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Deep within Rochester New York, a poet writes the words his heart can no longer restrain. From the silent cries of the battered wife to the painful resignation of the orphaned child in Malawi, Amir Sulaiman intensely radiates the stories of life. The ailments of humanity are channeled through him into the eyes, ears, and hearts of the listeners. He carries the weight of the world on his shoulders, and with that he speaks of change, of growth, of reviving life.
Twice featured on Def Jam Poetry, and with three released albums to date, Amir keeps audiences rapt on a global scale. When he isn’t touring, he spends his days cultivating youth in the art of poetry and style and giving presentations on politics and society. Dedicated to revitalizing hearts and minds, Amir Sulaiman walks the uphill battle without breaking a sweat, bringing a fervent beauty to the art of language. |
More than a poet, more than a singer, more than an emcee--it's not just what she says, it's how she says it. Emerging from the musical womb that is New Orleans, artist and visionary Sunni Patterson combines the heritage and tradition of her Native town with an enlightened modern world view to create music and poetry that is timeless in its groove.
Sunni has been a featured performer at the many of Nation's premier spoken word venues, including HBO's Def Poetry Jam. She has also had the priviledge of speaking at the Panafest in Ghana, West Africa. She has worked with several well known artists and performers including Hannibal Lokumbe- singing lead vocals for his score,"King and the Cresent City Moon," Kalamu Ya Salaam, Sonia Sanchez, Wanda Coleman, Amiri Baraka, Laini Kuumba Afrikan Dance Company, and many more.
An Aborisha (Omo Oshun) and advocate of Holistic Health, Sunni has trained under such greats as Oluwo Afolabi Epega, Dr. Ndugu Khan (Babalawo Ifa Kayode,) Queen Malikah Sabah (Iyanifa Faadisi Olaolu Olabisi,) Dr.Morris F.X.Jeff,Jr., Nana Anoa Nantambo, Mama Jean Taiwo, Nana Kwabena Faheem Ashanti, Ph.D, and several others. She is a certified instructor of Chi Kung (Qi Gong) and Tai Chi for Health.
There is so much more to say about her, but words just cannot describe her way, her Spirit, her grace, or gift of healing. In every word/sound she utters, you hear the grit and grime, hope and love, problem and solution, optimism and faith. She is a mouth piece for the Ancestors, a vessel used to promote goodness in a world where oppression and injustice seems the order of the day. What a blessing it is to feel her warm and nourishing rays shine light on your soul!
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RyanNicole (Ryan Nicole Peters*) is an award winning artist/activist whose creative work ranges in theater, poetry, and music. The 2007 Bay Area Black Music Award winner for spoken word began her sincere artistic pursuits after graduating from San Diego State University where she studied Political Science and Sociology and received honors as a scholarship Track Field 400M hurdler.
Upon return to her hometown of Oakland, California, RyanNicole partnered with some of the most reputable creative organizations in the nation. An Associate Artist for the California Shakespeare Theater, RyanNicole collaborated with Intersection for the Arts and internationally renowned playwright, Naomi Izuika to write Hamlet: Blood In the Brain, a contemporary adaptation of Shakespeare's Hamlet, and play "O" (Shakespeare's Ophelia).
Neophyte to theater, RyanNicole has also been seen in The Playwrights Foundation's 30th Anniversary Playwrights Festival, performing in award winning writer Julie Hebert's Tree. Ms. Peters is pleased to add to her theater repertoire the decadent work of Denis Johnson's everything has been arranged. Most recently, she joined an award-winning cast, playing lead character Yvonne in SF Playhouse's The Story.
As a musician, RyanNicole performs in hip-hop's dynamic Nu Dekades, with her partner in rhyme, Kevin & K.E.V. (Kicking Every Verse)& Ahkidenor. Professionally, RyanNicole serves as the Executive Director for Oakland-based, non-profit, Youth Movement Records.
*Ryan Nicole Peters is an actress/model represented by the Stars Talent Agency |
| Prentice Powell is a firm believer in practicing what he preaches. After performing in the National final stage in 2003 and placing 4th in the nation only two months after writing his first poem, he began to pursue a spoken word career . As the 2006 Oakland AND SF grand Slam Champion and 2007 spoken word artist of the year awarded to him at the Black Music Awards, he does much more than just talk. He is also an educator with creative writing curriculum throughout several schools in the bay area. His poetry has taken him all over the world to places such as London, Amsterdam and South Africa. He has opened for and shared stages with artists such as Eric Robeson, Goapele ,Dave Chappelle, Amir Sulaiman and Stevie Wonder. |
YahZarah
(born
Dana
Nicole
Williams)
is
a
classically
trained
R & B
singer-songwriter
based
out
of
Durham,
NC.
Her
stage
name,
a
dedication
to
her
grandmothers
Yah
and
Sarah,
roughly
translates
to
''Queen Mother
is
the
brightest
star'' in
Arabic.
Born
and
raised
in
Washington
DC,
YahZarah
left
NC
Central
in 1998 and
began
touring
as
a
background
singer
for
Erykah
Badu.
While
touring,
YahZarah
contributed
background
vocals
and
vocal
arrangements to Badu's platinum-selling "Mama's Gun" LP. In 2001, she left the Mama's Gun tour and went on to pursue her solo career. She later released her first album Hear Me in 2001, and sophomore album Blackstar in 2002. In 2008, Yahzarah released an extended play, entitled The Prelude. The third album The Ballad of Purple St. James was released on May 4, 2010. She is a member of The Foreign Exchange, an R&B/electronica/hip hop duo consisting of American rapper/singer Phonte Coleman and Dutch producer Nicolay |
Choklate has worked with some of Seattle's finest producers: Vitamin D, Bean One, Jake One, Kuddie Mak, Jay Townsend and Amos Miller. She has also opened for various artists such as Dwele, Anthony David, Raheem DeVaughn, Res, Eric Roberson, Bilal. This is all on top of already having appeared on tracks with legendary artists like Blacksheep, Abstract Rude, Butta Verses, De La Soul, Gift of Gab and Chali 2na's solo albums.
Smooth Choklate touched the stages of Seattle's finest spots like The Baltic Room, The Scarlett Tree, Lo-Fi The Mirabeau Room, The War Room, Chop Suey and The Showbox and graced well known Hollywood stages Ventura, Key Club to name a few. Choklate remains humble and true to whom she is as a person; and continues to break industry standards with her fresh, vibrant demeanor which shines through her music.
"My greatest accomplishment is being a woman I am proud to look at in the mirror—I like who I'm turning in to," she says. |
Martin Luther, also known as Martin Luther McCoy, quite simply was born to sing. Though a natural baritone, this forced second tenor voice has captured the hearts and the imagination of audiences worldwide. It's owner, a truly gifted and highly styled musician whose studying of gospel, funk, rock and soul music at an early age, set in motion what many have come to identify as the making of a Rebel Soul. ''In the church, in the house and the street, there was always music and all of it moved me…so it was just a matter of time before I sought a career in entertainment.''
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