These days, Freekbass’ outrage is contextualized by his formidable musical skills, particularly on bass, the instrument that has earned him global attention. His local back story is well documented — befriended by Bootsy Collins, band gigs with Sleep Theatre and SHAG, a burgeoning solo career, sessions and tours with the likes of Buckethead, Bootsy and countless others — but his most recent project might raise his profile to previously unimagined heights.  

Several Cincinnati-based artists and institutions are up for Ohio Hip Hop Awards, an annual event that honors the statewide Hip Hop community, culminating in a music conference/awards ceremony Sept. 17-19 in Cleveland. The event spotlights everything from MCs, DJs, break-dancers and graffiti artists to labels, radio, venues and promoters.  

Bootsy Collins has assembled a major party to pay tribute to his late older brother (and musical companion) Phelps "Catfish" Collins, one of the most influential guitarists in Funk history, who passed away on Aug. 6. This Saturday at Covington's Madison Theater, Bootsy hosts "The Catfish Nation Celebration" featuring appearances by Ray Parker Jr., Reggie Calloway, Freekbass, Wilbert Longmire and many others.  

Bootsy Collins' latest project, Funk University, began classes July 1 and might just become the way to preserve Funk for the next generation to enjoy. "This Funk University will be the first of its kind to not only show love to the Funk but even more importantly to lift up live music in general," Collins says.  

Dear MidPoint Performer: Welcome to Cincinnati, the city I've enjoyed living, working and making music in for the past 20 years. I hope your experience is a great one. And I hope you don't leave. Really. Take a good hard look around while you're here. The rent is cheap, the architecture and geography are stimulating and the people are generally sweethearts. But Cincinnati is also building something, and we need more builders with your kind of tools.  

Believe it or not, back in the 1940s and '50s, before recording artists flocked to Nashville, Tenn., some of Country music's legendary artists came to Cincinnati to record hits that would one day make them famous. Hank Williams, Patti Page, and Flatt and Scruggs all played sessions at Cincinnati's historic Herzog Studios, formerly located at 811 Race St.   

Jeff Ruby's newest production, Bootsy's, recently began serving lunch Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. While Bootsy's typically has more of an after-work party vibe, a midday meal there could be just the mini vacation that keeps you from going batty during a long day at the office. Lunch here is a bit of a production. We were brought to the dining room for the main attraction. It was gleaming with psychedelic lighting, and the staff, like ushers, scurried about, taking care of business.   

Finally, a slice of Cincinnati music history gets enshrined. While there have been temporary exhibits in recent years on our music lore at the public library and the Contemporary Arts Center, there has never been a permanent historical display. There is one now — in the lobby of the new Bootsy's restaurant downtown.  

If there's a heaven for hairdressers, fashionistas, people on first dates and older women from Miami recovering from cosmetic surgery, Bootsy's Produced by Jeff Ruby would be it.