Poet Up

In this episode, Mad Skillz shares his journey from childhood to hip hop stardom, emphasizing the importance of preparation, authenticity, and resilience in the music industry. He discusses his early influences, the grind of building a career, and insights into the culture of hip hop. Mad Skillz shares his journey from hip hop artist to spoken word poet, his experiences with Grammy nominations, an...

summary In this engaging interview, Black Chakra shares his journey from hip-hop to spoken word, the importance of critique and strategy in slam poetry, and the sacrifices behind success. Discover insights on the evolution of poetry, the role of competition, and how to grow as an artist. In this engaging interview, Black Chakra shares insights on poetry, slam culture, style, and the importance of...

 summary In this engaging interview, Steph Love shares her journey from writing elementary school poetry to winning a Grammy for her spoken word album with Skillz. She discusses her experiences in the poetry scene, hosting open mics, and her memorable moments at the Grammys, offering valuable insights for aspiring artists. In this engaging interview, Steph Love shares her journey from slam poetry...

Keywords poetry, storytelling, creativity, family dynamics, community, writing, identity, humor, faith, artistic expression, poetry, poets of color, HBCU, PWI, Black History Month, community, cultural shock, living poets, manuscript coaching, poetry opportunities Summary In this engaging conversation, Poet Up and Candace G. Wiley explore the intersections of humor, creativity, and personal experie...

Summary In this engaging conversation, we chat with Steven Willis and explore the evolution of poetry, the impact of the New York scene, and the challenges faced by contemporary poets. We discuss the significance of trauma poetry, the importance of diversifying styles, and the balance between artistic integrity and commercial success. Steven shares his personal journey, the lessons learned from co...

Summary In this episode of the Poet Up Podcast, we engage in a lively discussion about racial unity, personal experiences at concerts, and the journey into poetry. We explore how education and performance shape a poet's career, the importance of business acumen in the arts, and the influence of military life on creativity. The conversation also touches on community engagement and the diverse a...

Summary In this episode, we engage in a lively conversation with Frank Expression, exploring his journey from a trumpet player to a poet. We discuss the significance of time, resilience, and determination in the creative process, as well as the challenges he faced, including overcoming Bell's Palsy. The conversation also delves into the business side of poetry, the importance of consistency, a...

Summary In this episode of the Poet Up podcast, we engage in a lively conversation with Jah Smalls about his journey from New York City to Charlotte, the creation of the Black Charlotte Project, and the importance of community and storytelling in poetry. We discuss the cultural misconceptions about the South, the aspirations for Grammy recognition, and the emotional impact of the project on both p...

Summary In this episode of the Poet Up Podcast, we engage in a deep and inspiring conversation with Ebony Payne, a multifaceted artist and survivor. We discuss Ebony's recent health scare after being bitten by a brown recluse spider, her journey of survival, and the importance of advocacy in healthcare, especially for marginalized communities. The conversation shifts to Ebony's work in mem...

In part 2 of this episode of the Poet Up Podcast, we talk with Rudy Francisco, exploring the intersection of poetry and corporate sponsorship, the importance of hard work and talent, and the evolving landscape of performance art. We discuss innovative ideas for poetry slams, the value of believing in oneself, and the significance of being coachable in the pursuit of artistic excellence. We also to...

In the first of this two part episode, we delve into the intricacies of poetry, performance, and the realities of tour life. We discuss Rudy's journey from writing his first poem about a crush to becoming a celebrated poet with appearances on major platforms like Jimmy Fallon. The conversation highlights the connection between sports and poetry, the importance of preparation, and the challenge...

In this episode we discuss a variety of topics including the recent Grammy Awards, the evolution of hip hop, and the impact of artist rivalries. We talk about Lil Wayne's absence from the Super Bowl, the significance of Kendrick Lamar's Grammy wins, and the emergence of new artists like Doechii. We also talk about the state of poetry in the music industry and concludes with a fun segment c...

I'm over it I've done this more times than what I'd like to admit. Just know it's about our friend Tavis (RIP) and we talk junk about stuff and throw shots at CB and 5th Horseman (didn't forget your name this time) Anyway it's a good episode and you should listen. Mall Chi out

In this episode we chat with father, musician and poet CB about music, poetry, fatherhood and other things so buckle up it's a wild ride. Be sure to follow CB on IG @cbthepoet and on YouTube @CBthePoet Freestyle beat: some beats I found in my downloads that I don't know where they came from or who made them lol. PoetUp Crew: Twitter: @PoetUpPodcast @mallchi @MrBluz @jayward2030 IG: @PoetUpPodcast...

We are back again folks! In this episode, we chat with 2023 Women of the World Slam champion Ayanna Florence about her poetic beginnings and other things. Follow Ayanna on IG and X(formerly Twitter) @poetnextdoor Freestyle Beat: made by DJ D.R. PoetUp Crew: Twitter: @PoetUpPodcast @mallchi @MrBluz @jayward2030 IG: @PoetUpPodcast @mallchi @bluzbluzbluz @jward2030 Facebook: @PoetUpPodcast Email us a...

We are back folks! Talking about the Grammy's and other shenanigans. Elijah Craig makes an appearance, sorry there's no timestamps we're rusty. Freestyle Beat: A Beat taken from YJB made by Mall Chi PoetUp Crew: Twitter: @PoetUpPodcast @mallchi @MrBluz @jayward2030 IG: @PoetUpPodcast @mallchi @bluzbluzbluz @jward2030 Facebook: @PoetUpPodcast Email us at thepoetuppodcast@gmail.com Rate us, Review u...

In this special episode we talk about the Of Earth and Sky Project and interview those who submitted to the project and created the project. PoetUp Crew: Twitter: @PoetUpPodcast @mallchi @MrBluz @jayward2030 IG: @PoetUpPodcast @mallchi @bluzbluzbluz @jward2030 Facebook: @PoetUpPodcast Email us at thepoetuppodcast@gmail.com Visit our website: www.poetuppodcast.com Rate us, Review us tell a friend a...

In this episode we chat with Charlotte based producer Master Kie. Bluz gets shots fired on him (4:20) Master Kie the meteorologist (5:30) being a woman producer in hip hop (10:02) Master Kie sees sound as color (16:40) no one is on Bluz level (17:00) Jay Ward gets introduced to Lost In Space (21:10) Master Kie wants to collab with Sade but does Mall Chi actually know Sade (22:20) Please Hammer don...

In this episode we speak with Blumenthal Performing Arts Director of Artistic Experiences Bree Stallings. We discuss her year (6:10) the Immersive Van Gogh Experience that Bree was the head of (10:20) the Of Earth and Sky installation poetry project (15:30) Intentions behind the placement of the project (18:35) her artistic beginnings (21:15) Her family life (25:00) we talk about how Bree's artist...

In this bonus episode, we are bringing you an interview with poet and master storyteller Hannah Hasan. This was recorded April 11, 2021 when the Poet Up crew did live shows at Blumenthal for National Poetry Month (check out our FB page for the live videos).  Hannah Info: 2021 Hermitage Fellow Hannah Hasan is an award-winning, highly acclaimed spoken word poet, speaker, and storyteller who believes...

In this episode we chat with Emmy winning poet, linguistic supervillian, sports announcer and cultural critic Jugga Levert. We talk about how poetry is what makes JG survive (8:45) his family and sports (11:45) who's tougher Urban Meyer or Scott Woods (17:00) Jay Ward uses "poet voice" reluctantly at first (24:40) We discuss JG's broadcasting career and winning an Emmy (29:00) Bluz forgets Ja...

We're back folks! In this season 3 opener we chat with Wayne Henry a poet's poet. We talk 90's R&B, Wayne's poetic beginnings, getting into intimate spaces with people and why it makes them uncomfortable, his work in Dallas with the youth, why poetry isn't a community and of course we freestyle.  Wayne Henry Info: Wayne Henry a poet who is dedicated to bringing awareness to issues such as mental h...

In this season finale episode we chat with screenwriter, singer, poet, dancer and all around dope artist Carlos Robson. We discuss musical influence (8:33) family life (12:00) Mall Chi goes on a tangent (22:48) that magic thing (29:55) Terry Creech, dream crusher (34:10) we circle back and give a proper treatment to Eye Am Bic's TV show (36:15) what the college circuit is like for poets (41:15) Dr...

In this episode we chat with singer, songwriter Laurence Maher. We somehow talk fulcrums and levers (1:26) Laurence talks his beginnings (13:10) Laurence didn't want to go to college for the girls (17:00) The WAP brought Laurence to Charlotte (22:10) he learns music heals (30:10) we get into the intricacies of music with Jay Ward's bookmark (36:30) we make up words (38:20) Jay Ward drops Bible kno...

In this episode we chat with actor, poet and makeup artist Chibbi Orduna. We talk about affordable liquor (3:01) Chibbi’s name is made for telenovela (4:44) Chibbi has a theater background (6:34) we discuss how parents just don’t understand (18:00) The theater world versus the poetry world (22:10) Chibbi’s first poem about public transportation (25:30) how we have to trick people to listen to poet...