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l.i.f.e.

33, Male
Tampa, United States

Hometown:

Tampa

About Me:

As the ONLY FULL-TIME SPOKEN WORD POET IN TAMPA BAY, l.i.f.e. has single-handedly changed the landscape of live entertainment, in Tampa Bay. For decades, after the glorious period of the sixties, when many legendary musicians regularly performed, in Tampa Bay, live entertainment in the area lost appreciation. In 2003, when l.i.f.e began performing, for large audiences of variant echelons, a resurgence of appreciation for performing arts blossomed.

Along with running Black On Black Rhyme Tampa each Tuesday, l.i.f.e. conceptualizes and produces large-scale, spoken word shows, that draw hundreds of attendees, EVERY TIME. His successful endeavors have inspired other promoters, of live entertainmet (poetry, jazz, even comedy!) in Tampa Bay, to strive to do the same.

l.i.f.e. personifies commitment, self sacrifice & total dedication- the Miles Davis of his day, the legacy of his signifance is imminent.

SPOKEN WORD

Almost 10,000 albums sold

forthepeople/ Released June 2003- over 3,000 sold

XpoZin' MaSelf/ Released October 2005- over 5,000 sold

MouFPiece/ Releasing November 2007

BUSINESSES

-operates Black On Black Rhyme Tampa, the largest, longest running spoken word show, in Tampa Bay

-coordinates of the Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival Poetry Slam, the culminating event of this prestigious festival, and the biggest spoken word event, in Tampa Bay, for the past four years

-coordinates the official/original Pajama Poetry Nite ( Black On Black Rhyme Tampa)

-coordinates The Central Florida Slam the only regular poetry slam in Tampa Bay

-coordinates the Black On Black Rhyme Tampa Anniversary Celebration

-founding partner of RARE XPRESSIONS at Stogie Castillo's

PHILANTHROPY

-major monetary contributions to food drives for the homeless

-yearly participant in The Great American Teach-In

-Sponsor of Candy Lowe's Black Business Bus Tour

-Gina Oliva Fundraiser

-organizer of the "Write For Our Future" program

-financial supporter of WMNF's "Empowerment Hour"

AWARDS

-Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival Poetry Slam/Tampa 1st Place Winner 2x

-Akoben Festival/Word Up! Poetry Slam/Norfolk 1st Place Winner

-Underground Poets King/Queen of the Bay/Tampa 1st Place Winner

- Hot Air Slam/Delray, Fla. 1st Place Winner

-USF Louder Than Words Poetry Slam/Tampa 1st Place Winner

-Southern Fried Slam Finalist/Miami Finalist

-Underground Poets King/Queen of the Bay/Tampa Finalist

MEDIA APPEARANCES
-TBCN

-WTVT 2x

-88.5 FM too many times to number

1150 AM too many times to number

-Tampa Tribune

-St. Pete Times

-The Florida Sentinel

-Power Broker Magazine

-*TBT

-The Weekly Planet

-Creative Loafing

-The Florida Courier

-The Weekly Challenger

-Orange Magazine

Favorite Artist/Music:

Miles Davis, Richard Pryor, Prince, Marvin Gaye, Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Max Roach, General Johnson, HoneyCone, Nina Simone, Billie Holiday, Bessie Smith, Bobby Blue Bland, Curtis Mayfield, John Lee Hooker, KRS-One, Tupac, T.I., Common, UGK, Ras Kas, OutKast, Goodie Mob, N.W.A., Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, Jill Scott, Corrine Bailey Rae, Tamia, Chaka Khan, Patti LaBelle, ...