Country Box: Where Music Meets Boxing, A Family Affair

It’s no secret that Nashville is the home of some of the greatest musicians in the country, and honestly the world. But there’s been something else brewing in Music City that’s bringing music and sports together

In the last six months, Jimmy Adams and his family have been working together to create something new and exciting just beyond the throngs of crowds down on Broadway and only steps away from the world famous Grand Ole Opry. Country Box is a relatively new concept (although it was trademarked back in 2008), Jimmy Adams is no rookie in the game.

Jimmy Adams has been heavily involved in boxing since the early 80’s, mentored by American boxing promoter, Don King, who’s best known for his involvement in several historic boxing matchups. Jimmy spent 45 years managing fighters, starting with Earnie Shavers, considered one of boxing’s hardest-ever punchers. Adams has brought a wealth of experience in the beloved sport right here to Nashville; this time, he’s entering the sport as a promoter. And it’s only right that he’s integrating music into the mix since they don’t call it Music City for nothing.

The Adams Family. Photo Courtesy of Kathryn F. Hoxie

The Adams Family. Photo Courtesy of Kathryn F. Hoxie

Over the years, there has been an obvious connection between sports and music…think Superbowl Halftime Shows, live performances at NBA games, and more. And though boxing matches have notoriously pulled A-list celebrities and performers as fans, music hasn’t really been at the forefront of the sport…until now! For the last six months, Jimmy Adams has been carefully curating monthly boxing matches and live entertainment with the goal ofturning today’s nobody into tomorrow’s somebody.” He’s bringing his love of the sport to Nashville with Country Box and he’s got his family by his side every step of the way. 

Literally every member of Jimmy’s family is playing their own unique role in bringing Country Box to life. His wife, Ashley, has played an integral role in the execution of the events and recently became certified to work in the corners for the fights, getting her Seconds License. She made her debut in that role last month; she joined her daughter, Masey, who has been supporting fighters in that same capacity since the birth of Country Box. Even the youngest of the Adams family, Adaley, has played a role at the fights, leading the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance before each title fight. And then there’s Little Jimmy, their son, who is currently training and preparing himself to get in the ring, as well. He’s skipping amateur and going straight to pro, entering the Middle Weight Class at 154 lbs.. It’s been incredibly inspiring to watch an entire family build something from the ground up and literally each play a part in bringing its success to fruition.

The Adams Family at the September Country Box. Photo courtesy of Kathryn F. Hoxie

In addition to his family, Jimmy has a tight-knit group of top professionals who are working hard to bring the magic of Country Box together. One of the key players in creating electrifying match ups for the events is Christy Martin, who is the matchmaker for Country Box. Martin, professionally known as “The Coal Miner’s Daughter,” is a former professional boxer herself. Martin’s professional career marked a pivotal moment for women in the sport, as she is known to be the person who legitimized women’s participation in boxing. You may also recognize her from the 2021 Netflix documentary, “Untold: Deal With Devil.” 

Another notable professional in the Country Box brand is former NFL athlete turned boxing commentator, Albert Haynesworth III. Hayneworth, born in Hartsville, South Carolina, was a defensive tackle who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 10 seasons. He played college football at the University of Tennessee and was selected by the Tennessee Titans in the first round of the 2002 NFL Draft

Up until last month, you had to be local to Nashville or conveniently traveling to Music City to catch County Box live with the exception of the fight that took place in Myrtle Beach, “Mayhem in Myrtle.”  Since the last match in September and moving forward, boxing fans can now catch the exciting new event from the comfort of their own homes in a number of different ways between live streaming and television. The show began airing worldwide on https://countrybox247.com/ and https://itube247.com/ since its inception. As of September, viewers can watch Country Box nationwide on Dish Network Channel 218, Comcast Channel 1495, Fios Channel 662, Frontier Channel 162, ATT U-verse Channels 459/ 1459, Spectrum Channel 189, GCI Channel 142, Cincinatti Bell Channel 636, Buckeye Cable Channel 161/ 572, Direct TV Channel 242, as well as Fite.TV. As of January, Country Box will be moving from a monthly event to a weekly event so there will be even more opportunities to catch the best night in Nashville, where music meets boxing. 

And in a recent phone interview with Dennis Matthews of LCE Newport Beach, Inc., he shared his excitement around his company’s involvement with Country Box. “It’s an honor to be working with Jimmy Adams.” said Dennis Matthews, Federal Contractor, former Marine and owner of LCE Newport Beach, which provides Government IT Services with Black Box Technology. The company’s involvement means that Country Box now has the reach of 162 countries worldwide. Matthews also mentioned https://www.livestreamers.com/ which will be airing the event as a Pay Per View option. 

Jason Ridgel of Guidance Whiskey with Boxing Promoter James Payne Lethal

In short, there’s really no way to miss the next Country Box fight night taking place on October 3rd at Texas Troubador Theatre, whether you’re in Nashville or literally anywhere on planet earth! Like most sports and live performances, the best way to watch them is LIVE, but if you can’t make your way to Music City to catch the next fight night, you can surely catch it on your television or an assortment of streaming apps. If you do happen to catch it live, you’ll also be able to sample some Guidance Whiskey, who has come on board as a sponsor last month. 

Be sure to catch the next Country Box on October 3rd at 7 pm CST.

“If it’s not here, it’s not hot. This is what’s hot in hip hop!” 

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Are you Xperienced?!

During 2021, many people were scrambling to find work, to pivot from an existing job, or to simply stay healthy and learn how to navigate through what seemed a never-ending barrage of challenges in  the wake of  the 2020 pandemic. This turbulent time challenged many people to find a way to keep moving forward, let alone thrive. In the midst of all that darkness and craziness, there were some who rose to the occasion and propelled themselves forward in their purpose, trusting their vision and leaning on their faith. Nichole Nunn, owner and founder of FlashMe Xperience in Nashville, was one of those rare gems. Nunn, a Nashville native and a graduate of Tennessee State University, may best be described as a free spirit, someone who clearly operates beyond what is known and constantly challenges herself to create from the heart with love and faith. In this realm of limitless potentially, she birthed her business during one of the most unknown periods in history and on February 5, 2021, she opened her doors for the first time, not sure what would lie ahead for herself or her business.

One year later, Nichole showed up dressed to the nines in a stunning gold dress, celebrating one year of success of FlashMe Xperience, surrounded by endless friends, clients, and acquaintances, who have all been touched by Nichole’s vibrant spirt, unyielding enthusiasm, and a faith that would make the biggest skeptic a believer. And just as any great visionary, Nichole has been open to change and evolution in the last year. Her business is a reflection of that. The eclectic walls of FlashMe adorned new visuals on the anniversary/ birthday this month that were inspired by Nichole’s trust and faith, along with the talent of her family and friends. Nichole spoke her testimony of faith and perseverance while attendees raised their glasses to toast to a year of triumph against all odds on February 5, 2022. Her speech was followed by a performance by Nashville’s own ViB and Lord Goldie

You can’t help but be affected by Nichole’s enthusiasm and passion. Her business has thrived during a time when so many others folded. She attributes her success to truly owning her life. “I own my actions, my thoughts, my results,” she’s quoted as saying in one her recent instagram posts. So after all this, you may wonder…just what IS FlashMe Xperience? At its most basic level, it’s an immersive self portrait gallery, but truth be told, it’s so much more. It’s a reflection of the rich history of the very section of Nashville that FlashMe is located in, right on historic Jefferson Street.

Jefferson Street was developed as the historic center of the city’s African American community, with three historically black universities within its radius- Fisk University, Meharry Medical College, and Tennessee State University, Nunn’s alma mater. It was an epicenter for rock-n-roll and rhythm and blues artists in the 1940s-1960s, as well as a center for sit-ins in the 60’s. Unfortunately, the construction of Interstate 40 across the street in 1968 led to Jefferson Street’s economic decline, but the history remains and FlashMe Xperience is a revival of the black excellence, which served as the very foundation of Jefferson Street.

FlashMe Xperience offers an array of different opportunities and experiences to explore- from bridal showers, birthday parties, photo/video shoots, etc. Many Nashville music artists have taken advantage of the unique backdrops in the space to add a dynamic flair to their music videos already, along with photo shoots, and live performances. Artists like Daisha and Triple Play Squeek are two hip hop artists who have created amazing visuals in the space.

Congratulations to Nichole and her thriving business on an epic year of success. And the best is yet to come! For more info on how to get your FlashMe experience, visit the website. You can also follow Nichole on instagram to stay connected and find out how you can support this amazing creative soul and this vibrant eclectic space that’s inspiring Nashville locals and tourists alike.

“If it’s not here, it’s not hot. This is what’s hot in hip hop!” 

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Ladies & Gentlemen, It’s Sho-Time!

For hip hop heads in NYC, Sho-time TV is a household name. The brand, founded by Karine “Sho-time” Thornton, offers an array of services and content catering to the hip hop world and beyond. Born in the birthplace of hip hop. Thornton has helped solidify The Bronx as the ongoing mecca for hip hop, where the culture and traditions were born.

No stranger to the artistic realm, Sho-Time attended the High School of Art & Design, studying architecture and animation. It was there that the seed was planted for his passion to create music. While on that path, working with producers like Tron on the Beat, he also began to venture out into various other branches of the entertainment world at large. While successfully adding those experiences and roles to his resume, he needed to create a home for all the content he had been creating. Thus the birth of Sho-timeTV, a one stop shopping media outlet developed in 2010.

After working with countless labels, media outlets, and artists, Sho-time proceeded to create Sho-time Battle Rap League in 2015. Plucking some of the most elite talent and creating an epic roster of battle rap MC’s, Sho-time continued to elevate the genre of music, particularly the sub-culture of battle rap, which has its own unique set of talent and its own dedicated audience.
Sho-time has recently been verified across Facebook and Instagram, further demonstrating his stature within the community and his expertise within the hiphop community and the media world as a whole. Be sure to follow Sho-time on Facebook and Instragram to watch what’s next for this public figure who’s making waves in NYC and beyond.

If it’s not here, it’s not hot. This is what’s hot in hip hop!

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