SHA CAGE

Bio:

One of the most dynamic spoken word artists on the scene, and a noted actress, Sha Cage performs across the US and internationally. She has been appropriately called 'The Priestess of the Word.' A striking mix of spoken word and theatre, her performances have left audiences simultaneously in awe and moved by her words. Not afraid to tackle difficult issues, her writing canvases topics from police brutality, the image of women in hip hop and commitment to community, and is rooted in her rhythms of her native Natchez, Mississippi. Her work has taken her all across the U.S, to South Africa, England, France, The Netherlands, Belgrade and Croatia, Mali, and Canada.

Sha Cage is an multi-disciplinary artist, poet, professional actor and playwright who works administratively with Mama Mosaic Theatre, Trú Rúts Endeavors and The MN Spoken Word Association(MNSWA). She is the lyricist of what the press quotes as "Trú Rúts' sexiest and creation; Dark n Lovely female group"

She is the recipient of several grants, awards, and commissions including a TCG, a Playwright Center Many Voices Residency, a Forecast Public Arts Grant, a SASE/Jerome literary grant and a Verve Grant. In addition to Mosaic's Women and War play, she is currently developing a new Hip Hop Theater play titled 'Fly Girls' which canvases issues facing women in the hip hop industry and provokes dialogue around race, gender and leadership.

She has played several starring roles such as The Bride in Blood Wedding, Venus in Venus, Hester in Fucking A, Women in Brown in For Colored Girls, and the Princess in The Green Bird. Her play Famous Amos, was produced by Illusion Theater to sold out audiences. And she has currently completed her debut CD, Amber People.

Sha Cage teaches workshops and is available for performances in all arenas and to all audiences. She is also interested in collaborations with other musicians, producers and artists. If you are interested in adding Sha Cage to your project, event or recording, for general booking, or to get her EP '14th Street Invisible' or upcoming album 'Amber People' you can contact: info@truruts.com. Or hit her up with a message here. Although her management team helps to maintain her site ...she sees every message that comes in and when not traveling does her best to respond immediately.

Member Since:

March 04, 2006

Members:

Sha Cage

Influences:

SHA CAGE
AMBER PEOPLE
Featuring Truthmaze, HipGnosis, Rene Ford, Amiee K Bryant. Produced by Ben Durrant, HipGnosis, e.g. bailey + Shá Cage. Executive produced by e.g. bailey + Shá Cage.

| Napster | Rhapsody


VARIOUS ARTISTS
WORDS WILL HEAL THE WOUND (VOLUME ONE)
Executive produced by
e.g. bailey + Sha Cage.

| Napster | Rhapsody

.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. THE TWIN CITIES FIRST SPOKEN WORD COMPILATION! Speakeasy Records' first full production release, Words Will Heal the Wound: A Celebration of Community Through Poetry, was developed from the noted spoken word radio series. Words Will Heal features the works of J. Otis Powell!, Arkology, Truthmaze, Bao Phi, ANIKA, Desdamona, Sister Mimi, Sha Cage, Slug (of Atmosphere), Wookiefoot, and others. Includes orginal version of Slug's "Hell's Playground". A must have for lovers of spoken word and those interested in the Minnesota scene.


TRUTHMAZE - EXPANSIONS + CONTRACTIONS (PSOEMS 1:1)
Featuring I Self Devine, Muja Messiah, Sister Mimi, Aimee K. Bryant. Produced by Jeremy Ylvisaker, Tom Scott + Ben Durrant. Executive produced by e.g. bailey + Shá Cage

| Napster | Rhapsody

.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. "Dubbed 'the Afrika Bambaataa of Minneapolis,' Truthmaze is one of the few MCs who could credibly rap, 'North Side full-throttle/Mister Influence, I taught Aristotle,' as he spits on his new, long-awaited solo debut, Expansions + Contractions (Psoems 1:1) (Tru Ruts/ Speakeasy Records). The album is a true event, combining the full range of his past live music and electro into a carnival of poetry, hard funk, and raw rap, with guests ranging from multi-instrumentalist Jeremy Ylvisaker to fellow ex-Micranot I Self Devine." -- Peter Scholtes, City Pages

Also available at Fifth Element, Electric Fetus in MPLS. And available at Exile on Main Street in CHAMPAIGN, IL...


ZELL MILLER III
EVIDENCE OF SILENCE BROKEN (VERSION POETIC)
Executive produced by
e.g. bailey + Sha Cage.

| Napster | Rhapsody

.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. The long awaited release of Zell Miller III's fiery debut CD. The poetic verion of the acclaimed spoken word and hip hop theatre production "The Evidence of Silence Broken", the CD shows why Zell Miller III is fast becoming one of the rising stars in the spoken word genre. With music by the always dynamic DJ Brainchild, this album takes you on a journey through a poet's birth and survival in this often chaotic world. (Note: This is not the soundtrack to the theatre production.)


NAZIRAH P. MICKEY
NAZIRAH'S PLAYHOUSE
Executive produced by
e.g. bailey + Sha Cage.

| Napster | Rhapsody

.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. Speakeasy Records releases Nazirah P. Mickeys debut CD Nazirahs Playhouse. A poet, playwright and spoken word artist, Nazirah has been nominated for the Spoken Word Artist of the Year Award by the Minnesota Music Academy; has worked with such artists as Sonia Sanchez, Quincy Troupe, Ruth Forman and Tyehimbe Jess, as part of the Hurston/Wright Fellowship, the VONA Fellowship and Cave Canems Master Class, respectively; was a member of the Minnesota Slam Team which place 6th in the nation in 2001; and was one of the recipients of the 2002 S.A.S.E/Jerome Verve Spoken Word Grant. A track from this CD is featured in Urban Bush Women's production "Hair Stories".


INFLUENCES: Sonia Sanchez. June Jordan. Amiri Baraka. Mama, Urban Bush Women, Rha Goddess. Jessica Care Moore. Ntozake Shange. Laurie Carlos. Youth of the Spoken Word Movement. Sister Souljah. MC Lyte. Nikki Giovanni. Dawn Renee Jones, Angela Davis, Mahmoud El Kati, College, Nina Simone. Oprah's business sense. Assata Shakur. e.g.bailey, young poets, Mississippi, Blues, Hip Hop, Elders, History, sunshine...

Sounds Like:

A cross between the powerful poetry of Nikki, the fierceness of Sonia, the spirit of June, the honesty of Ursula, and the theatrical flare of Ntozake, with a hint of Southern charm.

Record Label:

Tru Ruts | Speakeasy Records