Meet the New VIPs (Voices In Poetry)...
- Rakeem Person
- May 6, 2017
- 5 min read
Surely, by now, you've seen the latest recorded episode of Artists Unleashed! Talent Show...if not, just go to Youtube and it will play for you right on the homepage. From the two headliners to the contestants to the artist spotlight— the artists unleashed. They shook off their nerves. Calmed the butterflies in their bellies, and unleashed!
In honor of National Poetry Month, each contestant included at least one poem in their sets. No music. No props. Just words and voices. Voices and words. And captivating poetry.
The audience chose only ONE voice to be dubbed Top Performer but I couldn't choose just one New Voice In Poetry as I'd planned. Contestants Lola Leopard and Dane Liem tied for the title with two poems that reminded me why I do what I do. My God!—The melodies, the honesty, the conviction...well, enough from me. Read for yourself...
Introducing OnlyOneVoice's New VIP: Dane Liem
Meditation
You have awoken the beast
Approaching your whole world is open to me
I pour my soul out give you open release
With this music— see that is my moment to be
This is my heart I love what I do
The media is feeding poison to you
I need more meditation I'm searching for truth
It’s cold in this world someone please bring me soup
More meditation more knowledge
You have awoken the beast
Approaching your whole world is open to me
I pour my soul out give you open release
With this music— see that is my moment to be
This is my heart I love what I do
The media is feeding poison to you
I need more meditation I'm searching for truth
It’s cold in this world someone please bring me soup
The whole world should know I'm the coldest on Earth
Give you cold shoulders take that for its worth
Can only go up because I came from the dirt
My music is pain but I fight through the hurt
Never switch up— you see I stay the same
My vision is clear— I just swapped out the frames
Monsters inside me, don't trigger the rage
Just let me be me and go back to my cave
More meditation more knowledge
You have awoken the beast
Approaching your whole world is open to me
I pour my soul out give you open release
With this music— see that is my moment to be
This is my heart I love what I do
The media is feeding poison to you I need more meditation I'm searching for truth
It’s cold in this world someone please bring me soup
The whole world should know I'm the coldest on Earth
Give you cold shoulders take that for its worth
Can only go up because I came from the dirt
My music is pain but I fight through the hurt
Never switch up you see I stay the same
My vision is clear I just swapped out the frames
Monsters inside me don't trigger the rage
Just let me be me and go back to my cave
This is the part where you fall to your knees
Beg me for Mercy but will not receive
My head is hurting from merciless deeds
It was necessary but scary indeed
I'm finding myself but myself is elusive
Nice on most days but some days he's abusive
Who he is fully is still inconclusive
One day he told me he was an illusion
All of these bills, I need financial aid
Slave to the checks but I'm breaking the chains
They say I should rap about money and chains
But I'm not a rapper you normally play
I am a rapper who spits from the heart
Came from the light to come fight with the dark
Internal light is like ice to the dark
They freeze where they stand then I break them apart.
© Donavone Henry (Dane Liem) All Rights Reserved Published online in SPEAK! Magazine April 27, 2017 Formatted for publication by Rakeem Person of OnlyOneVoice
Introducing SPEAK! Magazine's New VIP: Lola Leopard
Black World
America is not at war with other countries, they're at war with theyself— Why are we beefing with politicians when we're at war with ourself?
Even if the proof was in the pudding,
you wouldn't reach on the shelf
There's a difference between handouts and needing some help
Broken plans, broken hearts, broken smiles from empty promises Spirits running free with gilded chains roped to the impoverished Pay a penny for your thoughts and a nickle for your accomplishments Perhaps a rock and then expect you to polish it
The only thing we were ever given was God Pray to sky
'cause my temperament is growing vain, although I'm good its hard to decide
when you're killing the fathers, brothers
mothers, babies and cousins who never saw the light of day We supposed to let that shit ride?
The only thing that'll bring peace is "a piece"— and not of knowledge
That's the only time things break even,
until then they won't acknowledge shit
Born under the sun; so melanated down to my collagen Terrified I'll take over they city so they wont educate me with they colleges
They want proof that the delusion is ours They prostitute us to our own and then
the neck that is noosed can't compromise,
with loose ends that are tied
We need to start a revolution: remove pollutants, become a unit, create our own jobs
Somehow they infiltrated your mind then they penetrated your pocket
We being robbed blind
with no opportunity and no options
They're killing our people point blank
When we do it we get life and real killers just sit back and get a profit
Now I ain't a prophet
but I'm something close to it
Even the white community getting down with all the movements
But shit ain't gone change
unless you got the change to remove it—
And you niggas worried 'bout cars, clothes and who's dropping some new shit
Your favorite celebrity won't even speak out
You can't get a job so you hustling in the streets now
Not even for babies that be crying,
you won't reach out
You'd rather buy rims for your box Chevy
'cause it brings them freaks out
Let's keep it real; We are the world but never problem solvers
The closest thing we get to heaven is Barack Obama
Same kids, no daddy, but the same baby mamas
Same problems, same robbers using them same choppas
And now you embedded in hospital bedding half-deaded
Nurses changing your dressing 'cause of the problems you was addressing
Mama pleading and beggin'
She ain't ready to call the Reverend
'cause you played in the streets and your beef got your blood shed in it
© Lucretia Reeves (Lola Leopard) All Rights Reserved
Published online in SPEAK! Magazine April 27, 2017 Formatted for publication by Rakeem Person of OnlyOneVoice
There you have it. Two New Voices In Poetry. Curious to know why these two were chosen instead of the other contestants? Email bookings@only1voice.com and I may just satisfy your curiosity in a future article.
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