The People's Mic welcomes artists of all backgrounds at any level of their craft to share their art.

Artists support artists, so we're happy & honored to share some projects here. If you're an artist, have performed, and want to see your work here, please reach out so we can put you on!

For The People's Mic's second live virtual event, I wanted to celebrate and highlight Black artists who have influenced me in their art & power. As a spoken word poet and hip hop artist, I am indebted to the work of African-Americans. As a non-black woman of color, I recognize how important it is to show love in times of both war and peace.  

And it's very much the former. In this time of blaring truths on screens small and wide, where human rights abuses are shrugged off by half the national population as political events to be undermined, it's even more important to show the love. 

If you were able to join us for the live open mic, thank you for tuning in & contributing to a space meant to share love for a people whose beauty, art, and resilience has powered so much of modern culture today. Black people have contributed so much to our political space, science, and academia as well, but my focus here is the art. 

Here are several videos for you to explore some poets & artists I admire and who have empowered me to pursue & express my truth and essence. 

Lynae Vanee @_lyneezy
Logan Grendel @focusedoninfinity
Charity Cross @oldchapcharity

Join us for the next People's Mic on Wednesday, March 25th!

Art is for the people by the people. 

There is no greater reminder of that than recognizing all who contributed to produce a piece of art. 

This time last year, I was one month into the production of my first solo EP The Book of Cosmosis. I had been in conversation with producer, MC, and videographer Symmetry for the months leading up to 2020. We were both excited to venture into a project that could push the boundaries of underground hip hop. We didn't anticipate an incoming pandemic to fuel the inequalities we aimed to address. 
 
The next few months, coupled with the unraveling of COVID-19, involved weekly sessions with Symmetry and collaborations with local hip hop artists, which also produced a separate collaboration EP with Psydeshow, Tre Dots, and Luna Crave. The tongue-in-cheek project titled Current Virus celebrated artists' power and resilience as we persevered through changing times. 

Inspired by the artistic community around us, Symmetry and I powered through the creation of both The Book of Cosmosis and Current Virus. We believed our contribution could further empower artists and the communities we come from. This has become the seed for Greenboro, an artist community that continues to grow and develop. 

Fast forward past some grueling months, the photoshoot to create The Book of Cosmosis' EP Cover was a godsend - a symbol of a nearly-completed project and the culmination of creative worlds. 

The cover photo was taken by Psydeshow, a photographer, MC, and producer, who is also a long-time friend and who was responsible for my first recorded hip hop verse on "Earthquake" off his EP Testimony of a Freak. His latest track SLUMP! for his upcoming album goes just as hard (or dare I say harder). 

The photoshoot also wouldn't have been possible without my friend Marisa Llamas, an actor, comedian, and stylist. She's the type of friend who will let me know when shit is not right - perfect for my own takes on fashion! Her creative work ranges from comedic skits, fashion vlogs, as well as film production. A notable recent work is a social parody music video infamously titled "BVE (Big Vag Energy)". 

I'm blessed to have the support of a talented and visionary team that made this all happen. Every artist involved brought their professional expertise and insight to create the memorable cover for The Book of Cosmosis. 

Shortly after the EP's release, one of my good friends, Vannie Bunnie, recreated the cover art in her unique style (shown above).

Be still, my heart.

We all know art inspires art, and to experience it spanning different genres of art while also connecting my good friends is no less than a saving force. 

When you have a chance to listen to The Book of Cosmosis and Current Virus, please remember the people who contributed to make it a reality. Listen to their work, watch their productions, and expose yourself to the talent around you. And when you are manifesting your masterpiece, don't forget the artistic community that supports you. 


​
​​Producer, Videographer
Symmetry
Instagram @symmetryonline

Photographer
Psydeshow
Instagram @psydeshow

Stylist
Marisa Llamas
Instagram @dapplegreen

Graphic Artist
Vannie Bunnie
Instagram @bunnielovebox