HOPKINSVILLE, KY (CHRISTIAN COUNTY NOW) – A 200-year-old building nestled in downtown Hopkinsville is full of the music, hopes and dreams of local artists. HipHopTown USA is an independent record label that aims to empower its signed artists and uplift the community.
Richie “Ace High” Acevedo, Marvin Scott and Latoya Acevedo are the owners behind this growing label.
Latoya told Christian County Now they came to Hopkinsville to escape the hustle and bustle of Nashville. She and her husband Richie bought a home here, and quickly began establishing connections in the community. In 2022, Richie released his own album titled Parable, which got international attention in the industry and became the launchpad for HipHopTown.
“With my years of experience and traction I was gaining from the release of the Parable album, we found it was only right to dig into the area to discover hidden jewels,” said Richie. His focus on telling the stories of their artists allows each of them to shine in their own way.
Building community through music
The owners of the label are aware their presence on South Main Street has been integral in the revitalization efforts downtown, and Hopkinsville’s smorgasbord of people makes it the perfect place for them to grow while giving local artists the tools to reach their potential.
The label has been busy collecting the best of the best in Hopkinsville, prioritizing distinct voices that are grounded in their community. Richie told Christian County Now he feels a lot of modern music has a short shelf life. He aims to combat that by helping create timeless pieces that don’t necessarily adhere to the standards of the music industry, while also making sure their product doesn’t tear down the community.
“At the end of the day, we don’t make music for the music industry – we make music for the people,” Richie said. “I know how music can be used to be able to destroy, but our goal and our purpose within our mission statement is to be able to show these same kids that you can build with what you’re doing, you can build from what you’re doing. You can help restore your community through the arts.”
Richie said the biggest thing the city can do to support them is continuing to encourage young talent and expression through the arts.
Meet the team
Public relations, artists, managers, producers and the described “multi-talented” intern are all integral parts in their day to day. Manager Arkee Kirk sums up his days with one word: busy. Kirk has been in the business for 25 years and has found that managing an artist is a lot like parenting. The single father and foster parent said that in both cases, you have to supply mental stability and emotional intelligence to make sure they are prepared.
“Every part of the job is beautiful; I love what I do,” said Kirk. “I want to see these artists shine at their highest potential.”
Chassity Jàuné Mumford was discovered by Richie during the 2023 Hoptown Idol talent show. Since then, she has been signed to the label and is making a name for herself in the area while recording new music. Jàuné will be starring in the upcoming production of Cinderella, and in the words of Richie, she blew the roof off of the Alhambra while opening for the Alfreda Sings Aretha show.
Tim Scott, a country rock musician with the label, took a break from creating music for a while and is recently getting back into the swing of things. He credits Kirk for keeping him on his toes and always challenging him to get the best results. While some musicians may have set goals on what will define their success, Scott just wants to fulfill his love of entertaining.
“Every milestone is a pinnacle. It may be the next one, it may be the last one, but as long as those milestones keep getting reached no matter how big or small, that’s why I’m here,” said Scott.
It seems the concept of legacy is what drives everyone at HipHopTown USA. When speaking about the mission of the label, the passion from Richie is palpable. He believes by keeping his head down and focusing on their legacy, they can achieve something truly special.
“Our driving force isn’t money,” said Richie. “It’s the legacy that we are creating as well as the perspective we are giving these young people that come in here.”
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