[3] His "rough, raspy vocals",[4] complement his "authentic Mississippi juke joint blues and... modern ultra produced dance party soul and R&B".
[5] AllMusic noted that "Champion, along with young innovators like Shemekia Copeland and Shawn Pittman, is one of the brighter beacons in the future of blues music".
[1] Despite his initial background in both blues and gospel music, Champion began his professional career in the early 1990s as a rapper named MC Gold.
[6] Incorporating hip hop into a blues setting, Champion learned to play the harmonica before self-releasing his debut album, Goin' Back Home (1998).
[2] Tackling social issues in his self penned songs, including racial profiling and youth violence, Champion released Payin' for My Sins (1999) and 2 Days Short of a Week (2001) for the label.