RECENTLY I REALIZED TWO THINGS ABOUT MYSELF. FIRST THING I HAD SOME PERSONAL GROWTH ALONG WITH CREATIVE GROWTH.THE PERSONAL ISSUE WAS FOR YEARS I COULD NOT ENJOY MYSELF AT SPOKENWORD EVENTS,REMEMBERING THIS TIME VISION WALKED UP TO ME AT THE CLEF CLUB AND SAID DAMN;SHYSTE WHY DO YOU ALWAYS LOOK ANGRY. I JUST WAS SO SERIOUS/PASSIONATE ABOUT USING POETRY FOR CHANGE IN MY PEOPLE. WANTING A GROWTH IN OUR COLLECTIVE MINDSTATE AND SPIRITUALITY OR JUST TO STRUGGLE TO BE BETTER PEOPLE.AND WHEN THIS DID NOT HAPPEN FOR US I WOULD GET HEATED AND ANGRY. SO YEARS AFTER MANY OPEN MICS,SHOWCASES AND COMMUNITY EVENTS RECITING POETRY. I COME TO REALIZE I JUST HAVE TO EXIST FOR THOSE WHO SHOW LOVE AND GROW WITH THOSE PEOPLE WHO HAVE SUPPORTED AND RESPECT MY EFFORTS. SO NOW I CONNECT WITH THOSE WHO SAY I AM THERE SOURCE OF INSPIRATION AND THEY CAN LEARN SOMETHING FROM THE POEMS . I OFFER SOCIAL COMMENTARY ALONG WITH IDEOLOGY AND SPIRITUALITY. WHICH GOES PAST A LOT OF POETS WHO JUST OFFER POSITIVE AFFIRMATIONS AND SOCIAL CRITIQUES .AND THERE ARE THOSE WHO LISTEN THAT CAN TELL THE DIFFERENCE.AS FOR CREATIVE GROWTH THERE IS MRS BETTY'S SON;POEMS IN THE KEY OF LIFE AND MRS BETTY'S SON;A POET VOL.2 MY 7TH AND 8TH SPOKENWORD CD AND IN MAY I AM RE-RELEASING MRS BETTY'S SON 2005 MY FIRST CD. THAT SHOWS THE CREATIVE GROWTH. SO NOW I AM ENJOYING THIS SO MUCH MORE JUST BY ALLOWING THE WORDS AND DEEDS TO SPEAK FOR ME AND SHOW MUTUAL LOVE AND RESPECT FOR THOSE WHO ARE LIKE MINDS AND KINDRED SPIRITS. GOD BLESS.

this is good, really good. also good that you are ruminating on your own growth and not preoccupied with what everyone else is doing.

YEAH MAYBE THAT WOULD BE GOOD FOR ME BUT IT IS NOT SO MUCH WHAT EVERYBODY IS DOING I AM REALLY LOOKING FOR THE GROWTH OF A PEOPLE AND HOW CAN I BE APART OF THIS PROCESS.

Shyst,

I think in order for people to follow you (using YOU in the general sense right now), they have to relate to you. We all know you're passionate, but you're also human. As someone who considers you a friend (I NEVER use that word lightly), I appreciate your message more knowing that you're a human. Being around you for the past 6 years now, I know that you laugh and crack jokes as well. That makes me listen to you so much more attentively when you spit because I know you're a human. Not sure if this is making sense or not, but people connect with humanity. I think as poets sometimes we forget to show our colleagues, supporters and listeners that we are indeed just like them.

Personal growth is a beautiful thing man!

NO THIS MAKES TOTAL SENSE IT IS STILL FUNNY TO ME WHEN PEOPLE HEAR ME JOKE AND GET THAT LOOK IN THEIR FACE; HE IS HUMAN. WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT THIS AT JUS WORDS AND I EXPLAIN THIS TO MY CO-WORKERS. I WATCH REALITY SHOWS,GO TO CHURCH,WATCH COMIC VIEW AS WELL AS DEF POETRY. I LOVE NAS BUT THEY ARE SUPRISE I LIKE 50 CENT SOMETIMES.LASTLY I REMEMBER GOING TO POETRY N MOTION OPEN MICS FOR MONTHS THEY LOVE MY WORK AND ASK ME TO JOIN. AT RHEARSALS THEY WERE SO SUPRISE I WAS ONE OF THE BIGGEST CUT UPS .WE LIVE WE GROW AND WE LEARN. LASTLY WHEN I AM HOSTING THURSDAY I SHOW THAT SIDE AND BAD THING IS PEOPLE WILL GRAVITATE TO THAT SIDE OF ME AND IGNORE THE REST. PERSONAL GROWTH IT IS WHAT IT IS.STAY BLESS FRIEND..

i feel what vision is saying, but in a sense i don't think it's necessary to show other's another side of you. (if this was posted last week, my response might be different.)

anyway, i was reading an article on beyonce and she said that some of the reasons she doesn't open up is so she can "protect her brand" and to maintain a level of mystique (sp?). after reading that, her actions (or lack there of) began to make more sense to me. it's good to separate the poet (or performer) from the person.

if shyse cracks jokes with EVERYONE like we know he can, than there are some folks that may not take his words and/or message as seriously. it's like when <insert a conscience poet's name here> performed an impromptu vagina freestyle at the harvest. chris and i were both wishing we had it on tape cause we knew it would shock folks.

that is so true in philly venues such as the clef club,jus words and october gallery i am alot of the regulars just shyse to them so they are lot less incline to support beyond kind words. outside of philly am the visitor/stranger i come in sit by myself wait my turn and the patrons come to me for something to hold on to until we meet again.

thanks for sharing.

Also know that it is a two way street. We share on stage and people may get something from it, but its also very important that we also learn from others - that's a beautiful thing too...when your mind is quiet enough to tap into the lessons right around you. I get that when I go to the youth slams. The students teach me.

Sometimes you give, but its okay to receive too.

i believe there are probably very few artist that go out to open mic,showcases community events where artist perform and i know that is why i write as much as i do.inspiration comes from other arttist .the youth poets i have recited at a few events together,arts garage,the rutunda,clef club,rutger university and jus words where we have given and taken much from each other we have a mutual respect for each other work. but as far as the youth and elders are concern we must teach and inspire. when we as artist say we teach that has to go beyond positive affirmation or sharing your emotional experience.where is the commentary,idealism and information that is what we as elders can offer. i listen and learn from the prophets,poets,preacher,politicians scholars as i read and let life be my biggest teacher then write. if we truly listen to each other,we would see this.... ps i do more that give sometimes i give until it hurts sometimes.

Alyson's comments about Beyonce remind me of a couple years ago when Dj Ambush says to me 'It's like you're a super hero and your neighbors have absolutely no idea.' Makes me laugh at this point. In growing you have to continue to seek balance. As an artist I feel that you should leave the audience with something. Always bless them w/some type of gem but remember to keep something for yourself. Neglecting to keep anything for yourself can lead to burn out. Im such a believer in taking breaks, in sifting through information gained from the entire universe around us. It nurtures our creativity to expand our knowledge base as well as our surroundings. Just keep in mind that as we grow we tend to cloak ourselves in new garments which attracts bigger theives. So as you gain new knowledge and forsight you have to balance a little bit of keeping your colorful coat to yourself with a little bit of sharing the vision. Sometimes people aren't ready and we can't force them to be. Sometimes we just need to plant and leave the harvest for the next one. So to any artist I say don't get frustrated if your work is not recieved as well as you'd like it to be or if it seems you only inspire for a moment instead of motivating an entire movement. Takes alot of shit to get certain plants to grow.

thans whisper just wish you had told me this in 06 could have sped up my growth process.lol.also you live and you learn almost had a relapse wednesday night a rier university open mic event.but i took my own advice.the audience was not receptive tothe artist was half way done my first poem before they decided i was worth listening to so i did two poems and step grabbing my coat while doing the last line was out the door when i was stop by a group of studet who wanted to shake my hand and talk. got to remember to take my own advice you are there for whomever is listening.grow shyste grow damnmit....