- Only The Beginning -

Born in the four quadrants.
Raised on the DC streets starting in South East Washington.
Sensitive child and natural visual artist.
Skills nutured in the projects.
Put pencil to paper while engaing in creations from young imagination.
A means of escaping.
Illustrating the page while learning effective communication.
Illustrating away young pain while learning to control anger.

Turn the page to adolescence.
Still combatting emotional pestilence,
But pencil is no longer-the solitary weapon.
High-school teachers encouraged creative writing.
Put pen to page, and finger tips to typing, it was exciting.
New worlds were created.
New characters were born.
New mentality through new art form.
Communication no longer the primary issue.
New mission: find new individuals to communcate to.
Become a vessel to communicate through.

Turn the page to young adult age and college days.
Peers propose putting poems on the stage.
Reluctance and fear caused hestitence, but creativity never gave way.
Still crafting images,
Now through poetic prose and musical lyrics.

After college it became serious.
Writing grew from pass time to passion.
Practicing polygomy with multiple marriages.
To wife, notepad, and sketch book.
Together we all functioned.
Then came the microphone's introduction.
Now they all get time.
God and wife are number one,
But they share the mind with drawings, poems and rhymes.
From short-stories, to spoken-word performing and dope vocal recordings.
From sharing with friends to engaging podiums
And showcasing at the Smithsonian. -
From the first breath of air in my lungs, to Cerebral Volume 1.
From sketch pads and pages, to rocking mics and blazing stages.
From relative obscurity, to 4 NUSPA nominations.
Much more than entertainment.
Writing to invade brains and change behavior.
Every moment giving glory to my Lord and Savior.

And this... is only... the beginning...

Timeline...

-April 2005- Next Year | Back to top

First-time on stage. BrickHouZe Productions Erotic Slam Competition.-Finished in the top 7.

-July 2005-

First feature performance. The Fountain of Truth at Phish Tea Cafe in D.C.-Hosted by 1 Wise African, Joe Briggs

Released debut CD, Cerebral: Volume 1

-August 2005-

Second feature. For Poetry Lovers Only at DuKe City in D.C.
Hosted by Kuroji Ntu.

Feature. Smokin' Word Revolution at Sylvan Beach Cafe in Baltimore, MD.
Hosted by E the Poet Emcee and Love of Torchlight Entertainment.

Feature. Nagchampa Poetry and Jazz at Bohemian Caverns in D.C.
Hosted by Dehejia Maat.

-September 2005-

Feature. SPIT DAT at Mocha Hut in D.C.-Hosted by none other than
Droopy the Broke Baller of Straight No Chaser Films.

Aces Wild Slam Competiton at Duke City. Presented by BrickHouze Productions. Hosted by Raquel Brown.-Finsihed in 3rd place. Only a 0.6 points away from the win.

Performance.The 7th Annual Black L.U.V. Festival in Washington D.C.-Representing Black Out Arts Collective.

-October 2005-

Feature. Pookie's Gallery at Club Mirrors in D.C..
Hosted by Raquel Brown

Gripp the Mic II Invitational Slam Competition.
Hosted by Komplex of Love, Peace and Poetry Ink Operated. 3rd place tie with Lyrical the Lyricist.

-November 2005-

Visual Arts Show. Pookies Gallery. Theme medium "All Pencil."

-February 2006- Previous Year | Next Year | Back to top

Hosting. "And It's Deep Too, The Richard Pryor Story" at Old Town Theater in Alexandria, VA. Starring T.A. Battle.

Smithsonian Institute Black History Month Slam Showcase. At the-Smithsonian Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C..
HIGH SCORE!!!

U.S. Attorney's Office Eastern District of Virginia Black History Month Program-In Alexandria, VA.

-April 2006-

Feature. The Fountain of Truth at Cranberries in Upper Marlboro, MD.-Hosted by 1 Wise African.

Feature. Chocolate City Soul Mondays at Martini H St Lounge in D.C. -Hosted by Komplex.

Performance. 2nd Annual National Underground Spoken-word & Poerty Awards (NUSPAs) in Alexandria, VA. Presented by Great Publishing Company and hosted by Komplex. -An All-star line-up, including a special spoken-word perfomance by Big Slli'm, who was-nominated for 4 NUSPAs in the the categories of: Best Male Performance, Most Creative-Cover Art, Why Didn't I Think of That, and Spoken Word Album of the Year (Cerebral Volume 1).

Feature. Warm Wednesdays at the 5 Seasons Bar and Lounge in Baltimore, MD. Hosted by Rebecca Dupas and Walter Jones, with DJ Lil' Mic spinning.

- May 2006 -

Feature. Spoken Serenity Be Free Fridays at Tea-ology in Baltimore, MD. Hosted by Love of Torchlight Entertainment, and Just Love Poetry Inc.

- June 2006 -

Hosting. "Can A Sista Rock a Mic?" Summer Luv Festival at RnB Coffee in Washington, DC. Presented by Kimani Anku and Brandon of Soul . Showcase included Rhapsode w/Tangible Truth, Allison Carney w/Soulstice, Ebony Jackson, P.O.C. w/Shea ButterFly and Tri-Flava and 13 of Nazareth.

- July 2006 -

Performance. "The Best of Warm Wednesdays" special showcase at 5 Seasons Bar and Lounge in Baltimore, MD. Hosted by Rebecca Dupas. Special performance by Slli'm in an all-star showcase including Archie the Messenger, Lyrical the Lyricist, Love (Torchlight!!!), Lamar Hill, Rebecca Dupas, and more.

- August 2006 -

Feature. "Fusion Sundays" poetry and live jazz . Presented by Fredlocks of MicLife Magazine.

- September 2006 -

Feature. The Fountain of Truth at Phish Tea Cafe in D.C.-Hosted by 1 Wise African, Joe Briggs.

- June 2007- Previous Year | Next Year | Back to top

Feature. The Attic @ The Spot Upstairs in D.C. Hosted by Komplex of LPandP. Presented by Beny Blaq of BBE.

- July 2007 -

Feature. Poetic Situations @ International Grille in D.C.-Hosted by Kuroji Ntu of Ntu Films.

- September 2007 -

Feature. Jena 6 Rally @ The Mall on Washington. Hosted by the pride and solidarity of Africa's decendents in America.
Hosting. Spit Dat @ Mocha Hut Cafe in D.C. co-hosted by Dwayne B.

- November 2007 -

Feature. Cresent Moon Nights @ Mocha Hut Cafe in D.C. Hosted by Tahir.
Feature/Interview. April Sims A & E Radio @ www.blogtalkradio.com/aprilsims . Hosted by April Sims and The Poetry Man.