Jill Scott: “Ain’t A Ceiling”

Jill Scott has always been by far the woman I am easily moved by through sound and poetry. Her talents are beyond the norm. Here is a little inspiration from her poem/song, “Ain’t A Ceiling”

Urban Word NYC: A Safe Haven For Teen Expressionists

Urban Word NYC is a non profit organization in New York City that allows teenagers from ages 13 – 21 to come together and receive mentorship from other creative individuals. Urban Word NYC provides a series of workshops on self expression through creativity and poetry. Focusing on  freedom of uncensored expression.

I found out about Urban Word NYC after researching for a grant writing class in college. Poetry is a passion of mine so this non profit organization had me sold. Upon discovering Urban Word, I had only wished I knew about it when I was a teen. I am sure I would have excelled in my craft and surely, I would’ve stayed out of trouble and into the arms of the wise. My first meeting with Urban Word NYC was with a woman named Lisa Russell, she wrote grants for the program while working on her own film projects. She does a lot of promotion for the organization and is a wonderful humanitarian. The mission of Urban Word NYC is, “To Ensure that NYC youth be provided with a safe, supportive, dynamic and challenging community in which to discover their powerful voices – through written and spoken word – and use them to express their views, self-esteem and engage them in opportunities that address the sociopolitical issues that affect them. Urban Word provides free and uncensored writing and performance opportunities to youth in all five boroughs of NYC. Their workshops are designed to develop critical thinking skills, leadership, and to ignite a personal commitment to growth and learning which leads to heightened school performance, and a greater interest in pursuing their higher education.”

Urban Word’s Vision is to build a community of young leaders, writers, spoken word and hip-hop artists who, through self-awareness and enhanced critical thought, help after the socio-economic pathway constructed for inner city youth, from marginalization toward one of empowerment, tolerance and social responsibility. Urban Word NYC works with 15,000 teens per year in NYC alone. Urban Word NYC also holds different events such as an annual NYC Teen Poetry Slam, NY Knicks Poetry Slam, local and national youth slams, festivals, reading series, open mics and more.

Events are non stop and for the latest performances and slams you can go to Urban Word NYC for updates. To be a part of Urban Word NYC’s goal please make a donation, any amount is greatly appreciated, feel free to purchase a book, CD or T-Shirt.

Some of their funders include Axe-Houghton Foundation, Charles Hayden Foundation, ConEd, Department of Cultural Affairs, Jewish Communal Fund, Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, Ms. Foundation for Women, New York, Community Trust, Partners for Arts Education, Time Warner, The Starbucks Foundation and more.

Your support is greatly appreciated and very much recognized!

Brook Yung an Urban Word NYC Poet

Al Be Back – Hi

Hi - An Al Be Back Experience Feb 25 2009 Artwork by Jaleel Kindell

Al Be Back is a native from the Bronx contributing to Hip Hop culture with his clever & witty lyrics. His flow and song structures never get dull or boring and he is always good at story telling.

Hi, his second album following “Al Be Back, Future” is an amazing follow up with a great introduction song entitled “Boo”, portraying an audience “booing” at him with negative criticism. Another song that is very appealing and emotional is “Without You”, not your typical love song but rather of a potential love lost in a car accident. The songs on the album are creative, funny, upbeat, emotional, and give an introspective look on life as we know it .

Al Be Back has starred in the 2006 film ATL directed by Chris Robinson of Robot Films, Spit a documentary by Rotimi Rainwater, and performed as a feature poet on Russell Simmons Def Poetry Jam.

Hi features KRS-ONE, MC Lyte, Olivia, Whosane, Khao, Kanye West and Mos Def. Inquire within to get a copy or download on www.myspace.com/albemusic

Track List

1. Boo
2. Boyz BeMix
3. Cookie Jar BeMix feat Olivia
4. Mida Mida
5. Love You More
6. ALL4ONE
7. We Grow feat Whosane
8. 16,17,18 feat KRS-ONE and MC Lyte
9. Plastic World feat Whosane
10. Never Let It Go Away
11. Without You
12. Goodnight feat Kanye West and Mos Def
13. Big Cuzin (RIP Big Pun)

Here are two official music videos to his first and second single!

Love You More

Cookie Jar Bemix feat Olivia

A Delicious Taste of Poetry – Aja-Monet

Aja-Monet

Never in this lifetime have I met a poet, younger than myself, who has moved my spirit with inspiration and every emotion that is uplifting. I first met Aja-Monet on a summer Sunday evening at Abiodun Oyewole’s open house in Harlem. Listening to her poetry felt like the supernatural experience you feel during the time of worship with a higher power. I was so overwhelmed with positive emotions as I intently listened to every metaphor she creatively put together to describe her story.

Currently a senior at Sarah Lawrence College studying religion and writing, she is an independent soul with the heart and courage of a lion. She encompasses a magnetic presence and is a natural humanitarian working as a mentor, art-therapist, and teacher with non profit organizations such as Urban Word NYC, an organization that provides the inner city youth with workshops and opportunities to perform, Odyssey House, an enhanced therapeutic community providing innovative services and programs for drug related troubled individuals and families, and In Arms Reach Inc., a community based art, music, counseling and academic mentoring program which is created to strengthen family ties by arranging for youth to visit their parents in prison.

Nuyorican Finals 2007

Aja-Monet has had much success in  accomplishing her goals in the poetry world. Her poetry is praised by many successful poets, mentors such as, Saul Williams, Mahogany L Browne, Abiodun Oyewole, Bob Holman, Jeffrey McDaniel, and a few other accomplished writers. She was a part of the Urban Word Slam Team in 2005, was voted Nuyorican Grandslam Champion in 2007, and has once organized one of the largest poetry events to have taken place, with some of the biggest contemporary poets, on her campus for Hurricane Katrina Relief. As a result, Aja-Monet has raised over $8,000 dollars for New Orleans Victims  and has worked hard to create awareness among the poetry community in using the talents of artists to bring forth consciousness.

Aja on her 20th Birthday

Aja-Monet will be performing soon in San Diego, California in April 2009 and performs often in NYC at the Nuyorican Poet’s Cafe, bar 13, and the Bowery Poetry Cafe.

To Book Aja-Monet for an event please email  ajamonetbacquie@gmail.com

Feel Free to Explore More at

Aja-Monet’s Myspace Page

Aja-Monet’s Website

Aja-Monet’s Reverb Nation Page