Poet Up

In this episode we talk with playwright, author, poet, battle rapper and National Poetry Slam Champion both team (2018) and individual (2019) Breeze. We talk about Breeze's passion for poetry, Jay Ward tells us how he knows Breeze is from the hood (8:55) Breeze finds his tribe (21:35), we not in this b***h to be in this b***h (33:55) who's riding with you (41:25) you never seen a zen mode Breeze (63:45) and tender Breeze (64:35) and of course we freestyle. 

Breeze Info:

Breeze "ILifeThis" The Poet is a spoken word artist, author, playwright, host, and battle rapper who has been performing professionally for the better part of 9yrs. Born in Richmond Virginia, now residing in Charlotte, Nc, Breeze has an amazing amount of accomplishments.

-Creator of LifeLinePoetry...an organization that strives for the growth of spoken word artists in performance/writing/and the science of slam

Breeze lives out the idea of "LoveAnyWay" ...a belief that love is the key ingredient needed to be relevant in this craft. Love enough to want to listen, learn, inform, inspire, enlighten and grow.

Love also motivates one to always be honest in everything they do.

And he sets out to give the truest parts of himself every opportunity he gets!!

Check out his website for more info: www.breezethepoet.com

Follow Breeze on IG @brzthepoet on Twitter @brzthepoet

Freestyle Beat: “Old School” by 24K

PoetUp Crew:

Twitter: @PoetUpPodcast @mallchi @MrBluz @jayward2030

IG: @PoetUpPodcast @mallchi @bluzbluzbluz @jward2030

Facebook: @PoetUpPodcast

Email us at [email protected]

Visit our website: www.poetuppodcast.com

Rate us, Review us tell a friend about us. Thank you for listening.

In this episode we talk with Baltimore based poet, 2016 Brave New Voices winner and number 4 poet in the world Mecca "Meccamorphosis" Verdell. We discuss her poetry origin story (5:15), retooling as an artist (13:45) whether it's harder to write a comedy punchline or poetry punchline (21:00) If it's easier to win a BNV slam or adult slam (23:00) what winning means in the Baltimore poetry scene (27:10) Mecca gets passionate (35:25) Bluz and Jay Ward make proclamations again (53:50) Mecca has some tea (55:40) and of course we freestyle. 

Meccamorphosis Info:

Mecca Verdell is a Baltimore based poet and performer of Dewmore Baltimore. When she started her poetry career in 2016, Mecca won Brave New Voices, an international youth poetry slam. She’s also been a Radio show host for two Baltimore based radio stations, interviewing nationally and locally known poets and writers. She has been dedicated to provide youth with safe spaces to express

their creative voices with free open mics, showcases and competitions. Mecca is the former Youth Poet Ambassador of baltimore (2017), opening performer for Aloe Blacc at the National Education Association conference in 2017, Southern Fried Poetry Slam winner of 2017 and 2018, Top 10 finalist of the Woman of the world poetry slam 2018, and top 3 finalist for Texas Grand Slam. Outside of competition, she has taught the importance of using poetry as tool for social justice and healing for middle schools, high schools and colleges.

Follow Meccamorphosis on IG @meccamorphosis on Twitter @MeccaVerdell

Freestyle Beat: “Jazz Bop” by @scarterway on IG and Twitter

PoetUp Crew:

Twitter: @PoetUpPodcast @mallchi @MrBluz @jayward2030

IG: @PoetUpPodcast @mallchi @bluzbluzbluz @jward2030

Facebook: @PoetUpPodcast

Email us at [email protected]

Visit our website: www.poetuppodcast.com

Rate us, Review us tell a friend about us. Thank you for listening.

In this episode we speak with community activist, creative, doer and entrepreneur Davita Galloway. We discuss the libations (3:30) Davita's fashion origins (6:40) Dupp & Swat beginnings (8:00) Freshmen year of college (37:00) Mall Chi asks a borderline racist question (56:10) the infinity bottle shows up at about the 27:00 mark and takes Jay Ward and Mall Chi's ability to coherently speak and Bluz basically keeps us on course. This is a fun one and of course, we also freestyle. 

Davita Galloway info: 

Davita is a founder and owner (with her brother Dion Galloway) of Dupp & Swat, a creative studio that serves as a platform and launchpad for herself and others. Davita is a change agent, a creative, a host, speaker, costumer, a doer, disruptor and creator of all things dope. Davita serves as Executive Director of CrownKeepers, a non-profit and Co-Owner of Hue House, a creative agency in Charlotte, NC. 

Follow Davita on social media @thedavitagalloway and check out her website for all the amazing things she's doing. www.thedavitagalloway.com

Freestyle Beat: “The Ruler” by @scarterway on IG and Twitter

PoetUp Crew:

Twitter: @PoetUpPodcast @mallchi @MrBluz @jayward2030

IG: @PoetUpPodcast @mallchi @bluzbluzbluz @jward2030

Facebook: @PoetUpPodcast

Email us at [email protected]

Visit our website: www.poetuppodcast.com

Rate us, Review us tell a friend about us. Thank you for listening.

In this episode we chat with Roscoe Burnems, Poet Laureate of Richmond, VA (we called it before it happened) We discuss how he came to write, we get chastised by Morgan Freeman, we discuss his poetry and comedy special Traumedy, illiteracy, we rep our states, Jay Ward flexes on Mall Chi and of course, we freestyle.

Roscoe Info:

Richmond Virginia native, Douglas Powell/Roscoe Burnems is a poet, published author, spoken-word artist, comedian, educator, father, and husband who has dedicated his craft to entertaining and educating.

Stream Traumedy on Amazon Prime. Visit Roscoe’s website https://roscoeb.webs.com and follow Roscoe on IG @roscoeburnems

Freestyle Beat: “Foreveah” by 24K

PoetUp Crew:

Twitter: @PoetUpPodcast @mallchi @MrBluz @jayward2030

IG: @PoetUpPodcast @mallchi @bluzbluzbluz @jward2030

Facebook: @PoetUpPodcast

Email us at [email protected]

Rate us, Review us tell a friend about us. Thank you for listening.

In this episode we interview Kyla Jenee Lacey, accomplished third person bio composer, daughter of two lucky parents and owned by two black cats, Kit and Kaboodle. We talk about Karen's, love poems to menchildren, Kyla's impressive poetry resume and of course we freestyle. 

Kyla Info: Her spoken word has garnered millions of views, and has been showcased on Afropunk, George Takei, Write About Now, All Def Digital, and Occupy Democrats, and Golden Mic TV. She has performed spoken word at over 200 colleges in over 40 states.  Kyla has been a finalist in the largest regional poetry slam in the country, no less than 4 times, and was nominated as Campus Activities Magazine Female Performer of the Year. She has written for large publications such as the Huffington Post, BET.com, and the Root Magazine and is the author of "Hickory Dickory Dock, I Do Not Want Your C*ck!!!," a book of tongue-in-cheek poems, about patriarchy....for manchildren.

Follow Kyla om IG @kylajlacey

Freestyle Beat: by @LofiBrown

PoetUp Crew:

Twitter: @PoetUpPodcast @mallchi @MrBluz @jayward2030

IG: @PoetUpPodcast @mallchi @bluzbluzbluz @jward2030

Facebook: @PoetUpPodcast

Email us at [email protected]

Rate us, Review us tell a friend about us. Thank you for listening.

In this episode we chat with Jason Jet about his artistic journey, him being a Jack of all trades (literally 31:30) and his new studio. Jay Ward forgets the point he's making (21:30), Bluz gets his Ted Koppel on(the whole podcast lol) and Mall Chi (mostly) tries his best Jay Ward question impression (33:00) and doesn't know the difference between Iceland and Ireland (25:35) (63:30). This interview was done at Jason Jet's Grindhaus studios prior to it's opening. Come on and Poet Up with us.

Follow Jason Jet on IG: @jasonjet

Freestyle Beat: by @LofiBrown

PoetUp Crew:

Twitter: @PoetUpPodcast @mallchi @MrBluz @jayward2030

IG: @PoetUpPodcast @mallchi @bluzbluzbluz @jward2030

Facebook: @PoetUpPodcast

Email us at [email protected]

Rate us, Review us tell a friend about us. Thank you for listening.

We are back with season 2 of The Poet Up Podcast. Thank you for listening. In this episode we talk with Jaycee Cowan poet, barber, entrepreneur and all around bad ass. Not to mention one of the pillars of the Charlotte poetry scene. Jay Ward channels his inner M.O.P. Mall Chi defends using cutlery on people and Bluz, well Bluz insults the Bey Hive... again. We also talk with Jay See about his time in the military, what brought him to performance poetry and of course TouchOne. 

Follow JayCee on IG: @flyy_poet

Freestyle Beat: by @LofiBrown

PoetUp Crew:

Twitter: @PoetUpPodcast @mallchi @MrBluz @jayward2030

IG: @PoetUpPodcast @mallchi @bluzbluzbluz @jward2030

Facebook: @PoetUpPodcast

Email us at [email protected]

Rate us, Review us tell a friend about us. Thank you for listening.

In part of of our conversation with Ed Mabrey, we delve deeper into his spoken word roots discussing his first slam experiences, him always coming in 3rd place (4:00) how they Christopher Columbus(ed) slam in Columbus, OH (6:05) we debate if we made Segways or segues (16:10) we discuss relevancy (18:10) and doing the work (22:00). We get off the rails per usual and we have a freestyle session at the end. (58:00)

Ed Mabrey Info:

Ed Mabrey is the only 4 time Individual World Poetry Slam Champion and the only 4 time Southern Fried Regional Poetry Slam Individual Champion.

​He tours the country professionally as a poet, comedian, and motivational speaker.

A two-time InkSlam winner, multiple LEAF Slam Champion, an Emmy winner,

Ed has been on Seasons 3, 5 and 6 of Verses and Flow (TV One),

ABC, FOX, HBO All Def Digital, Write About Now Poetry

and was a speaker at 2015 TEDx Dayton.

He’s performed at over 100 colleges and universities around the country, teaching workshops and conducting seminars. On the comedy front, Ed has opened for DL Hughley, Ian Bagg, Rob Schneider, Roy Wood Jr., Charlie Murphy and many more.

Ed is a two time finalist in The World Series Of Comedy, held in Las Vegas and he’s been the voice of companies ranging from the Ohio State Medical Center to Lexus.

Freestyle Beat: "Life"  by @scartersway

PoetUp Crew:

Twitter: @PoetUpPodcast @mallchi @MrBluz @jayward2030

IG: @PoetUpPodcast @mallchi @bluzbluzbluz @jward2030

Facebook: @PoetUpPodcast

Email us at [email protected]

In part one of this two part interview with 4 Time Individual World Poetry Slam Champion Ed Mabrey we discuss differences between comedy and spoken word (5:30) his transition from poetry to comedy (10:02) Bluz being a gangster of mythical origins (11:11) why multiple streams of income are important for any artist/creative (17:20). Bluz also shades the Bey Hive (27:13) Jay Ward shades Mall Chi (29:50) and will Ed be a speech writer for a presidential candidate? (38:35).

Ed Mabrey Info:

Ed Mabrey is the only 4 time Individual World Poetry Slam Champion and the only 4 time Southern Fried Regional Poetry Slam Individual Champion.

​He tours the country professionally as a poet, comedian, and motivational speaker.

A two-time InkSlam winner, multiple LEAF Slam Champion, an Emmy winner,

Ed has been on Seasons 3, 5 and 6 of Verses and Flow (TV One),

ABC, FOX, HBO All Def Digital, Write About Now Poetry

and was a speaker at 2015 TEDx Dayton.

He’s performed at over 100 colleges and universities around the country, teaching workshops and conducting seminars. On the comedy front, Ed has opened for DL Hughley, Ian Bagg, Rob Schneider, Roy Wood Jr., Charlie Murphy and many more.

Ed is a two time finalist in The World Series Of Comedy, held in Las Vegas and he’s been the voice of companies ranging from the Ohio State Medical Center to Lexus.

Freestyle Beat: "Life"  by @scartersway

PoetUp Crew:

Twitter: @PoetUpPodcast @mallchi @MrBluz @jayward2030

IG: @PoetUpPodcast @mallchi @bluzbluzbluz @jward2030

Facebook: @PoetUpPodcast

Email us at [email protected]

In this episode we speak with Sha'Condria "iCon" Sibley, We discuss her beginnings in spoken word poetry (4:00) name origins (6:06) Southern Fried memories (10:15) wack art (16:10) going viral (36:45) and of course we freestyle terribly at the end.

iCon Info:

A lover of the stage, iCon has also been featured in several stage productions such as the musical, ‘Badu-izms’, a production of Eve Ensler’s ‘A Memory, a Monologue, a Rant, and a Prayer’, ‘Housewarming’, and ‘Waiting to Be Invited’. She made her national television debut as a featured poet on the 3rd season of TV One's NAACP award-nominated hit TV show, ‘Verses and Flow’. Over the years, iCon has shared stages with the likes of Sunni Patterson, Taalam Acey, Abiodun Oyewole (The Last Poets), jessica care moore, Amanda Diva, The Tony Rich Project, Dead Prez, Andra Day, and Kendrick Lamar. She even earned the honor of being a part of the first poetry act to grace the main stage at Essence Festival 2016.

website: icontheartist.com

Follow iCon on IG @icontheartist 

Freestyle Beat: "Titel"  by Lofi

PoetUp Crew:

Twitter: @PoetUpPodcast @mallchi @MrBluz @jayward2030

IG: @PoetUpPodcast @mallchi @bluzbluzbluz @jward2030

Facebook: @PoetUpPodcast

Email us at [email protected]