Name. Poetri
Location North Hollywood, CA
Age Hmmm. Men never tell their age. Or is it women? Until I figure this out, my age will remain with me. lol Goals To be used by GOD enough to make HIM smile.
Accomplishments Hmmm. Depends on what you mean. Career accomplishments or Life Accomplish ments? In either case, it is too many too name. God has been good.
Projects NEW PROJECT! “Poetri and ’em” coming out early next year on APTV. Of course, Spoken Funk. Da’ Poetry Lounge. A few gems that I am not at liberty to talk about with the company I work with, Amusement Park Entertainment.
Inspiration Jesus
Talents A plethora.
Poet/Comedian/Actor/MC/Host/all around nice guy. Favorite authors Myself. Yes, I am bias! Zora Neal Hurston
Oddest job Worked in a factory where I had to count nails.
Common misconception of you That I am always happy. I wish I were, but that is the furthest thing from the truth.
1. What is Spoken Funk?
Spoken Funk is a live entertainment show that has four main acts. Two poets and Two comedians. That is the easy way to explain it. The hard part is what goes on between these acts. Brutha Gimel (the DJ) and I
play games with the audience, music is played, people get on stage and dance, celebrities come on stage and play games and/or perform. It really is amazing. God has touched it so much that it is a different show every time and nearly impossible to explain.
2. What do you like about hosting the most?
I am free. The show is not a show that happens in this particular way every time. It is a surprise. I am surprised. The audience is taken on a journey and they never know where they are are gonna end up. We may cry all night, laugh all night or do all the things in be tween. I am the conductor of that. To take people on a trip guided by GOD every night is one of the most re warding things I can do.
3. Many people became familiar to you from your appearance on Def Jam Poetry, how do you feel it has had a impact overall in your life if any?
If it weren’t for Def Poetry Jam, I wouldn’t be at the position I am today. I will still be me, I just would not have been known enough to fully express me. When I express me now, people laugh and carry on and know that I am that crazy dude. But, whenever I am in a place where no one knows me…it takes much longer for them to get me. It’s weird. They eventually do, but by the end of the night, I am exhausted from spending so much energy and not receiving anything back. I owe all of that freedom to walk into a joint and be me to Def Poetry Jam.
4. If you could create the ultimate show of your career who would be on it and why?
Dead or Alive? If I could use anyone, my first guest would be Michael Jackson. I was a huge fan. And now I am friends with his family and have realized that I was no where near as much of a fan as some of the people I have been in contact with through my involvement with his family. They take it to the next level. But, anyway, he would be my for sure first guest. Then Denzel. And to end the show. I would bring up the greatest closer of all time. Jesus Christ.
5. If you had the opportunity to make 3 books mandatory for students to read who and what would they be and why?
Come on now. lol. By now, you already know one of them. The Bible. The second one would be Purpose Driven Life. (I am about to read it for the third time) And since I saw it recently and opened my eyes even more…I think I would say “12 Years a Slave.”
6. What’s one question you wish people would ask you?
Hmm. I can think of a million questions I wish people would NOT ask me. It is hard to think of one that I want them to ask me. Hmmm.
7. Besides Spoken Funk what other projects are you working on?
I have many many projects in the running to be the break out hit that surpasses all of my dreams. lol. I am the co-founder of Da’ Poetry Lounge. This is a open mic spoken word venue that has been running for 15 years. We get anywhere from 250-500 people every Tuesday. It is the largest on going open mic poetry venue in the nation. Then I have a movie that we are pitching, a few TV shows and a couple of musical acts that we are managing. So, it is kinda busy. All bless ings, of course.
8. Who inspires you?
Jesus. He inspires me everyday.
9. What’s something people would be surprised to know about you?
I’m fat. I am sure people look at me and see a six-pack walking hunk of a man. But deep down under all of this muscle. I am fat. Seriously, people are always sur prised to hear that I am afraid of dogs. I am not sure why that is so surprising…but apparently it is.
10. How do you maintain family and poetry when it
takes you on the road? I don’t manage it too well. That is why I have cut down on my time on the road a great deal. I used to be gone 6 or 7 months out of the year…now with two kids and a disabled wife…that had to stop.
11. If you had control of every type of communication (tv,radio, cell phones etc) for one day what would you play for the world?
Hahahahaha. Great question. For a good chunk of the day, I would play sermons from my favorite pastors. Then, I would play a few thousand of my poems. And I would end the night with a marathon of Spoken Funk shows.
12. What do you see for your future?
I see GOD blessing the seeds my wife, my partners and I have sown. I see him giving me my dreams and so much more and I turn around and use those blessings to bless others in a way that they never could imagine.
If you would like more information or to contact:
Poetri
Co-CEO of Spoken Funk
Senior Writer at Amusement Park Entertainment
Poetri@Amusementparkent.com
http://www.Spokenfunk.com
http://www.AmusementParkent.com
Spoken Funk is every First Sunday of the Month at
the HaHa Cafe Comedy Club in North Hollywood.
Now, that you know that information. I am going
to expect to see you there soon.
-Poetri-
HPS Magazine 