BY BRITTANY DANIELLE for WEEKLY VOLCANO 11/28/25 |
The city of Tacoma has seen artists come and go, movements spark and fade, and waves of creativity crash without ever becoming a tide. But every so often, someone steps forward with more than talent, someone carrying vision, grit, and an inner fire that makes you believe something bigger is happening. Phillip Jacobs, known throughout the scene as Sharp Skills, is that someone. A musician, author, father, community voice, and now the architect of the Pacific Northwest’s newest cultural blueprint.
Sharp Skills’s latest book, Gladiator: Resilience and Mental Toughness, and his brand-new residency series, the Rebel Residency, are not just artistic projects. They are declarations of identity and invitations to a higher standard. Sharp Skills is asking the city to rise. And as he puts it, “Let’s make Tacoma truly the ‘City of Destiny.’”
Jacobs was born in Inglewood, California, where resilience meant survival. Life later brought him to Tacoma, where he embedded himself in the creative ecosystem and witnessed firsthand the potential and hunger within the local hip-hop and broader music community. For more than a decade, he has shaped his artistry and message through music, five authored books, and continuous personal development.
He has lived through divorce, financial struggle, and the challenges of raising children while raising himself. He has been humbled, tested, and transformed. Through it all, he carried a grace admired by many, not because life was easy but because he refused to let adversity turn him cynical. That combination of positive determination and grace is the Sharp Skills signature.
His new release, Gladiator: Resilience and Mental Toughness, is more than a title. It is a philosophy. Through parables, stories, and direct lessons, Sharp Skills presents a mindset that blends spiritual grounding with professional discipline. He believes the book resonates strongly with creatives, who often face the kinds of internal struggles explored in its pages.
As he explains, “Creatives are sensitive. For your own mental health, you have to develop a mental callousness, not heartlessness, so people’s opinions do not dictate how you feel about your art or yourself.”
The book calls readers to strengthen their inner world before addressing their outer one. Sharp Skills emphasizes that self-belief is foundational.
He says, “This book covers common issues that many people face. It is broad-spectrum and relatable for all creatives for their interpersonal and professional lives.”
For him, mental toughness is not aggression but alignment. It is knowing who you are even when the world has not caught up yet.
If the book strengthens the mind, the Rebel Residency strengthens the community. Hosted at Edison Square, one of Tacoma’s historic venues, it is Sharp Skills’s biggest project to date. It is fully self-funded and built on belief in the Pacific Northwest artistic ecosystem.
Every event becomes a statement. “Tacoma belongs in the conversation. Tacoma deserves investment. Tacoma has something to say.”
Sharp Skills explains, “The residency is meant to help put Tacoma hip-hop on the map, highlighting the Pacific Northwest and showing the world we are undeniable here.”
Blending musical performances, collaborations, and intentional curation, the Rebel Residency raises the bar for what hip-hop events can feel like. It is a place where Tacoma’s talent is respected and elevated.
He is also using the platform to unite the region. “I am hoping to grow the bridge to bring Seattle and Olympia hip-hop together to one spot,” he says. This is not just about concerts but about culture, identity, and action.
Tacoma holds immense untapped potential and many artists who are searching for a vehicle to elevate their craft. The Rebel Residency aims to guide both creators and consumers toward a stronger artistic community.
What sets Sharp Skills apart is his personal worldview. He carries an abundance mindset, believing there is room and opportunity for everyone. The Rebel Residency embodies that philosophy, demonstrating that elevation and excellence can happen right here and right now.
Tacoma does not need internal competition. Growth must be collective.
He states, “The Rebel Residency is the elevation of the hip-hop scene in the Pacific Northwest. To show the community that we are undeniable and give Seattle and Olympia a bridge to gather in one spot.”
He calls artists to aim higher in presentation, discipline, collaboration, and self-respect, and invites the audience to support what is possible.
Sharp Skills wants Tacoma’s creative community to be seen not as emerging but as undeniable. He represents not only himself but musicians, art consumers, and community members alike.
This is where the story expands beyond one man and becomes about all of us. Tacoma has the talent, the heart, and the hunger.
What it needs now is participation: tickets purchased, hands raised, voices lifted, and bodies in the room.
“This is all self-funded, so come out, buy a ticket, get involved. See what we can do together,” Sharp Skills says.
The Rebel Residency is not a spectator event. It is a community contract, an invitation to believe in Tacoma, in hip-hop, and in ourselves again.
Sharp Skills is not waiting for destiny. He is building it, creating bridges for all of us to cross, and inviting the city to build with him. When one person rises with intention, the community rises too. Tacoma, your time is now.
Rebel Residency begins on December 13, 2025, at Edison Square, 5415 S. Tacoma Way. Find out more at rebelfirm.com/rebel-residency.
For those interested in being involved, Jacobs is offering internships to teach, in real time, what it takes to build a project like this. He is not interested in gatekeeping. He wants others to take his ideas and practices and apply them. Get in touch through his social media
@thesharpskills or his website, rebelfirm.com.
