Ol’ Skeet: Mississippi’s Country Funk Survivor Still Writing His Story

Raised on the move, shaped by struggle, and driven by a restless creative spirit, Jeff Powell—better known today as Ol’ Skeet—is a testament to what it means to survive, adapt, and keep the music alive no matter what life throws at you. From the 1970s South to the modern-day Mississippi Gulf Coast, Skeet’s journey has been anything but ordinary.

Roots in Struggle and Sound

Growing up in the uncertainty of the 1970s, Skeet’s family moved constantly, chasing work and battling poverty, substance abuse, and instability. Those experiences gave him a worldview that was raw, real, and deeply reflective—and they seeped into the music he would later create. His musical tastes were shaped by both country dirt roads and concrete neighborhoods, soaking up everything from ACDC and Parliament-Funkadelic to N.W.A., ZZ Top, and ZZ Hill. It was a soundtrack as eclectic as his life.

Breaking Into the Game

In 1984, a young Skeet—then known as Dr. Skeet—took his first real step into the industry, joining a rap crew called The Master Control Force. Signed under Big Bad Wolf Records, the group was backed by James “Super” Wolfe, a radio station owner, and Denise LaSalle, the legendary “Queen of the Blues.” Sharing stages and studio sessions with names like MC Pete (now Radio Rasheed), DJ Trick (now Pa Pa Fresh), and Bobby Doe, Skeet learned the grind of performing, recording, and pushing records the hard way. “It was old-school promotion,” he recalls. “Letters, phone calls, in-person meetings… we paid a lot of dues.”

Building the Dog House

When The Master Control Force eventually dissolved, Skeet linked back with DJ Trick to form Dog House Productions in 1989. Starting with a modest four-track recorder and eventually growing into a full-fledged studio with a storefront in Humboldt, Tennessee, Dog House became a hub for independent artists in the South. They pressed vinyl, released singles, and built their movement brick by brick, long before the internet made DIY distribution possible. By the mid-1990s, Dog House artists were signing deals in New York and Chicago, and Skeet had earned his stripes as both an artist and entrepreneur.

A Pause, Then a Return

Life eventually pulled Skeet away from the business. After moving to the Mississippi Gulf Coast, he transitioned into work as a graphic designer, multimedia professional, and even dabbled in politics. But personal battles—including illness and the devastating loss of his wife of 33 years—brought him back to music in a way that was both healing and necessary. Alone with just his Cadillac and his dog, he began crafting what would become his return to recording. In 2023, more than three decades after his last release, Skeet dropped “Story of My People”—a collaboration with longtime friends Pa Pa Fresh and Pimp Daddy DAReal.

The Power of Music

For Skeet, music has never just been about entertainment—it’s been about impact. His proudest moment as an artist didn’t come from radio spins or sold-out shows, but from witnessing the power of one of his songs to cut through illness. “One of my songs brought an elderly man out of his dementia just for a moment,” he says. “He knew who he was and recognized his daughter because of the music. That was special.”

Standing Out in His Own Lane

Now signed to American Chicken Farm Revival Records, Skeet has carved out a sound that’s equal parts country funk, hick-hop, and swampy rap storytelling. He also co-founded the Swamp Music Mafia, a collective and network of independent artists, radio platforms, and music companies dedicated to keeping roots-driven Southern music alive. As for how he stands out in today’s crowded scene, Skeet doesn’t hesitate. “The best way to do that is to be yourself, be different, don’t follow trends,” he says.

The Road Ahead

Today, Ol’ Skeet is still writing, recording, and traveling the country with his siblings, chasing the same curiosity that pulled him into music back in the ’80s. He’s not chasing trends, not chasing fame—just chasing authenticity. His music is raw, unpolished, and experimental by design, a reflection of a man who has lived through eras of change but never lost his core.

For Ol’ Skeet, the journey is far from over. Four decades in, the Mississippi artist is proving that true originality doesn’t fade—it just evolves.

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Contact Ol’ Skeet for collab:

japow2021@gmail.com