The Last Word was my First Love

Back in 03, Spoken Word was wild out in these NYC streets. I don't know why I gravitated towards it, but... The Last Word was one of the first venues to catch my attention...

Walking into The Last Word, I was full of nervous energy... All my life, I had been a severe introvert (don't say that to the people closest to me... they will swear up and down you're lying). So getting on stage to do a thing was not in my bag as of yet. Up until this point, I had been doing small (and not so small) open mics, building up my name, and more importantly, building a portfolio of work that I was proud of. The only people that night that calmed my nerves before getting on stage... Mike Bean, aka, Beanology.... Inez Willoughby [Harris], aka, The Black Butterfly ...

[Inez and I] were a dynamic duo building on each other's strengths... I don't think I would be here now without her guidance, trust, and genuine love..."

Mike and I had been writing together since we were both in elementary school. It's no surprise that he and I would be here together, about to jump into this new space of performance art. Nez, though... We had only met about a year before, but as soon as we started to show up to the same places... we became inseparable. We were two superheros facing off against this world of Spoken Word; a dynamic duo, building on each other's strengths, while at the same time battling each other's demons... Yeah...We was that to each other. I don't think I would be here now without her guidance, trust and genuine love.

I digress...

Once I got on stage, the nerves left... My 10 minute set turns to a 20 minute Intro to Nocturnal Roots 101; Strong minded, Socially conscience, Lover of the word (and women). Speaking of women, I met one about 30 minutes before my set. I just remember her name (Afua) and that she had blue locs. I was so taken in by her presence, I wrote a poem called blue locs, spit it at the beginning of my set, and never performed that piece again.... After that night, I did get into the habit of writing on the spot about people in front of me. I think I was also given the title of Hoet...

I'm still off track...

I really remember The Last Word as not only being the first venue to give me an opportunity to be me, but also giving me access to a much larger world of creatives that I still follow and talk to today. I've never been a people person, but these were my people.... They taught me so much about myself and my craft... The Last Word gave me a place to belong once I came home from college, and I will always love that venue for that. Big Shout to them Tower Boys. Feenix... You already know... Rest in Paradise to my Big Bro BEANS... Love you.