JACOB H. CARRUTHERS FOR INNER CITY STUDIES
Khari B.
Truth tellers are not always palatable. There is a preference for candybars. Gwendolyn Brooks
He is fire. In a warm, cleansing, purifying sense. Defying any simple definition, spoken word soul artist Discopoet Khari B. has brought his unique blend of kinetics, music, and truth to burn up national stages, forums, and classrooms for a number of years. Feeding his audiences verbal soul food, whether socially arousing or enticingly erotic, Kharis explosive energy nourishes the ears, minds, and souls of all colors and ages while keeping them wanting more. He is a definitive Edutainer, a fusion of educator and entertainer.
Khari B. has been performing poetry since 1992 where he, by chance, stumbled upon an appetite for using his life long talent for poetry to reach, teach, and entertain willing ears around him after having his works requested in college. Donning the name Discopoet (a combination of his two favorite therapeutic releases), he went on to build his poetic notoriety throughout the country through open-mics and featured performances. Since then Khari B. has had his presence requested and hailed internationally while broadening his work to include educational instruction and motivational speaking.
Hes been personally recognized for his talents by the late, great Gwendolyn Brooks and performed with the renowned Last Poets via a personal invitation. By 2004 he had self-produced nine specialty shows at Chicagos HotHouse bringing young and old audiences together exposing various minority businesses, and a host of local and world-class musicians and poets in keeping with his belief of positively strengthening his community and secured his own column for the Chicago Defender. He has worked closely with the AACM Jazz organization, been featured in the Illinois Arts Councils Meet the Composer program and Sons dhiver Festival in Paris, France with Ernest Dawkins, four annual Crepuscules with Douglas Ewart, Princes Xenophobia festival at Paisley Park, and three Neo-Soul Explosions at Chicagos Navy Pier and DuSable Museum. Presently, he is the host of Soul Poetry Café, recognized as the nations second largest open-mic show and the Peoples Vocal Undiluted on WKKC 89.3-FM radio. On the cusp of nationally releasing his debut CD, WordSound: THIS AINT NO PUNK-ASSED POETRY!!! with the funk/soul band House of Twang already available on Apples I-Tunes internet network, he can be heard on two live recording with Ernest Dawkins Capetown Shuffle featuring New Horizons ensemble and Misconception of a Delusion, Shades of a Charade with the Chicago 12 available at www.Chi-creates.tv
Beyond the performances Khari B. consistently reaches youth through varying educational programs. He is known for his candid, open discussions in upper elementary and high school classes around the city. His writing workshops have been received by Ravinia Festival Program, Purdue University, and Verizon. He is presently developing his own non-profit organization that will cater to the literary, educational, and artistic needs in his own community and work to mentor promising youth in to grand adults. His general philosophy and theme behind his programming is simply Make it happen.
Discopoet Khari B. is available for performances, appearances, and speaking engagements throughout the year. For bookings, please direct all inquiries to Chamille Young at (773) 626-3546 or discopoetkb@sbcglobal.net. For more info visit www.Disco-poetry.com. Please support the arts.
Tags: Disco poet, Poetry, Spoken Word
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