Today was the radio interview...live! i was nervous but then again wasnt. i have done radio in the past but this time, the feature was me. Taz and i have this thing, where feeding off each other is natural. yea, there are times we dont get along but today wasnt one of those days...we rolled through the hour and half radio interview smoothly. no long pause, we just worked it!! did the same pieces as at the slam (im working on putting more pieces in my head)but figured this was a different audience, so they hadnt heard them before.....it was a good time.
Taz and i go back to the house and we get into reading Haiku's. then we start writing then...then we call a couple of folks to read the Haiku's too. we are on the phone cracking up reading this stuff to our friends. i even attempted to write a couple:
four fat guys
in a Yugo,
riding REAL slow
or
teacher bends over
to pick up eraser
last nights porno
comes to mind
ok, so they arent perfect but it was still fun....
Later that night, we went back to Cafe Culture for their grand opening. the place had a nice crowd and was alive with energy. when we walked in, there was some hip-hop going on that the people were feeling. Taz and i were given 10 minutes to "do our thing"..so, we decided to freestyle some stuff.....and we rocked it!! lets hope it will get more people into the seats for the slam..i might even post the video.
Chico has been fun but its back to reality.....
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Chico Day 2,
I slept in today, i was physically drained from being up since Thursday. i slept for a couple of hours on the plane but it wasnt enough.....my goal had been to wake up, print a couple of poems and create a book for tonights performance. i really need to get a chapbook together...
The performance was at Coffee Empire, an old box car turned into a coffee house...it
was tight, comfy, beautiful and dope! Taz and i, went back and forth performing for an audience of maybe 20 people...stalking the aisle like poetic bandits. we held the people hostage, relieved them of their boxed in lives, feed poetry to their souls. with the smoke cleared, the few thanked us, the asian guy and the black guy for bring our words to them. and tonight, the spirit of Shannon Leigh present pushing us forward...i talked about Shannon before doing the Shannon tribute piece, which inspired Taz, to share his memories of her and to do a piece.
i enjoyed tonights performance more than last nights...and even though i flubbed a couple of lines, it didnt bother me. Taz, even mentioned that i appeared more relaxed. i felt connected with the audience, maybe it was the size of the venue, or maybe i WAS just more relaxed.
whatever the reason, it was fun.
Today....the radio interview but listen to it on the net: kzfr.org at 1:30pm that would be 3:30pm in the midwest and 4:30pm on the east
Friday, February 13, 2009
Chico, Day 1....
as i got off the plane in Chico, it felt as if the cold weather of St. Louis has followed me to California and i didnt even bring a sweatshirt! where the hell is the sun?
Chico, is a small college town surrounded by mountains. my host Taz, schooled me on how the area was rich with soul that could grow anything. Chino gets its name from the trees that grow here but I will have to break that down later because i dont remember.
Talking with Taz about SLAM, is a learning experience. the dude has been on the scene since 96 and has stories to prove it. as we talked, i felt like one of those kids whose history of hip-hop/rap starts with Jay Z and is ignorant of how deep the history REALLY goes. even though i have read about the earlier Nationals and some of the poets. Slam for ME, started with the 04 Nationals and the best slammer to ME, was Saul Williams. as Taz and i talk, he is throwing the names of poets at me, like a magician throws knifes at ballons, im like WHO? Taz, even does some of their pieces and im like WOW! i learned that Taylor Mali, was the reason for the 3 minute rule after performing a 7 minute poem.
I want to raid Taz's video collection and just watch the tapes until my eyes turn red. for someone that is a SLAM junkie, there is so much to be learned, so many poets to discover, so many different styles to see. to see how NATIONALS went from 20teams to the 70 we have know. sorry im a history nerd...
the feature:
Cafe Culture is a great spot...it has a closed room for dance, an upstairs room for karate, a big room for performances, a retail shop and cafe. the stage is nice and big but could use better lighting. so anyway, my feature...the crowd energy was great, small but still great...i talked with some of the crowd before the feature...talked to two brothers, one there for a class assignment and the other, a sometime poet, along for the ride. i felt refreshing talking to these kids about slam and poetry....i felt like a seasoned poet instead of the rookie, i still am.
so, it my turn...i start with Tell, Him Waiting. got through it but left out for import lines. next up, The New Orleans piece. did ok, till the end. did the Kiss piece, i got the piece but still dont have the piece. uou can see, there is a theme here...i fumbled a lot. the crowd was still with me though and gave me love.
after leaving he venue, Taz and i went to eat pizza, where he broke my performance. i so needed that...more about that later.
im getting schooled.
Chico, is a small college town surrounded by mountains. my host Taz, schooled me on how the area was rich with soul that could grow anything. Chino gets its name from the trees that grow here but I will have to break that down later because i dont remember.
Talking with Taz about SLAM, is a learning experience. the dude has been on the scene since 96 and has stories to prove it. as we talked, i felt like one of those kids whose history of hip-hop/rap starts with Jay Z and is ignorant of how deep the history REALLY goes. even though i have read about the earlier Nationals and some of the poets. Slam for ME, started with the 04 Nationals and the best slammer to ME, was Saul Williams. as Taz and i talk, he is throwing the names of poets at me, like a magician throws knifes at ballons, im like WHO? Taz, even does some of their pieces and im like WOW! i learned that Taylor Mali, was the reason for the 3 minute rule after performing a 7 minute poem.
I want to raid Taz's video collection and just watch the tapes until my eyes turn red. for someone that is a SLAM junkie, there is so much to be learned, so many poets to discover, so many different styles to see. to see how NATIONALS went from 20teams to the 70 we have know. sorry im a history nerd...
the feature:
Cafe Culture is a great spot...it has a closed room for dance, an upstairs room for karate, a big room for performances, a retail shop and cafe. the stage is nice and big but could use better lighting. so anyway, my feature...the crowd energy was great, small but still great...i talked with some of the crowd before the feature...talked to two brothers, one there for a class assignment and the other, a sometime poet, along for the ride. i felt refreshing talking to these kids about slam and poetry....i felt like a seasoned poet instead of the rookie, i still am.
so, it my turn...i start with Tell, Him Waiting. got through it but left out for import lines. next up, The New Orleans piece. did ok, till the end. did the Kiss piece, i got the piece but still dont have the piece. uou can see, there is a theme here...i fumbled a lot. the crowd was still with me though and gave me love.
after leaving he venue, Taz and i went to eat pizza, where he broke my performance. i so needed that...more about that later.
im getting schooled.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
The Grateful List....
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As I Take This Step Forward, Im Grateful For....
The Most High, giving me another day to enjoy life. even though the day was filled with rain and wind, i was glad to see it.
Cookie, for being a daughter. she is crazy but i sho does luv her!
The Parents, for being the parents. being unemployed sucks but they are holding me down. i cant say thank you enough.
Mom, i know she thought this whole poetry thing was some B.S. but im sure she has bragged to someone about her son doing. i hope to make her proud.
Facebook, for being the spot where i reconnected with family i hadnt seen or heard from in years. its a beautiful thing.
Extended Trips, that brought curry chicken and lazy days.
The Most High, they say for every door closed, another opens. the door to follow a dream has opened, im gonna step out on faith and see where it leads me.
Puffy Face, im glad he is alright. had his uncle all worried and shit!!
Poetry, it comes and goes as it pleases but im always happy to see it!
You, those that still come around to check on a brother...thank you for taking the time out to read these words.
The Most High, for blessings seen and those unseen. for prayers granted and those not. YOU KNOW WHATS BEST FOR ME.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Steppin Out on Faith....
Tomorrow, i head to California for a Feature in Chino. im excited and nervous at the same time....when your prayers are answered, its a big WHOA! like, this is about to happen for real. if you need further prove that The Most High is truely AWESOME, i wasnt too sure the job would give me the time off (even though i put in for it)so i waited to get the plane ticket...well, we know i got layed off in January. when i looked up flights, they were talking almost $280-290...ummm, yea. i would need to sell a a hundred chapbooks, 20 cd's (if i had them)and still have to shake my azz for this trip...i wasnt going. then The Most High, opened another door for me...i was talking with Nitche, The Original Woman, and she mentioned having the hook up on tickets....next thing you know, im head to Cali baaabie!!
i also picked up and extra gig in Greenville, Sc in March!!
its looking good....
Feb 12-15, Chico, Ca (Feature)
Feb 18, St. Louis Poetry Slam (Feature)
March 29, Greenville, Sc (feature)
April, 4, Atlanta, Ga (Feature)
May 1, Knoxville, Tn (Feature)
May 14 or 21(?), Neo Soul Austin, Tx (im tryin to get home!)
June 4-6, Southern Fried Poetry Slam
July 31, Spoken Word Groove Reunion
Maybe New Mexico and Denver in the fall :-). Then there is the chance i might make the STL Slam Team...
and im still working on getting some other dates....
Yep, The Most High is good, ALL THE TIME. even when my prayers arent answered, i still step out on faith!!
Onelove
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
Change...
Change….
we placed hands on the pregnant stomach of democracy/
with faces pressed firmly against the glass partition/
we waited/
all cultures, religions, ethnic make up’s, sexual persuasions
simmering in a melting pot of change/
stirred by the interlocked fingers of strangers/
creating a beautiful rainbow/
we, share this moment with the past/
with those generations that withstood the hurricanes of hate/
only to weep as change was silenced/
during a motorcade in Dallas/
a speech in a ballroom in New York/
in a hotel kitchen in Los Angles/
on warm day on a balcony in Memphis/
those who remember, these Messiahs of change/
carry the ghost of the news footage in their eyes/
it walks the halls of their voices/
is regenerated each time they are asked/
"do you remember”
they remember those days/
as vividly as the first time the billy club stuck/
shaky arthritic fingers become tour guides of the landmarks/
where the billy clubs left tattooed reminders of the hatred
produced by southern sadistic ways/
they can still hear the barking, as it were yesterday/
still feel the sting of canine teeth sinking into their skin/
can point to the spot where the dogs/
acquired their taste for human flesh/
those strong enough, will turn around, lift up their shirts/
tell you to look closely at their backs/
there, you will see where the water pumped through hoses/
ripped away skin as if it were papier-mâché/
ask them about the reoccurring visions, the nightmares/
of seeing black bodies hanging from trees/
ask of the stench of burning flesh that filled their nostrils/
while white men and their families took pictures and had picnics/
children were told, not to turn their heads/
THIS is how you treat nigga’s/
So, you say; WE did it/
I say NO, they did it./
This election, is their day/
We are just the recipients of Change/
A diamond cultivated in the dry bones of ancestors/
Their sacrifices, their blood creating its shine/
So, do not laugh at the Elder/
Who recreates Aunt Jemima smiles/
While doing a Stepin Fetchit jig on wobble legs/
Those who scream hallelujah while clutching the book of their enslavers/
Refrain from staring at those, who have fallen to their knees/
Fingers spread wide in the grass like cobwebs/
They are connecting with the souls of those that did not make it/
But prayed for this day/
And let them cry/
Their tears will find the soil and become diamonds/
The down payment for future generations/
Awaiting a birth/
Whose search for CHANGE will be found/
Simmering inside a pot/
At the end of a rainbow/
Copyright © 2009 Copasetic Soul
we placed hands on the pregnant stomach of democracy/
with faces pressed firmly against the glass partition/
we waited/
all cultures, religions, ethnic make up’s, sexual persuasions
simmering in a melting pot of change/
stirred by the interlocked fingers of strangers/
creating a beautiful rainbow/
we, share this moment with the past/
with those generations that withstood the hurricanes of hate/
only to weep as change was silenced/
during a motorcade in Dallas/
a speech in a ballroom in New York/
in a hotel kitchen in Los Angles/
on warm day on a balcony in Memphis/
those who remember, these Messiahs of change/
carry the ghost of the news footage in their eyes/
it walks the halls of their voices/
is regenerated each time they are asked/
"do you remember”
they remember those days/
as vividly as the first time the billy club stuck/
shaky arthritic fingers become tour guides of the landmarks/
where the billy clubs left tattooed reminders of the hatred
produced by southern sadistic ways/
they can still hear the barking, as it were yesterday/
still feel the sting of canine teeth sinking into their skin/
can point to the spot where the dogs/
acquired their taste for human flesh/
those strong enough, will turn around, lift up their shirts/
tell you to look closely at their backs/
there, you will see where the water pumped through hoses/
ripped away skin as if it were papier-mâché/
ask them about the reoccurring visions, the nightmares/
of seeing black bodies hanging from trees/
ask of the stench of burning flesh that filled their nostrils/
while white men and their families took pictures and had picnics/
children were told, not to turn their heads/
THIS is how you treat nigga’s/
So, you say; WE did it/
I say NO, they did it./
This election, is their day/
We are just the recipients of Change/
A diamond cultivated in the dry bones of ancestors/
Their sacrifices, their blood creating its shine/
So, do not laugh at the Elder/
Who recreates Aunt Jemima smiles/
While doing a Stepin Fetchit jig on wobble legs/
Those who scream hallelujah while clutching the book of their enslavers/
Refrain from staring at those, who have fallen to their knees/
Fingers spread wide in the grass like cobwebs/
They are connecting with the souls of those that did not make it/
But prayed for this day/
And let them cry/
Their tears will find the soil and become diamonds/
The down payment for future generations/
Awaiting a birth/
Whose search for CHANGE will be found/
Simmering inside a pot/
At the end of a rainbow/
Copyright © 2009 Copasetic Soul
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