Ellington

This week, Jackson music fans have an opportunity to propel one of our own into the national spotlight. Jason "PyInfamous" Thompson, 29, is a top-four finalist for Coors Light's "Search for the Coldest MC" contest as the winner in the South region. Fans can vote for PyInfamous through June 17 at http://www.searchforthecoldest.com.

Back in March, Py submitted the song "Bliss (Cooler Than This)," which features Jackson soul singer Kerry Thomas, "as an afterthought."

He wasn't even sure of the process; he just figured it couldn't hurt to put the song, which gets a lot of love in Jackson, out there to see what happens. Py later went back and looked at the process that got him into the finalist position. Fans went to the website, where they could listen to the songs, and voted for their favorites in each region (South, North, Midwest and West). This whittled the list down to 100; another vote created the top 40. Celebrity judges DJ Khaled, Pac Div and Bryan Michael Cox picked the top song for each region based on five criteria: presentation; originality and creativity; melody, vocal ability and music; lyrics; and entertainment value.

When Py got a call from Coors May 19, he had almost forgotten about submitting a song in the first place. Five days later, he was on an airplane for Atlanta to perform at The Mansion Elan May 25 as an opener for N.E.R.D. and Pac Div. The performance was streamed live on the Internet for a national audience. After three more concerts in different cities featuring the other regional winners, voting opened June 10 to pick the overall winner, who will get the chance to perform at the Essence Music Festival in New Orleans July 2 and wear the crown as the nation's "Coldest MC" for the next year.

The importance of this accomplishment is not lost on PyInfamous.

"It's good for Jackson and Mississippi to be recognized for musical accomplishments, particularly hip-hop," he says.

"We feel that pound for pound, Jackson has some of the best MCs in the nation. This contest helps get past some of those stigmas that surround the city and the state. It is a chance for all of us to be taken more seriously."

For Py, a win for himself could bring validation to a city that is full of talent, but often stifled because of outside perceptions that keep people from seeing "the intellectual depth and musical talent" that actually thrives here, he says.

Winning would also have more personal implications for Py, who feels like he is at a crossroad.

"I'm eyeballing 30, and I've been thinking about my place in the music business. After 30, what is my music career going to look like?" he asks rhetorically, adding that the contest has re-invigorated him musically and brought fresh perspective.

The thing about PyInfamous that will never change, though, are the reasons he does what he does.

"Music is strictly passion for me. I never compromise my principles or quality for anything," he says.

Even if he wins, don't expect PyInfamous to change anything about his music to cater to a wider audience. It is that integrity that makes Py one of Jackson's best, and also why the country is starting to take serious notice.

Go to http://www.searchforthecoldest.com or http://www.ourstage.com to vote for "Bliss (Cooler Than This)" by June 17.

Watch PyInfamous perform June 24 at Forever Friday at Suite 106.