Phillip Rollins

Phillip Rollins, also known as DJ Young Venom, is the founder, owner, and operator of OffBeat — Mississippi's only Black-owned record and comic book store, and the first Black comic store in the state. Rollins opened OffBeat in May 2014 in Midtown Jackson after participating in the Mississippi Black Leadership Institute, where members were tasked with creating a product that positively impacted their community. For Rollins, a lifelong DJ and comic reader, the answer was a hybrid store combining comics, vinyl records, designer toys, and a gallery wall for minority artists.

OffBeat has since relocated to 109 North State Street in Downtown Jackson, where it continues to serve as a cultural hub for the community. The store is recognized as a hidden gem in Mississippi's cultural landscape, hosting listening parties, Free Comic Book Day events, live drawing demonstrations, and showcasing local artists. Rollins has been featured in national media including NPR's Marketplace for his work keeping an independent comics and record store alive in a shrinking city.