United States
Tia Renee Scott (also known as Tia The Writer) is a professional writer of 15 years and a growing digital content creator.
She is the current Managing Editor of Flintside.com, an online newspaper that's exclusive to the communities of Flint, Michigan. The publication specializes in neighborhood-level journalism — stories told by Flint people about Flint people.
Aside from her work at Flintside, Tia writes independent stories about music, love, and life. To read some of these stories, visit her writing portfolio below.
Tia currently lives in Michigan with her daughter and handy-dandy MacBook.
Grammy Award-winning DJ and music producer DJ Drama will headline the 4th annual Beats x BBQ event on Sunday, May 28, 2023. The event is part of Beats x Beers' weekend-long Memorial Day festivities.
Flint native Percy Glover opened up about his experience with gun violence, incarceration, and following his life's purpose to give back to his community.
This article is part of the People-Centered Oversight Series, which aims to elevate the issues most affecting the Flint community. The series was created in partnership with Flint Beat and made possible by support from The Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy, and funding from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation.
FLINT, Michigan - The Genesee District Library (GDL) is gearing up for its 22nd Annual Black History Month Brunch which takes place on Saturday, Feb. 4 at the Genesys Conference & Banquet Center in Grand Blanc.
FLINT, Michigan - Local news outlets Flintside and have teamed up with The Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy for a story series that aims to address the issues most affecting the Flint community. Jim Townsend, director of the Levin Center, explained the purpose of partnering with local publications.
Editor's note: Statements from Claressa Shields were taken by Flintside contributor Rayford Gray. FLINT, Michigan - Flint native Claressa Shields recently hosted a class for youth boxing lessons inside AT Fitness in Mount Morris, MI. Almost 90 kids and young adults attended the class on Monday, Jan.
FLINT, Michigan - Flint native Quion Wheeler released his debut book, Becoming Me, and held a book signing event for it on Saturday, Dec. 10 at Totem Bookstore (620 W Court St) in Flint. Becoming Me is an autobiographical collection of stories from Wheeler as he recounts moments in his life when he faced challenges that lead to valuable life lessons.
FLINT, Michigan - The third annual 'Toast' event put on by Beats x Beers happens this weekend on Saturday, Dec. 17 at the Flint Institute of Arts (1120 East Kearsley St). From 1 p.m.
FLINT, Michigan - DeAndra Larkin was recently nominated and selected as a '40 Under 40' by the American Association of Women in Community Colleges (AAWCC). Each year, the association recognizes 40 women under the age of 40 from community colleges who are consistently exceeding expectations.
FLINT, Michigan - The Flint Institute of Arts (FIA) is putting an artistic twist on Halloween this year with its first annual 'Artful Halloween' party. Happening on Saturday, October 29 from 8:00 p.m to 11:00 p.m, the FIA will provide an evening filled with music, food, special gallery tours, a haunting hot shop demo, and several spooky surprises.
FLINT, Michigan - Flint native Jamal Jones is the proud founder and owner of TREAL Magazine, a news publication he founded in 1999, that has been able to grow and hold an audience for 23 years.
FLINT, Michigan - The third annual Beats x Beers Block Party returns to downtown Flint with a new location and a multi-platinum musical headliner. Kicking off Back 2 The Bricks weekend, the party happens on Thursday, August 18 at the highest level of the J.W. Rutherford Parking Structure (125 W.
FLINT, Michigan - Paul Zehnder of 100K Ideas knows how to take a business to the next level. On his own, he's an accomplished photographer specializing in portraits and designing and creating business logos.
FLINT, Michigan - The third annual Beats x BBQ event is happening in downtown Flint for Memorial Day weekend, bringing with it 4 days of music, food, and fun. The series of events kicked off on Thursday night (May 26) at The Eberson while the rest of the weekend includes a cocktail social on Friday, brunch on Saturday, and a huge barbecue bash and after-party on Sunday.
FLINT, Michigan - Flint resident Talib Bondon El is the founder of Acacia Essentials, a holistic health company specializing in natural medicinal herbal supplements that provide a wealth of health benefits. Bondon El established the online health store in 2017 and launched Acacia Essentials' website in 2019.
FLINT, Michigan - Back by popular demand, the burger that came from the collaboration between BeatsXBeers® and Halo Burger is back on the menu for a limited time. From now until June 30, the bold burger - with Pepperjack cheese, Boom Boom sauce, fried Halopeños, onion, lettuce, and tomato - can be found at all Halo Burger locations.
FLINT, Michigan - For many entrepreneurs just starting out, the pursuit of bringing an idea to life can be an exciting but also daunting experience as factors like finding resources and support can become hindrances in the process.
FLINT, Michigan - Executive Director of 100K Ideas Brandee Cooke was among the 30 speakers featured at TEDxDetroit 2021 which took place on November 10, 2021. The annual day-long conference was presented by and held at The Icon Detroit located along Detroit's Riverfront.
This year, TechTown Detroit honored the 10th anniversary of Wayne State University's Office of Economic Development (OED) during its annual "Toast of the Town" fundraising event. The event, which broadcasted virtually to an audience of 1,000 viewers, also highlighted how OED and TechTown have worked closely together through the years to develop and support businesses across Detroit.
FLINT, Michigan - This weekend brings an opportunity to celebrate and close out the year in style at Beats x Beers' annual 'Toast' event. Held at Blackstone's Smokehouse in downtown Flint, the festivities kick off at 9 p.m. on Saturday, December 18, and will feature a red carpet rollout and multiple DJ's throughout the night.
FLINT, Michigan - Detroit native Kirby Gwen is the bubbly new on-air personality at Flint's Z92.7 WDZZ-FM and she's using her platform to help bring positive change to the community. Growing up on Detroit's Eastside, Gwen graduated from Specs Howard School of Media Arts and garnered over ten years of experience in broadcasting.
I am thrilled to introduce myself as the new editor of Flintside and look forward to continuing our mission to tell the stories of Flint residents and organizations who are adding value to their communities.
FLINT, Michigan -- Although Ashley Hamilton, founder of Prism Lacquers, resides in Washington, D.C., she keeps her hometown of Flint close to her heart and has dedicated a special collection of nail polishes to commemorate the city. The exclusive "Where The Heart Is" collection features eight colors with names that are synonymous with Flint, including "Flintstone," "810," "Downtown," and "Bedrock."
FLINT, Michigan -- Flint native Brandon Corder is bringing back his annual Beats x Beers Block Party this week, and this year, he's pulling out all the stops with a live music set from Grammy-nominated producer and DJ Just Blaze.
FLINT, Michigan -- August 10 isn't an ordinary summer day in Flint -- it has become an unofficial holiday and celebration of the city and its people, and clothing brand Eight One Zero is a driving force behind it.
FLINT, Michigan -- The newly revamped radio station 98.9 The Beat recently hit the airwaves in Flint, bringing a new urban contemporary format and a locally-based team. Previously 98.9 JAMZ, Flint native Edward Graham took over the station after former owner Michael Schumpert passed away.
Photo credit: Makai Conner Q&A | Talking hoops and opportunity with the owner of Flint United, Kevin Mays Although Flint native Kevin Mays didn't quite have a goal of owning a sports team, his love for the game and his hometown led to him becoming the owner of professional basketball team, Flint United.
FLINT, Michigan -- This year's Memorial Day weekend in downtown Flint will be full of music, food, and laughs as Brandon Corder presents the Beats x BBQ Memorial Day Experience. The 3-day weekend will feature multiple events, including a networking mixer, brunch, a live comedy show, and a festival-style BBQ in Brush Park followed by an afterparty.
FLINT, Michigan -- Flint author and poet Shea Cobb is the first writer to participate in Buckham Gallery's newly-formed Writer In Residence program. The Buckham Gallery has been predominantly known as a visual arts exhibition space in Flint but is now looking to tap into the city's rich literary arts community.
By Tia Scott and Xzavier Simon FLINT, Michigan -- Music producer and audio engineer Bernard "BT" Terry Sr., a pillar of Flint's music community, has died at age 69. Known for his precise engineering style, Terry worked on albums from notable Flint music acts such as Ready For The World, The Dayton Family, MC Breed, Jake The Flake, Top Authority, and a slew of others during his 30+ year career.
Editor's Note: The video included in this article is an independent interview conducted by Flintside contributor Tia Scott. See more of her work on her YouTube channel . FLINT, Michigan -- Radio personality David Weaver, better known as Soopa Dave, brought Hip-Hop and humor to Flint's 92.7 WDZZ-FM in the mid-1990s while creating a new standard for local radio.
Q&A | An uplifting convo with the founder of Elle Jae Essentials, La'Asia Johnson On La'Asia Johnson's quest to find the best products for her sensitive skin conditions, she was often left disappointed until she took matters into her own hands.
FLINT, Michigan -- What started out as a simple gig turned into a full-fledged mission for Flint native Pharlon Randle, who is currently celebrating 15 years of his youth-focused music program, Studio on the Go. A one-of-a-kind learning experience, Randle and his team have introduced songwriting, recording, music production, and other processes to thousands of students in Flint and surrounding areas.
The following is a Flintside opinion piece by Flintside contributor Tia Scott. Have an idea for an essay or opinion piece you'd like to write for Flintside about life in Flint? Email [email protected] .
FLINT, Michigan -- Chuniq Inpower recently celebrated the one-year anniversary of 810 Tacos, an online taco seasoning business she launched at the beginning of the pandemic in 2020. Although 810 Tacos is a fairly new business, Inpower has been perfecting her original seasoning formula for over 15 years and has received rave reviews from friends and family, and now, from loyal customers all over the country.
Q&A | Talking passion and purpose with music producer, Nygee Gant Music producer and audio engineer Nygee Gant has been quietly making noise on the local scene and music industry for over 15 years.
The new documentary Breed & Bootleg: Legends of Flint Rap Music will be available for streaming this month at the Hip Hop Icons virtual exhibition in Saginaw.
The work of more than 40 photographers through almost 100 works, from the 19th century to the 21st century, is on display at the FIA, showcasing African American culture.
"Welcome to the Yellow Chair Diaries community where the cool kids hang out!" This is how Flint-based singer/songwriter Jason Waggoner starts his weekly show Yellow Chair Diaries on his Facebook Live feed. During the hour-long livestream, he performs for viewers in real-time, playing the guitar and singing familiar tunes as well as his own original music.
FLINT, Michigan - In November of 2020, Flint-based writer and essayist Bob Campbell released his debut fiction novel, Motown Man. The book touches on love, hope, and humanity as well as ethics, identity, and race relations. Contrary to the book's title, it doesn't take place in Detroit, but in a small industrial Midwest city in the early 1990s, significantly similar to Flint, Michigan.
An in-depth talk about women's reproductive health and finding the right doctor for you.
Flint native Brandon Corder has adapted his popular 'Beats x Brunch' event to continue during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This site is a hub for all Nametag Alexander related content, including music for licensing to tv, film, ads, and more.
Like many performing artists in the beginning of 2020, Flint native Cherisse Bradley would have never predicted that she wouldn't be able to hit the stage due to the pandemic. But like the old saying goes, the show must go on.
Flint, Michigan natives Carl Johnson Jr. and his wife Alexis are making people's lives easier and healthier with Goodfit Kitchen, a meal prep delivery service that promotes health and wellness. The company's name was inspired by the couple's motto of only wanting to align with things that are a good fit.
"Don't work a job that you hate. Seriously. That was the inspiration of the book. Ansel works at this entry-level job that doesn't really care about their employees; they drain their energy, literally. Ansel is all of us. We hide our real gifts from the world and most of us run from what makes us different.
Mental health advocate TaWanna Anderson has been doing her part in the mental health field for several years, and in turn, is changing the way we look at mental wellness. The Flint native and mother of two was diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Depression and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in 2016.
A live Q&A about the documentary “Breed and Bootleg: Flint Rap Legends"
Q&A | Catching up with YouTube sensation, Tierra J. Anthony Tierra J. Anthony is a wife, mother and content creator who has found success on YouTube by consistently showcasing her many talents and keeping it real with her viewers.
MC Breed is a Flint Hip Hop pioneer, but he's also responsible for creating a lasting Midwest sound. Born Eric Breed, the emcee made his introduction to the world in 1991 with the hit single, "Ain't No Future In Yo Frontin." Sampling the unforgettable high-pitched synth from Ohio Players' "Funky Worm," the single peaked at No.
Q&A | Talking business and community with multi-talented entrepreneur, Alex Dav A man of many skills, Antwaun Alexander Davis, also known as Alex Dav, has been contributing to his community for the past several years, and doesn't plan on slowing down anytime soon.
Anyone who's ever been to Flint, MI can agree that the food culture is held in high regard, and new food businesses are always welcomed. Pontiac-born, Flint-based chef, Jeffrance Ford, is contributing to that culture with his booming new food business, Somas Ramen.
FLINT, Michigan -- Prince Talley, founder of We Happy Beverages, has been an active member of the Flint community for a number of years. In 2017, he organized an anti-violence rally on the city's northside in an effort to reduce the crime rate.
FLINT, Michigan -- Flint native and attorney Kyona McGhee recently opened her law firm, Trademark My Stuff, in downtown Flint, making her legal services easily accessible to local business owners looking to protect their brands.
Q&A | Talking shop with owner of fitness brand I Am My Billboard, Ed Wilson One of the issues that many businesses face is knowing whether or not they are able to withstand unforeseen circumstances should they arrive.
This year has been one for the books as COVID-19 brought about unexpected changes and an overwhelming air of uncertainty. While most people wondered how 2020 could get even worse, others chose to find a silver lining. For Egypt Otis of Flint, the pandemic gave her the incentive to follow her dream and open up a bookstore in the heart of her hometown.
This is the audio version of the article "My Mom's Unapologetically Black Wedding & How She Did It Her Way👰🏽" by freelancer and blogger Tia The Writer. Link to article: https://tiathewriter.substack.com/p/my-moms-unapologetically-black-wedding Substack Newsletter: https://tiathewriter.substack.com/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/tia_the_writer/ Twitter: twitter.com/Tia_The_Writer Clippings: www.clippings.me/tiascott Oh!
This is the audio version of the article 'Why I Left My Hometown of Flint, MI: A Self-Love Story❤️ by freelancer and blogger Tia The Writer. Link to article: https://tiathewriter.substack.com/p/why-i-left-my-hometown-of-flint-mi Substack Newsletter: https://tiathewriter.substack.com/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/tia_the_writer/ Twitter: twitter.com/Tia_The_Writer Clippings: www.clippings.me/tiascott Oh!
This is the audio version of the article 'When Puff Was In That Tub Spilling Mo': An ode to my Grandma Birdie🕊by freelancer and blogger Tia The Writer. Link to article: https://tiathewriter.substack.com/p/when-puff-was-in-that-tub-spilling Substack Newsletter: https://tiathewriter.substack.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tia_the_writer/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Tia_The_Writer Clippings: https://www.clippings.me/tiascott
The impact of COVID-19 has left many business owners across America in a state of uncertainty as they try to figure out how to adjust to our economy's new normal. For Oaklin J. Mixon, founder of GoodBoy Clothing, he's choosing to move forward and break new ground with a second store location.
Photo credit: Adam Da Prince Mini Q&A with the host of Flint's virtual Club Quarantine, Anthony "DJ Hype" Carter Although the COVID-19 pandemic has put a halt to social activities at the moment, Flint native Anthony "DJ Hype" Carter has been providing nightlife vibes through his DJ sets on Facebook Live for the pas
A lover of music, community and the written word, Michigan native William E. Ketchum III has put pen to paper for years to deliver in-depth interviews and articles, and used his social media platform to dive deep into critical topics that affect the culture.
In December of 2019, GoodBoy Clothing was the spotlight feature on the national docu-series Start Up, hosted by Detroit host/creator/producer Gary Bredow. Airing exclusively on PBS, the episode features the fashionable clothing brand and its founder Oaklin Mixon as he continuously strives to break boundaries in his hometown of Flint, Michigan.
Q&A | A Deep Dive Into Branding & Design with Graphic Designer, Deon Mixon With an eye for design and a mission to help people find the inner designer within them, Detroit native Deon Mixon is on the right path to making his and others' dreams come true.
Portland-based emcee, music producer, and filmmaker Theory Hazit isn't afraid to wear many different hats as long as the vibe's right. Since 2007, he's been creating from the heart and sharing those creations with loyal fans and newcomers each year.
Q&A | Catching Up with Children's Author, LaTashia M. Perry Flint, Michigan native LaTashia M. Perry has been adding to the culture of her hometown and beyond since the release of her debut children's book "Hair Like Mine" in 2015.
The amount of music that came out this year was nothing short of amazing as it catered to any mood you found yourself in. Whether you had a hot-girl summer or a Fall full of feels, 2019 had a song for every season and every reason.
First things first, if you're an independent music artist, you need a website. Not a dope layout on Instagram first, not a viral tweet on Twitter first, not a flourishing Facebook fan-page first. You need a website!
Year of the Butterfly: My Year of Living with Kendrick Lamar's Groundbreaking Album 'To Pimp A Butterfly' I didn't plan on living with this album for a year and then writing about it on its one year anniversary. No, I'm not that damn clever nor am I that patient.
Just Give Me a Clean Drink of Water in Flint 'fore I Diiie The article's name is inspired by Maya Angelou's 1971 book of poetry, Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water 'fore I Diiie, and the piece explores my experience with the water crisis happening in my hometown and residence of Flint, MI.
My Battle With Depression While Hip-Hop Holds My Hand Not to get all Brown Sugar on you, but I remember the first time I fell in love with Hip-Hop. It was '96 and at the tender age of 14, I could recite damn-near every lyric Biggie Smalls and Tupac ever spit, although my love for Jay Z, circa "Ain't No N*gga", was beginning to bloom.
James DeWitt Yancey, known to his die-hard fans worldwide as Jay Dee or J Dilla, was one of the most prodigious producers that Hip-Hop has ever witnes...
Passing away from kidney failure in 2008, Flint native MC Breed was not only responsible for putting his hometown on the map, but was also one of the early pioneers on the Midwest Hip Hop scene who fought to bring attention to the often overlooked region.
August 15th brought the arrival of Danny Brown's latest album, XXX, the follow-up to his acclaimed 2010 album, The Hybrid. For those unfamiliar with the Detroit emcee's style, it's like a blend of Ol' Dirty Bastard's free-associative rhyme scheme and Andre 3000′s lyrical poignancy with the added wittiness of a young Eminem.