About Qn Sheba @The Sentient Bean Sav,GA Sat11/21 7p,$10
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See you on the underground!
-Sheba
What are your options when you are 13 and already contemplating suicide?
You hate what you see in the mirror and your daily goals include drawing enough attention to yourself to fill the void of low self esteem with, at least, negative attention. We all know it is not what people say about you, it is when they stop talking that is the most dangerous.
My first therapist, at age 7, said to start a journal. Good thing I hadnt seen The Butterfly Affect then, I would have never started writing. By the time I was 9 my parents came to my first poetry recital. It was the first time I had to memorize anything; A Raison in the Sun by Langston Hughes. My father said that I was the best performer. There was no stopping me now. My girlfriends and I started making up dances in the living room in front of my mothers big bay windows. Hip-Hop was born in New York and we, in Detroit, held our boom-boxes to our heads and bopped down the street to the replacement of an old African rhythm. It was the first time black people found a place to belong in over 400 years.
At 15, after being kicked out for stripping in school, cutting class multiple times, kissing too many boys behind too many bleachers my parents sent me off to a youth home, one of three that I would ultimately attend. The journals never ceased. I carried them with me even when I was being moved from group home to group home, shuffled from house to house, hiding from abusive boyfriends and running from truant officers, the journals were my salvation, my refuge, my way to stay alive.
Years later in college, I fused my love for the stage with my story telling ability and introduced myself to Spoken Word. Then something else happened. My university made the same mistake slave masters did with the slaves they favored, they let me read a book or two. I showed a huge interest in the color of politics and why brown was missing from the rainbow. My interest in becoming a news journalist heightened until I ran into the Good Ole Boy road block. Innovation has been the middle name of most Africans living in America and I did what thousands of others did before me created a new way, created new venues, and created new platforms where voices could be heard, recognized and something we had been lacking since we were thrown off the ship, respected.
In addition to booking national and international artists to perform at my 5-year running successful venues, I am one of the only African women in America to found an international multi-day poetry festival: Virginias only International Spoken Word festival; Word Up! This festival became my biggest project. So many other ethnic groups had a celebratory time of the year to appreciate their art culture and the origin of their roots, I decided February couldnt house all of it in 28 days, so I added three more at the end of April.
This major project sprouted from a one night celebration then branched to a three day community service oriented arts and culture festival fusing visual arts and live music.
"Anyone who complains that spoken-word poetry is boring and predictable hasn't heard Queen Sheba's Domino Affect …" –Creative Loafing 2007
"Bethsheba A. Rem's life is a wonderful example of how extreme adversity can produce compelling art. Her story reads like a gripping novel, complete with abandonment, betrayal and ultimately, triumph." – Rolling Out Magazine 2007
Queen Sheba
The Below the Radar Tour
Official Press Kit for the 2007-08 Performance Year
Quotes:
"Queen Sheba is a dynamic performer…."- Nikki Giovanni
“… Brighton (England) is still in shock from a stunning Sheba performance, capping a great night with us at Hammer and Tongue…”- Sam, largest UK Slam Venue Owner/Promoter
“…A walking piece of art…” – A woman in Kroger
“Amazing!” – Anyone who sees her
Did you know that Queen Sheba…?
… is the Spoken Word expert for Red Bull North America? (for the geographically challenged, that does include Canada!)
… ‘s performance in the Netherlands, October ’07, will make her 3rd UK tour?
… is the only poet with 3 music videos?
… is in, Spit, a movie highlighting the lives of Spoken Word artists?
… hates folding clothes after doing the laundry?
... ‘s favorite food group is chocolate chip cookie dough ice-cream?
… has shared the stage with over 50 major recording artists?
… has held political positions with the Fair Trade Commission and the National
Organization for Women?
Who’s on, Domino Affect, the 5th album by Queen Sheba?!
…shame on you! You’ll have to get a copy to find out like everyone else! Let’s just say, there are 4 Grammy nominated soul artists, 1 Music Video Award nominee, and 1 Tony Award winning artist just to name a few…
In short: 60 seconds or less
Think you can’t get diversity, sexy, soul, world music, exciting, entertaining, sassy, classy and intelligent all in one package?! You must not have met Queen Sheba!
Even before Queen Sheba was named one of the 1 Ranked Poets in the World, as of the recent National Poetry Slam Team win August 11th 2007 in Austin, TX a veteran member of the Slam Charlotte National Poetry Slam Team, she hasn’t (and won’t) stopped moving.
Other artists may have frequented the television market numerous times, which would employ any average viewer to assume those artists are the Alpha and Omega of the Spoken Word community. Well, there is a lot to be said for behind the scenes. Somebody has to write the script, the score, the commercials, right?! Just because you don’t see her, means she’s probably working…
From Ghana to Compton, from coffee house to concert halls, from night clubs to coliseums, Queen Sheba has taught and performed in 8 countries and 3 Continents; Including appearances in Cuba, PanaFest in Ghana, West Africa, Winner of the 4 Nations International Team Slam Champion-Oxford England, performing for the troops on the US Air Force base in K-Town Germany and a teaching residency at the University of Ill, Urbana-Champaign.
Recently paired up, no pun intended, with a major shoe company to bring Poetry Slams to 5 major cities, earlier this summer Queen Sheba has released two new music videos, (that’s right! Spoken Word artists are doing music videos! You better catch up!) was selected to perform for the Rolling Stone’s 500 Songs for Kids campaign, Sheba also was picked to be the 2007 BET Lyric Café’s Featured Poet, works recently nominated for the NAACP Image Award as a part of the Check The Rhyme anthology from Lit Noire Publishing in Nyc and 2006's Just Plain Folk's Spoken Word Album of the Year; That’s just the first half of 2007!
In Stores-Online –Out the Trunk: While just releasing two new music videos to BET, VH-1 Soul and MTV UK, Domino Affect, Sheba's highly anticipated, recently released 5th album, whispers surprise appearances by, unexpected multi-platinum recording artists and other artists Too Good for Mainstream, was released Sept 8th 2007 , Domino Affect, and any one of her 4 previous albums can be heard and downloaded by millions on any mass media outlet, including, iTunes, Sunday Night Talks with Chuck D, XM Radio, from the Morning show with the Supreme Team on Clear Channel, your local Hip-Hop and alternative stations to classic jazz and world wide internet radio.
Without a place for Spoken Word artists to call home, the Queen did want most geniuses do, invent a way. Her ambition earned her the tenured CEO position of Oya Xclusive International a record label for poets; boasting 6 albums, a 7-year event planning and consulting company, organizer and co-founder of Akoben: Words-In-Action International Music and Poetry Festival. Rewarded for their commitment to the community, Akoben has been ranked as one of the top 10 world fusion festivals to visit. Top honors include New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin as he declared every 2nd weekend in October, officially: Akoben Weekend.
Notably one of the hardest working and more business savvy artists Below the Radar, Queen Sheba partnered with multifaceted event planners and introduced the Twisted Tongue Poetry and Concert series to Atlanta late 2006 with all sold out shows to boot. This premiere adult event has artists and eager audience members buying tickets and booking flights from across the country months in advance.
Sheba's literary training has landed her a feature in Rolling Out Atlanta, this April, and she previously won the VA Individual Artist Fellowship Award, has been published in Essence, Vibe, The Syracuse University Anthology "Home girls make some noise", The Southern Griot University of South Florida, Skipping Stones Anthology of Hampton Roads Poets 4-years running a plethora of online interviews, websites and journals. One of Queen Sheba’s favorite quotes is “I’m a genius!” When asked who she quoted she said, herself.
Yes, Queen Sheba has befriended and performed with numerous multi-platinum recording artists, however, we have a strong feeling her name is not in their bios either.
One of the most dynamic artists in industry Queen Sheba does, consistently, what the average artist pines over; Deliver.
Just got word that you are returning to B'ham to host the Latte Lounge. Awesome! I really enjoyed the show last time. Can't wait. Have a safe travel here.
So, if you haven't already heard, allow me to be the first to not only tell you, but CONGRATULATE you on winning The 2009 Urban Griot Award for Best Female Spokenword Artist of the year...
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NO, I WON'T STAND!!!"
So tired are these feet of mine, been catering to, and working hard for WHITE FOLKS all day long
Can't wait to give rest to them, the moment when I reach my home
Oh! Good, here comes the bus
Headed to the back I am, where the WHITE FOLKS seat US
In a SECTION that COLORED FOLKS were permitted to sit, is where I perched my behind
Stop after stop, the bus was now full, no longer available were any seats MARKED with a "WHITES ONLY" sign
To STAND the passenger could not, for it was LAW that all WHITES be seated to recline
In demand of a seat the BUS DRIVER turned to the COLORED portion of the bus' dividing line
Ordering several BLACKS from our seats he did, but, to BUDGE the body of me DECLINED
NO WAY was I to DETHRONE myself to SURRENDER a WHITE MAN a seat of mine
I paid my FARE, sat in the SECTION that DISCRIMINATION had given me
Now, to RISE for a WHITE PASSENGER because in his area no seats were empty
The COURAGE of me REFUSED to take anymore of the WHITE FOLKS desecration
From my seat COMPELLED I was, and HEADED to JAIL for an INFRINGEMENT of the rules of SEGREGATION
At the DRIVER of the BUS command, off the bus, escorted I was, by a WHITE policeman
Cuffed tightly behind my back rested my RESTRAINED hands
Now in a CELL encompassed by steel bars, the MIND, SOUL, and BODY of me had to STAND
Not for a doing of WRONG, but, for SIMPLY not GIVING what was MINE to a WHITE MAN
So TIRED was I, of being STOMPED and BEATEN by WHITE FOLKS cruelty, for possessing a FACE of a DARK SHADE
To have STOOD UP for the RIGHTS of SELF and MY PEOPLE, the PRICE to obtain EQUALITY was PAID
Now, on the BUS seated RIGHT NEXT to one another
Are the PEOPLE of WHITE FLESH and THOSE of COLOR
BY: Amelia Finley Copyright:2009
Inspired by the experience of Rosa Parks
One who steps into the unknown walking whole heartedly by faith alone. One who isn’t afraid to step outside of thyself and give to others willingly, as a seeker knows the Universe will repay ten-fold. The seeker is in search of not only knowledge of thy self, but of the Universe, The Cosmos and Perception beyond the five senses. The Seeker is one who is not necessarily wise, but one who knows through seeking, Wisdom will come. The Seeker puts their life on the line, because to live is to die and one has not truly conquered evil until they are willing to sacrifice their blood for the Cause of Spiritual Evolution…Yah Bless HIS Seekers!
Todah for the add. When time permits check out my blog and that new single STAND ON YOUR FEET BY PRINCE LAHAD...Definitely one for the Time & People!
Truth, Love, and Universal Light!
Yah Bless,
~Shalom
