I (Poetik) have loved and filled my life with Hip-Hop culture starting at a very early age. I began as a simple fan, listening to the big names of time such as Jay-Z, Juvenile, and 50 Cent. This changed however as I grew older, my taste in Hip-Hop/Rap became more refined and I started listening to Nas, Jay-Z, Wu-Tang Clan, KRS-One, Del The Funky Homosapien, Aesop Rock, and more. It was at this point I began writing.

I started very basic with simple (some might say pathetic) verses scribbled on the notebook paper I should have been using for my classes. At this point writing songs was an occasional hobby because I soon found another medium, poetry.

Poetry was my escape and I amassed a noteworthy collection. But even though I was lost in poetic stanzas I never forgot Hip-Hop. I still listened and occasionally I would write a verse, which eventually grew into a daily process. In class I was writing songs, on the bus I was writing songs, at home I was writing songs, and when I went to sleep I kept a notebook by the bed in case a line would thrust itself to the front of my mind.

I decided to record using nothing but an extremely cheap microphone and some terrible software.. To this day I have my first recordings, and to this day I keep them hidden. But it was a crucial first step.

I continued to write, day in and day out and with each verse I seemed to progress. This continued for years until I decided to break from Hip-Hop and become involved in the local Hardcore/Punk scene through friends.

Going to local shows invigorated me, I felt something that was missing from my life. True passion. The bands I saw playing did so mainly because they loved the music and they loved the scene. I experienced the DIY ethic and a community that came together to better their area musically.

After a year or so I decided to start writing again, except this time I became involved with the local Hip-Hop scene. After some adjustment I began booking local shows, promoting other acts, and working towards my first album.

Since then three years have passed and while it was at slow start I'm starting to see my work pay off. I have an album due out in June, a local eZine, I was featured on my first mixtape, I'm booking successful shows, I'm playing on successful shows, and everyday I try to better my local Hip-Hop community.

I realized this is all a journey with no “end” in sight and the only goal is to learn and perfect my art.