Voters Cry Foul as Richmond Event Brings in Rapper Mike Jones
“I’m just trying to bring dope stuff to the city,” he said. Jones says his love for and representation of a diverse community is what makes this event and others he’s throwing in the city special.
interviewed by E. Jackson
by Tranae Cearnal
Monday, April 5, 2026 | 7:22 AM
Mike Jones to perform at Rosies at the American Dream Experience on Thursday, April 9th.
RICHMOND, Va. — VA State Senator Dr. Mike Jones is going to beat you to the punch. “Since, like, ‘07, ‘08, no matter where I am. Church. Politics. Whatever. I’d say, ‘Hey, I’m Mike Jones.’ And they’re like, ‘Who?!’ I’m like, ‘Haha, I get it.’ It became the old joke after a while.”
Dr. Jones says even today, people make the reference. So he decided to turn the nearly 20-year-long joke into a celebration for Richmond’s Southside.
Sen Mike Jones said that he faced criticism from voters after his decision to do something for the community by bringing in rapper Mike Jones. (photo courtesy of Sen. Mike Jones’ Instagram)
On Thursday, April 9th, Dr. Jones’ the “American Dream Experience: Who Is Mike Jones?” goes down at The Playbook, located inside Rosie’s on Midlothian Turnpike. The event, hosted by Chey Butta, featured Houston rapper Mike Jones. “Bringing Mike Jones is personal,” Dr. Jones explained. Before walking into many spaces, he references Mike Jones’ “Back Then.” “Even at my age, you still deal with insecurities. Am I good enough? Am I smart enough? Do I belong in this place? I shut the door, and I say, ‘I’m Mike Jones. 281-330-8004. Hit Mike Jones up on the low, ’cause Mike Jones about to blow.’ That’s what I run through my head before I go into these spaces.”
Negative response
Despite the event garnering some negative reactions from certain community members, Dr. Jones explained to TRS that the event is a celebration of Southside and an opportunity for “true hip-hop heads” to come and join in on the support of the city. “I’m just trying to bring dope stuff to the city,” he said. Jones says his love for and representation of a diverse community is what makes this event and others he’s throwing in the city special.
He went on to discuss the defamatory code names for places like Meadowbrook that some call “Ghettobrook” and how these stigmas show the importance of revitalizing the community in Southside with events like this and again quoted Mike Jones’ hit to show how Southside is on the come-up. “That’s an anthem for everyone that, you know, was always overlooked. Everyone always overlooks South Richmond. This little part that was annexed from Chesterfield on a real racist move. There’s so many dope things going on. We’ve got one of the only indoor playgrounds in the city. And so you see people coming to Southside to bring their kids to play indoors. So, ‘Back then they didn’t want us, now we’re hot, they all on us.’”
If you really knew Richmond
When asked about the next print theme, “Knew Richmond,” Mike Jones poetically stated, “The new Richmond is absent of my grandmother in Jackson Ward. But if you knew Richmond, you would know in 1972 they annexed parts of Chesterfield County into Richmond to try to dilute the Black vote. If you really knew Richmond, people that can afford to pay their real estate tax don’t have to pay their real estate tax because we funded the gentrification of our entire city.”
But Mike Jones knows Richmond. “Everyone in Richmond ain’t causing the issues that go on in Richmond. Because I know Richmond, I’m fighting for it.”
Follow @thedrmikejones on Instagram to RSVP for the American Dream Experience: Who Is Mike Jones?
Rapper Mike Jones will perform in Richmond on Thursday, April 9 at Rosies.
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