Been in the house for a bit- looking forward to going outside this week - got some new pieces I'm finally ready to debut.
What am i creating?
Ureka
I finally got it.
Complete with being incomplete
Eight- of the twenty-seven pieces that I wrote for National Poetry Month, I was only satisfied with eight of them. A fair trade for entering a space I know I have no business being in.
Each year I hype myself up to believing that this is the year I will write one poem a day, and each year I fail.
It's just not the way I write
Moving on.
The wheels I’ve trained
Busy schedule today, working on a “rollout” for The Muscle’s Memory, which will be released on March 27th, and also working on writing material for You are Wanted 1.5 which I’m shooting for an April release.
Haven’t been on stage for quite some time, but that will finally change this week- with that I have some memorizing to do —
Back at it.
Moving Forward
I have been floating in a pool of joy for about a week now, having finally finished recording AND submitting the album (The Muscle's Memory). Set for a March 27th release, now comes the promoting and performing part - I'm not a huge fan of promoting, but I'm aware it has to be done in order to go where I want to go with my craft.
I'm really proud with how it came out, and I can't wait to perform the pieces from this album in the near future.
This looks to be a very busy March- need to get my dates in order so I don't double book.
January
I'm ready-
After a few weeks of trying to figure it out-
I've finally figured out.
Last night I started memorizing a new piece, one that I will unveil this week Thursday, my first time performing for the new year.
I'm looking forward to not only having a grasp on this piece, but performing it in public so I can get the jitters out (from myself and the poem)
6 lines in.
The title of the poem ironically is… Beginner Steps.
Onyx
Extenstion of a post I made about last night’s slam.
- There were a few things I wanted to do leading up to the match in the form preparation —- I thought about performing new material, using music, and also bringing a mic stand because I hate holding the microphone- ultimately I decided against doing any of those things, and just go with my experience and skillset
2. Earlier, before the match started, a poet and I were speaking on strategies- what piece to perform and in what order- never in that conversation did I believe the poet may have to defend themselves after —
I have been in a few situations poetry wise (sounds funny right?) - where I had to observe the faces more than I usually do, count the exits and also see what I could get my hands on if it came down to it - almost like Sherlock Holmes or the Equalizer - you don’t want to, but sometimes projected words get people in their feelings in slam, and poetry overall.
3. If I’m there, my people are good.
4. I enjoy the sport of battle rap, and also the skill it requires to be good at it - when I was coming up, slamming had a similar energy- I’d often scout my opponents, study their best pieces, look for counters - basically go into it looking to rip my opponents heads off, then at the end, sew it back on and have some laughs.
5. Whenever a poet asks about slamming, I always tell them it isn’t for the feint of heart, and could alter the way you feel about your writing and poetry in general. - I also tell them that feelings may get hurt because of scores you receive and the level of competition you might be facing.
6. The older I get the more I pick and choose when and/why I’m leaving the house- but I can speak all day on that.
Place mats
Another weekend in the books!
Didn’t have any performances this weekend, but I do get a lot of things done in the poetry department .
I have a BIG slam competition this Wednesday - was prepping for it as far as getting the material ready, and just the overall strategy- things will change depending on if I go first or second
RU Coming home?
I’ve been removed from the academic portion of Rutgers University since 2008, but I still go to games and frequent the poetry side of things… with that being said, Homecoming Weekend and the events that take place in celebration, I have not.
Until this past weekend.
I attended a reunion reception at the Zimmerli arts museum, which also served as a commemoration of the work of alumni Alonzo Adams.
When art, music, and black people come together, you know it’s going to be a good time lol- and a time was had.
The best part of the night was the overall message of giving back- finding a bridge between the old generation and the new generation- it is imperative for the future.
I was asked to attend being one of the elder members of Verbal Mayhem- as always, I explained that I am not one of the founders of Verbal Mayhem, but I am one of the co-founders that helped Verbal Mayhem become an official RU organization. Current Mayhem member Herrin delivered a superb piece, and I spoke on the history and tradition.
Not in my prime yet
Last week I featured at an event in Hillsborough, that was ran by my guy M.I. (Meanings Infinite) - A poet that I’ve known for a few years now, and feel that he will be around for a long time…. If he wants to be.
I had a specific set that I wanted to do, but life and emotions made me alter the set list a bit.
It was one of my better sets, which from the outside doesn’t say much, because my last 3 sets have been sharp, but this one meant a bit more to me because I will be retiring two of the pieces (still deciding which two).
I felt the need to start going through the current pieces that I perform- which made me want to separate feature material poems from open mic poems—— Of course, for the most part, my poems can fit in either category, but I want to change that—- Also I feel it is time for a bit of revamping and expansion with the material I am putting out.
In the zone- is where I felt- I also felt welcomed and understood, which also rose the comfort level.