Freedom Verse Café

The Messenger is Coming!!!

For Release 9 a.m. PST
January 20, 2010

Emet Productions Announces New Album “The Messenger: Chapter One”

HONOLULU — January 20, 2010 — Today the independent artist known as Tshombe (the Poet) announces his intention to release his new album “The Messenger: Chapter One” this coming February. It has been two years and few hundred poems since his last solo project. In the early months of 2009 Tshombe released his first collaboration project free to the public as an appreciation to the supporters of his art. Tshombe’s second solo project has been long awaited and has been kept quiet in regards to a definitive release date, but the wait is over. The Messenger is scheduled to be released on Tuesday the 23rd.

Chapter One is the beginning of a series of releases under the title of The Messenger that will focus on Tshombe’s new prospective on purpose driven poetry and the "spoken word/performance poetry" art form. This new outlook and transformation began with a deeper look at the arts of “spoken word” poetry, its history, and the rapidly emerging generation of pseudo-poets in today’s highly expressive atmosphere. After three long years of interviewing prominent poets/artists on Freedom Verse Café, studying the works of poets from Amiri Baraka to the young Autum Ashante; His strong messages and tonality will indeed rock your thought process, and you will feel the strength of his faith and convictions in delivery. So be prepared for the release of The Messenger: Chapter One coming this February 23rd.

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For more information on The Messenger:
http://www.tshombethepoet.com
847.201.4741
Tshombe.sekou@gmail.com

A Conversation on Poetry

I recently participated in an online radio show conversation with the host of “Lyrical Divas”, MzSpoon, a poet in her own right sharing in her discourse regarding “lascivious” poetry and the poetry community. I decided to attend this session for a number of reasons, but the primary was to learn what I could from her discourse.

This to me is an important time in this new era of spoken word and the spoken word generation of this decade. I say this generation, because there is a rift between the generation of the black arts movement and this generation ofthe 2Ks. Poetry has become a rapidly growing social culture; growing in many ways and in different directions of styles and formats. There is a huge influx of poets who are trying to define what is and isn’t considered spoken word poetry. The very idea of trying to define this has caused huge tears in the production of art which in my belief can be remedied. In my opinion the answer to this overwhelmingly complex definition is a simple one: education.

If the poets who raise such arguments took even a small portion of the energy they spend fighting the current of art on studying, they would indeed find that poetry comes in a myriad of forms. Now, because I am giving you this answer, does not negate the need to study further; for to find foundation in my simplistic answer requires your digging for the truth.

As one poet so eloquently put it, we are in a time of “poetic illiteracy” (U’Nek Reality) when it comes to this new era. We cannot spend so much time leaning on our own understanding trying to define and confine art to fit our own convictions or writings. In doing so, we do more harm than good to one another mounting campaigns to disprove/discredit a segment or subgenre of art; this would be as cutting of the face in spite of our nose.

We must spend more time studying life, ourselves, and those around us and maybe, just maybe we will find the center and peace in defining our own poetry and how it fits in the grand spectrum of art. Truly search within self to define your own purpose for writing and delivering your craft; I mean this not as the reason YOU make (in staged answer) for your poetry, but the spiritual and mental purpose.

Have a listen to this conversation if you will:

What Is Your Purpose in Art?

In a weekend relaxation I took sometime to reflect on on the artform of spoken-word poetry and what my view of how an artist should define themselves as artist; I came up with four basic yet complex questions that should encompass the definition by which one presents their art.

These questions are meant rhetorically or non; however, they must be answered to defines one's true purpose in art. Why do I say in art? Well, art is revolutionary (define) in nature, therefore needs a purpose of cause. Before we get to the four questions let's lay down a baseline for rational response.

Let's start with purpose. Whether you have an idea of a poem or guided by spirit to deliver a message, it must be driven by a purpose (reason if you will), otherwise there is no need for the creation—the creation is a reaction of purpose. Now, understand that the purpose is not defined by its side effects (responses by readers/listeners), but by its reason for creation. Note, this is not to be confused with what one perceives from the work, for that is another uncontrollable factor. If the purpose is strictly to entertain, then that is its purpose; if it is to educate, then of course the artist must know the purpose of the lesson before delivery. No matter the purpose understand the premise and prepare for the results.

Cause and Effect. Once the purpose is defined, one must then define the methodology and vehicle/medium for delivery and the desired outcome. If the effect does not meet the satisfaction of cause, then one must solicit insight of purpose, and re-examine the methodology. Know this, there must be a cause and effect to all things no matter the defined purpose; for your words permeate and are subservient to your thoughts.

Impact. This is by far the most rewarding if the cause and effect are met with satisfaction. The impact of your work is defined by the receivers; however, if not carefully examined it can be the most poisonous. If one is driven by praise delivered sycophantically as a measure of impact there will be no growth or true impact. This type of purpose creates a facade and is deadly in nature to growth in art. However, if one can measure the impact of his/her works based on the change they create within those they reach, then they have indeed mastered the purpose of their creation.

Incited Revolution. In the beginning I mention that all art is revolutionary. This is a true statement no matter the way one defines revolution; I define revolution, for the purpose of my creations of art, as the "transformational change" of the mind, body, and spirit. When you can speak in a way that causes change in another's existence, it reformats the tabula rasa, and the transformation is reciprocated and multiplied in a contagious manner to incite further change beyond your expectations; you have truly sparked a revolution. This should be present in all purpose of art.

Relevance. There is nothing worse than spoon-feeding someone something that is not necessary to them. Yes, I know that one man's trash is another's treasure, but what happens when trash is just that...trash? Not every discourse has value to the general populous, and this is something that must be considered when one prepares. Not every idea is a great one and we can't always hope that someone will eventually connect with the discourse simply because we said it. Considering the relevance is as important as the purpose, so one must take careful consideration when it comes to content and its cause, effect, impact, incitement, and relevance to all who will patron their creations.

These are my views and understanding of Art and how one defines them as artist.

Answer the following four questions:

1. What is the cause and effect of your "spoken-word"?
2. What impact are you striving for when one takes in your words/life?
3. What revolution (define) are you inciting?
4. How relevant are your words to someone who doesn't know you?

Note. I find these questions to be the apogee of defining yourself in this artform.