “It definitely has helped to keep the culture alive,” Accurso says. To him, true hip-hop culture is inclusive and participatory. He believes Scribble Jam is not a place you go to stand and watch your heroes but a festival where you can go and be involved. As independent artists find it increasingly difficult to break into the mainstream, the world may need a festival like that now more than ever. Despite all the problems, Accurso is optimistic: “Scribble Jam is definitely going to come back.”

End.

Scribble Jam 2003 photo courtesy of Nick Accurso.

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