Being born and raised in the cosmopolitan core of the “Big Apple”, the Rapoet never had to travel far to feed his appetite for knowledge and culture. In the first half of 2008 he taught and chaperoned a small group of inner-city youth on a trip to showcase lyrics in Mississippi at the personal invitation of Pulitzer Prize winning author of “The Color Purple”, Alice Walker. He then returned to the East Coast, and performed with #1 Billboard artist and Grammy Winner Common, as well as other Hip-Hop legends at various New England colleges.
By the time he was discovered and booked for his first official performance by #2 Billboard artist Talib Kweli, the Rapoet had already graduated from NYC’s most competitive high school (Stuyvesant), where he became the first Hip Hop artist to win the “Battle of the Bands”. As a student, he sold his first 50 homemade tape cassettes in 2 days, but he recalls that his proudest moment was passing science class by substituting a rap about the ozone layer in place of a final paper. He recalls, “I don’t know how I would’ve gotten through high school or college without the inspiration I got from Hip Hop culture.”
After coming up as an underground favorite in open mics and battles at Hip Hop crucibles such as the Nuyorican during the late 90s, the Rapoet was accepted to Trinity College in CT, where he quickly became the Music Director of WRTC 89.3 FM (the previous summer was spent DJing at a pirate radio station in Manhattan’s Lower East Side). He remained a DJ at the station for several years, famous for exposing listeners to underground talents such as had been exposed to him through Bobbito and Jay Smooth (WKCR and WBAI in NY), and Sway & King Tech (friends in CA recorded shows for him). Following a performance with De La Soul at the college, he returned to NY, where he was one of 10 entrepreneurship scholarship recipients chosen to study on Wall St. for the summer. Along with a cash prize, he won 2nd place in the business plan competition (based on running a music label, of course), but tragically lost his father to lung cancer in the same week.
Taking some time off from college, the Rapoet assisted 5 time Apollo Legend Jessica Care Moore in running her new publishing company, while continuing to win battles and perform with Immortal Technique, Wordsworth, Mos Def, Saul Williams, and many other respected MCs. During this time he achieved a childhood dream of performing on Bobbito’s CMFam, appeared in the multiple award-winning “Freestlye the Art of Rhyme” documentary, and was featured on critically acclaimed mixtapes by DJs such as Blowout, Black Panther, Ese, Johnny 23, Eddie Ill & DL. Much like 50 Cent, he was offered a nice production deal with JMJ Def Jam at this time. Though extremely grateful, his time spent performing, working, studying (including Donald Passman’s “All You Need to Know About the Music Business”, which explains how a platinum artist would earn less than $30K), and observing the number of incarcerated or deceased members of his community (including his own father), had helped him determine to complete his college education, before pursuing the business of music.
While finishing college, the Rapoet continued to win MC battles, record for other artists (such as Ceschi and the Sky Beneath), and lecture on Hip Hop at Yale and other New England colleges. Again, he used a love of Hip Hop to graduate with final projects such as a music production program for Computer Science and a paper on “Hip Hop as a Pedagogical Tool” for Education. After graduating, he was invited to perform at the 10th Annual Hartford Grand Band Slam (with no solicitation), the 1st Annual International Hip Hop Festival, and although tired of their antagonistic nature, he inevitably found himself nudged into a few more battles, which usually involved him beating a written punch-line practitioner with quick witted, off the dome freestyles. One night he was invited to an open mic, where the promoters loved him so much, they booked him to be the featured artist for the next 3 years. Due to constant demand, he put together and sold out 100 CD-R copies of a short mixtape dedicated to his deceased father. Yet shortly after one of the main promoters (a close friend of his) passed away, he found it best not to continue running the open mic.
While still answering requests to collaborate on records and perform live, Self Suffice the Rapoet was invited to perform with the Monsta Island Czars, rocking the DMC regionals, CMJ music marathon, and other events, as well as recording under the name “King Orga”. He believes, “The Czars play an important role in ‘repping’ Manhattan as an underground mecca of Hip Hop”, and fondly recalls beating MF Grimm at a game of chess (although he admits Grimm killed him in the very next match). Soon after working with the Czars, he recorded an 8 track demo album with Mez (formerly “Destroyah”) and Young Cee (producer for 50 Cent, Little Brother, etc.) entitled “Manhattan Night”. In 2008, at least 200 hundred copies of the CD have been requested and Hip Hop heads are already calling it names like “favorite” and “classic”. (By the way, they wrote and recorded all 8 tracks at Mez’s apartment - in one day!) As you might expect, the Rapoet and Mez are currently running a contest to remix the album (producers check rapoets.com for details), so they can record and release it professionally.
The Rapoet has recently appeared on PBS and NPR in an in depth interview, sporting his rare, limited edition “Rock Mikes” Hip Hop kicks (sneakers), and aside from the recording and performing, is currently teaching inner-city youth creative writing through Hip Hop. He spends his free time with family and real estate investing.
BOOKING:
The Rapoet can be booked with a live band for a few thousand dollars, and solo for one thousand (including Hip Hop based lecture and discussion for college classrooms/venues). He regularly accepts smaller gigs local to the New England and Tri-State area for a few hundred dollars, as well as tele-consulting at $100 per hour, and workshops at $50 per person (lyric writing, music production, selling music online).
site: rapoets.com | email: suffice(at)rapoets.com
Hey thanks for the add RapOet. I got that real Hip Hop fam, let me barrow ya ears 4 a hot sec. Just hit this green I-con to peep my track “Da Intro”. Just like Obama I need ya support so don’t forget to vote for me if u like it. I really appreciate your time.
Thanks and peace, Khanflict
P.S. If you like what u hear go to my main page for more heat!
