http://www.vimeo.com/17089129

This past weekend I attended an amazing concert from Kids These Days at Reggies Rock Club in Chicago. KTD is a highly talented group all under 18!!! Its crazy sick to see so many young people be so talented and work together. I was truely inspired by their excitement and commitment to their work. I enjoy their music blend of Soul, Blues,  Jazz and Hip-Hop. They are wize beyond their years speaking of the joy of being young, love, struggles they push through in order to grow. Instruments flooded the stage, drums, trumpet, trombone, sax, cello, violin, and keyboard. I cant even play one intrument. Impressive. Two of the members even jumped into a well deserved crowd surf. They did a great thing for Chicago. one of the best groups I’ve seen since I’ve been here.

I remember these days as a young artist and art supporter. Seeing some of my peers like GoDave and others throw huge shows and participating in some myself where our whole city rocked to the rhythm of our beats or words. It kept me motivated to stay on the right path.

Encourage the babies. Support their art.

This is a huge project I am working on with some of the dopest young adults in Chicago. I am seriously honored by their dedication. Check their mission and look out for their events and programming.

The Board’s Mission

The Board is a collective of young adults working together to cultivate momentum throughout the city to provide our citizens, young and old, with equal opportunity to education, self expression and personal development in a positive space. Guiding our work is love, inclusion, appreciation and continuation of lineage, art and growth. We come from all walks of life and have a dedication to leadership, fellowship and sharing our testimony to help following generations and the future of our people. We plan to achieve this using mentorship, professional training, events, partnership, outreach and a commitment to health and wellness of our minds, bodies, and souls.

This young man continues to impress me. I got the honor to coach him in some vocal lessons but his swag speaks for itself.

He is a 20 year old Hip-House artist of Nigerian decent who recently released his debut mixtape,”Don’t Smoke The Cigarette, (which can be downloaded HERE for free).  The video for The GTW’s first single,”Blow Me Away”, features vocals from South African soul singer Danny Brusco and production from producer Zip Justin Warren.  Check out why Urb Magazine has called The GTW one of the Next 1000.

http://www.vimeo.com/17529361

Steppenwolf Theatre asked me to speak at their After Party presented by their youth council for their recent production of To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee. The play left me with mixed feelings, hurt about the fate of our young black men. The play evoked images of my brother, Oakland, my homeboys from high school and all my friends who have ended up on the wrong end of justice. I left the theatre and the trending topic on twitter was all about the sentencing of Oscar grants killer. 2 years probation. Is justice real? My faith is shaky. I’m not sure how much I believe in the fairness of our judicial system. What can we do about that? I’m not sure, but my hope is that speaking out is step one. We make our selves visible, make our voices heard, we might make change come. These are some unsettled feelings. First draft.

I’ve become a new Artistic Associate with a great Theatre Company Urban Theater Company. I am super excited about the work we are about to do as a team and the great things we have coming up. What is more exciting is the  great things the company does for Chicago. We are adding a light to a community of people not often shown in fine art, the urban community. UTC is committed to the creation and exploration of urban-inspired works that convey, illuminate and empathize with the human experience. Support us as we continue to grow and share  our stories!

I’ve been working on a great play written by Alonzo LaMont, directed by Chuck Smith, Zulu Fits with MPAACT Theatre Company.

This experience has been awesome. I love my cast and jumping into playing the little sister Neecee has been a trip. She is playful, fun and a bit careless. I hope you love her!

Here is a bit about the play:

Zulu Fits by Alonzo Lamont

Teenage internet sensations, “The Blow-Up Sistas,” decide to kidnap the black power advocate Jersey Jack Black from prison. The Sistas, their male cohort, and Jersey Jack Black all fall victim to a series of uncontrollable seizures Zulu Fits.
Zulu Fits appear to be connected to an enigmatic past and an uncertain future. When The Sistas reach Jersey Jack Black, his past, their present, and the mystery of Zulu Fits all converge and forge a new fiction for those with a revolutionary spirit.

September 16-November 7, 2010

 MPAACT – Downstairs Studio
2257 N. Lincoln Avenue
Chicago, IL 60614
Phone: (773) 404-7336
Website: www.greenhousetheater.org

Its that time again!! Brave New Voices International Teen Poetry Slam is where I got my start and I’ve tried to be involved ever since. Moving on from being a youth champion myself into one of the youngest teaching artist around I will be with them in LA this year!!! Above is a clip Ms. Iyoka, who I had the chance to host with last year posted. Check it out.

This year I’ve been invited to be Future Corps, a group selected to help lead the youth through activities of the week. All of us chosen, were once slammers and now amazing leaders in the field. I am so excited to see over 500 fly kids get together for top of the line spoken word competition, all night ciphers, and pure genius.  These kids are full of passion and innovation so I cant wait to see what they have to say this year. I will be leading them in workshops as well as hosting their bouts so I will be blessed to hear them. Cant wait.

An Actors life is full of auditions. A constant chopping block the client uses until he or she finds the perfect person they were looking for. The Talent. Sometimes I wonder why I sacrifice the power of being a writer for the role of the talent, but this feeds me, maybe not literally some days but spiritually. Like a good friend FM Supreme says, “It’s a beautiful grind.”

Not everyone can act. Not everyone is talented. We are not all built for the constant challenge and growth of self it takes to be an artist. Some talent are just that and not artists, craftsman. For those of us who are it is our contribution to mankind, telling stories, maintaining humanity, for others it is seen as a meal ticket. Auditions are hard because you dont know why these others are in the room you just have to hope its all for the greater good and it doesnt matter who gets the role. Sometimes it doesn’t work that way and the person who lands the lead just wants the fame and glamour. Whatever happens auditions are out of our control. We must go into every one knowing we are enough, that we can tell the story. The kind of actor I want to be doesnt worry about the shape of my waist fitting the dress but does my life experience help illuminate hers? With each audition I feel like I have done my acting job for the day and brought my best truth to the character. Some auditions ask for less buts its up to you to add the integrity in your work. Don’t let the hot people distract you, work hard.

So this is just to my other soldiers in Auditionland. Keep on, Keeping on. We are fighting the good fight and there are only so many stories to go around so far, So to my writers keep writing, myself included. We all need a story to tell.

http://www.vimeo.com/11756107 This video was directed by a great friend of mine Terrance Banks. I dont know the young man in the video but I support a young artist. The work Terrance puts into this is amazing. He has that clear high class directors eye for sure. Watch his work because it will be all you are watching soon!