THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE LEGEND

“The same sheisty cats that you hang with, and do your thang with/ could set you up/ and wet you up/ nigga peep the language/ it's universal, you play with fire it may hurt you/ or burn you/ lessons are blessings you should learn through/ let's face facts/ although mc's lace tracks/ it doesn't mean behind the scenes there ain't no dirt to trace back/ that goes for all of us, there ain't nobody to trust/ it's like sabotage, it's got me ready to bust/ but I can't jeapordize, what I have done up to this point/ so i'ma get more guys, to help me run the whole joint/” – those are the opening lines to Guru Jazmatazz’s first verse on his “Moment of Truth” song. Now you can imagine the wisdom and power of an emcee to positively influence and conscientize the masses.

Guru’s birth name is Keith Edward Elam. He was an African American rapper, producer and actor and a member of the hip-hop duo Gang Starr, along with DJ Premier. He was born in Roxbury, Massachusetts. The name Guru is a backronym that stands for Gifted Unlimited Rhymes Universal and the less-often used God is Universal; he is the Ruler Universal, which are both references to the teachings of the Nation of Gods and Earths.

He was born in Boston, Massachusetts neighborhood of Roxbury, Massachusetts on the 17^th of July 1961. His father, Harry Elam, was a judge and his mother, Barbara Elam, was the co-director of libraries in the Boston public school system. He attended Noble and Greenough School in Dedham, Massachusetts and Cohasset High School in Cohasset, Massachusetts for high school. He graduated with a degree in business administration from Morehouse College in Atlanta and took graduate classes at the Fashion Institute of Technology in Manhattan. He later dropped out to pursue a hip hop career. Guru worked briefly in social services.

He began his rap career under the nom de plume MC Keithy E but later changed name to Guru. He founded Gang Starr in 1987. The group initially released three records, produced by DJ Mark the 45 King, on the Wild Pitch Records record label, but these records received little attention. After a change in line-up, the group consisted of rapper Guru and beat maker DJ Premier. Gang Starr released its first LP No More Mr. Nice Guy on Wild Pitch Records; the group achieved a sizable following and released six critically acclaimed and influential albums from 1989 to 2003. Two albums, Moment of Truth (1998) and compilation Full Clip: A Decade of Gang Starr (1999) were certified gold in the United States by the RIAA. Gang Starr made archetypal East Coast hip hop with Guru's rhyming described as sharp-eyed but anti-ostentatious.

In 1993, Guru released the first in a series of four solo albums while still a member of Gang Starr. Jazzmatazz, Vol. 1 featured collaborations with Donald Byrd, N'Dea Davenport, MC Solar, and Roy Ayers and received positive reviews. His second solo LP, Jazzmatazz, Vol. 2: The New Reality, featured Chaka Khan, Ramsey Lewis, Branford Marsalis, and Jamiroquai. The third installment was released in 2000, but it received less positive reviews.

Guru’s first solo album that doesn’t form part of the Jazzmatazz series, with the appellation “Baldhead Slick & da Click,” was released in 2001 to poor reviews. The album reached number 22 on the Billboard R&B/Hip Hop album charts. The seventh chapter in the book of Guru, Version 7.0: The Street Scriptures, was released in 2005 on Guru’s own record label, 7 Grand Records. The album was produced entirely by label mate Solar. It reached number 54 on the Billboard R&B albums charts and received mixed reviews.

Guru’s final releases were the fourth installment in the Jazzmatazz series, released in June 2007; and Guru 8.0: Lost And Found, released May 19, 2009 (also in collaboration with Solar). A Gang Starr reunion album was planned but will never be released because of Guru's death.

On February 28, 2010, Elam went into cardiac arrest and, following surgery, fell into a coma. It was claimed that Guru had briefly awakened from his coma but died on April 19, 2010, at the age of 48, from cancer. Guru was survived by his parents, three siblings, and a son named Keith Casim.

Discography: Guru's Jazzmatazz, Vol. 1 (1993), Guru Presents Ill Kid Records (1995), Guru's Jazzmatazz, Vol. 2: The New Reality (1995), Guru's Jazzmatazz, Vol. 3: Streetsoul (2000), Baldhead Slick & da Click (2001), Version 7.0: The Street Scriptures (2005), Guru's Jazzmatazz, Vol. 4: The Hip Hop Jazz Messenger: Back to the Future  (2007), The Timebomb: Back To The Future Mixtape (2007), The Best of Guru's Jazzmatazz (2008), Guru 8.0: Lost and Found (2009).

Filmography:

• Main Source music video "Watch Roger Do His Thing" (1990) (Cameo)
• Who's the Man? (1993) as Martin Lorenzo
• The Substitute 2: School's Out (1998) as Little B.
• Train Ride (2000) as Jay
• Grand Theft Auto III (2001) as 8-Ball
• 3 A.M. (2001) as Hook-Off
• Urban Massacre (2002) as Cereal Killah
• Kung Faux (2003) as Voice Over/Various
• Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories (2005) as 8-Ball

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru_(rapper)  

Written by

Amalahle Ashushu

Ndatenda

  

Ryvaloqulty Depoetiq Monk > The Gifted Poetic Soul

Limpopo is the northernmost province of South Africa. It is named after the Limpopo River that flows across the province. The name "Limpopo" has its etymological origin from the Sepedi word diphororo tša meetse - meaning strong gushing waterfalls. The province was formed from the northern region of Transvaal Province in 1994, and initially named Northern Transvaal.

This province has given birth to the gifted poetic young man by the name Kwena Peu. He promotes his work under the nom de plume “Ryvaloqulty Depoetiq Monk.” This nineteen year old gifted poet is originally from Mokopane near Polokwane. He is currently residing in Bloemfontein where he studies Quantity Surveying at the University of Free State.

It’s been a little while since we had been exchanging and criticizing each other’s poems. But, quite recently, after watching his live performance at Kovsie FM on YouTube, I decided to engage him on an email interview.

First and foremost, Why do you call yourself "Ryvaloqulty Depoetiq Monk"?

Well, let's start with "Ryvaloqulty" - I derived "Ryvaloqulty" from combining two words, which are Ryval (rival) and oqulty (derived from occult). The first segment of the name was just implemented to evoke superiority and envy from fellow poets. Not in a bragging kind of way, but in a more "I live up to word" kinda way. Thus, my "superiority" is backed up by the sublimity. I believe each poem possesses "Oqulty" (occult is the formal word) is synonymous to "esoteric," which means "something understood by a few." My primary school was just a hostile environment to me, as I was bullied and mocked at. Schoolmates perceived me differently, only my few friends understood my nature. Therefore my childhood encounters emphasized more on this trait.

"Depoetiq Monk" is just an additive. It's just that cherry on top.

What inspired you to write poems?

Like many, I've found this path through hip hop. Initially listened to commercial hip hop, it was only until my master (Tom Ravenus DaEmcee) introduced me to a more conscious form of hip hop. Through engaging with underground rap, I then bumped into Spoken Word, the impact was enormous. I've always been intrigued by the articulation of words in regard to how they are expressed. I then developed more love towards Spoken Word. I wrote my first ever poem (which is the one you've just viewed on YouTube) in 2010, driven by how one can confuse love to infatuation. It was just a great feeling to have ones initial poem gaining such love. From there on, there was no ceasing me. I was propelled by the artistic work of Inaudible, Afurakan, Flow, Gemini just to name a few.

Do you have any plans of releasing a poetry book?

I actually do, I'm already compiling poems that'll specifically be part of the anthology. But it's gonna be slow process as I wanna gain immense recognition first. I also wanna engage myself with rightful and loyal people whom will not exploit me. I don't have that much of experience, but I've gained enough to encounter "wolves in sheep clothing."

How would you describe your poetry?

"Sublimity through simplicity" - Alotah poets sees being abstract as the ideal way of reaching the peak of poetic dopeness. I prefer reaching the peak of artistic greatness through delivering pieces with a graspable effect. Tending to reach a wide variety of concepts through a simple, yet impactive execution.

What is your message to ghetto youth?

We live in a society whereby our conditions could inevitably shatter our aspirations. But that's no excuse to cease in our attempts of reaching our dreams. Love what you like, and it will eventually love you back. Life is more enjoyable when you're doing something you deeply love.

Here is the link to Ryvaloqulty's video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaObn3OAUP8&feature=share


Written by


Amalahle Ashushu

Kealeboga

Dark Blood - The Bard > The Spoken Word Guru

Port Elizabeth or Numb City as it is widely known by most heads, possesses a massive talent of artistic youth. One of them is the spoken word guru, performance poet, literature enthusiast and short story writer by the name Unathi Slasha. He promotes his work under the pen name ‘Dark Blood – The Bard.’ He hails from the ghetto township called Despatch. His love for performance poetry commenced when he got introduced to poetry sessions by a friend who was a poet. From there, he got influenced and imbued with passion to start writing.

On stage he is known for his spirited and energetic delivery and controversial style that comes out as a blend of street style yet literary poetry that involves socio political issues and historic events that tend to take any audience aback. One of his short stories and a few of his analytical poems have been published in an annual literary Journal called "Ntinga", and as well as in the publication called "Expressions within" both of these publications were/are initiatives of arts and culture and the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University’s department of language and literature.  During the operation of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, when some of the matches where held in Port Elizabeth, he was one of the performers that kept the crowd intrigued with his revolutionary  and unconventional poetry at the Port Elizabeth Opera House theatre.

He has performed in East London at one of the most prominent platforms known as the Soul Clap

Sessions organized and hosted by Ipoetry KaNkqo, Grassroots Arts Festival held in Motherwell, The Final Touchdown, Love Life Music is Life mini Festival. In 2012 he was one of the poets that were chosen to facilitate and demonstrate spoken word to high school pupils during the poetry workshops that were held in September during the National Book week at the Red Location Museum in New Brighton. He has performed at the 2013 Nelson Mandela Bay Book fair that had the likes of Ntsiki Mazwai, Don Mattera, Lesego Rampolokeng, Niq Mhlongo, Motsoko Pheko, Ayanda Billie and other remarkable renowned authors and poets.

He has also co-founded NMMU’s foremost spoken word and poetry society called the Resonance Poetry Movement, along with Sisonke Papu and Azola Dayile – which they have successfully managed to launch.

He has also worked with the NMMU International Office and the Centre for the Advancement of non-Racialism and Democracy (CANRAD) in the NMMU Africa Week in a public lecture delivered by Prof. James Ogude (University of Pretoria) in remembrance of the late Chinua Achebe and his impact on the African literature landscape. He has been featured as a one of the performers at the first ever two days poetry festival in the Nelson Mandela Bay: Praat Poetry Festival, which hosted Lebo Mashile and Lesego Rampolokeng as guest poets.

He has done much already. After viewing his profile and listening to the podcast of his poem titled “Black Paint” on Badilisha Poetry page, I decided to engage him on an email interview.

It went like this:

Why do you promote your work under the nom de plume "Dark Blood - The Bard"? Why did you choose that name particularly?

The pen name came into existence through an overwhelmingly obvious influence by the custom (in the Hip-hop culture) of rappers and emcees having certain names that embodies what a rapper or an emcee represents upon the microphone. One is bound to come across rappers who look out for traits, heroic events, actions and they get inspired by the lives of those people that came before them, then by doing so they later take the position of calling themselves after those people, in attempts to also mirror what the persons represented but maybe in a different light or field. But in this case of my own pen name, it is not like that really. It’s actually a compound: Dark plus Blood - which when I interpret it, to me would literally mean, a person who is to stand for or represent everything black through his literature.

One cannot live or exist without blood. To me it is a figurative word that alludes to all person of dark skin that are on earth, Dark-blood, would translate to, Black Person.

It is known that in Africa, particularly in the Nguni ways of life, we do not just randomly name a person, we always do the naming right after an incident or a circumstance, so the naming is of importance, but sometimes we do name a person, not after an incident or an event, but we name them with our eyes fixed to the future hoping the child would follow the path set before him/her, or at least bare the characteristics, or follow the path that the name he/she got leads him/her to go.

So the bard, what is a bard? I have been asked umpteen times about what this word means. A lot of people know William Shakespeare as the Bard of Avon, then automatically presume that that's where I took the name from. But this is not really the situation. In ancient British culture a bard was a professional poet, employed by a patron, such as a monarch or nobleman, to commemorate their ancestors and to praise their own daily or occasional, events, gatherings, activities. This is not something completely new to the Bantu tribes in Africa, in the amaXhosa way of life, we do have what we call "Imbongi Yomthomnyama," in my light, this person is not necessarily, literally employed, but he is always there at tribal events and gatherings, he is not told when to stand up and praise, but rather responds to a certain feeling that comes upon and enforces him to stand up and praise or throw stones at that specific thing that he thinks brings happiness or misery to his being, at that specific space and time. Now that's the bard. Even though I'm a bit different from that, because I write, I consider myself a 'conscience' bard that writes because a feeling leads me to.

I promote my work through that pen name because it fully embodies what my work is about. I chose it and formed the first part of it so to perfectly define with clarity what I'm about even before a person hears me, when they hear the name they are automatically forced to 'think' or assume that for sure this person is about Black life.

What triggered your interest in literature?

I would rather say it is the urge, the curiosity and the inquisitiveness to know. The desire to explore peoples minds', their beliefs, the ways of life, their world view, their commentary on the current status quo, their reflection on the past, how deep their imagination could get, and also the personal love and passion I have for reading and writing.

What does POETRY mean to you?

Poetry to me is simply ontological. To me it would mean more than just a collection of the most intricate words to pronounce gathered on the page and later stored in the mind only to be belched on stage. It has to have something to teach, it has to have something to say about your surroundings, the space you live in, your daily experiences, your beliefs, your lifestyles, and other things, there should be a message involved be it personal, political, secular or religious. It means challenging whatever one doubts. It means breaking the conventions, twisting the rules, mocking the orthodoxy of what we have been taught poetry really means. It simply means that one have to be an avant gardist, be free to write, recite whatever that you feel is right to you, as long as you can buttress that. Over all it means widening ones horizon of imagination, expansion of imagination, documenting experiences and sharing them only to prove that what we go through daily, especially on a personal level is kind of a universal thing. You could be convinced to believe that you are experiencing the worst ordeal ever, until you read a poem that gets you disillusioned. Only to find out that there were people before you, or living right now that are experiencing the very same thing. Sharing the same view and other things.

All in all to me poetry, in simple terms means to undress oneself only to expose ones naked soul to the public without any shame, regret, apology or remorse. That's poetry.

Do you have any plans of releasing a poetry book or DVD?

I never had a plan to do a DVD. But I think since you've mentioned it now, I should consider that one for the near future. But I'm currently working towards publishing a collection of poetry. And I've decided a while ago that the title is to be: “IT'S NOT POETRY, SAID THE PURIST”.

I think it’s obvious that the title is destined to create controversy. That's what I would like to happen, I mean since I am a performance poet, leaning towards spoken word, not to mean that I do not write analytical or page poetry as they call it. But I'm largely focused on spoken word. So the book I'm working on is meant to challenge the standard or criterion that has been established by the whole instructional- literary system, the very same system that constantly fails to accept and recognize spoken word as part of literary material.

What is your message to ghetto youth?

Simple. Nas said it to me and I'm going to say it to the ones coming after me: “Read more, learn more, change the community.”

Let us find other ways that bring pleasure, leave those that are detrimental to our beings.

Here is the podcast of "Black Paint": http://badilishapoetry.com/radio/unathi-slasha/


Written by

Amalahle Ashushu

Ndiyabulela