RIP Will Da Real One Bell

"I just got a knack for reaching people. I got a message that I'm trying to distribute, a piece of myself I'm trying to share." - Will Da Real One.

Sunday morning, the poetry world lost one of its strongest voices in Will 'Da Real One' Bell, from Florida. While i was saddened by the death of Gil Scott-Heron, Will's death was a blow to my heart. Even though we only saw each other once a year, if that, the feeling of family was always there.

My intitial contact with Will was in 2004 at the National Poetry Slam, held in St. Louis. At the time, all i could say was, "damn, that brother is tall." Fast forward to 2005, the Southern Fried Poetry Slam being held in Charlotte, Nc....and see the tall dude again. By this time, i had become a fan after seeing him at Nats and on tv. I wasnt sure if the brother remembered me from Nationals 2004 or not but he greeted me as if he did. Could be he had a soft spot in his heart for short people, i dont know. When Southern Fried ended, we had gotten cool...cracked height jokes on each other and just acted like kids. He made a new poet feel at ease.

So, whenever Will and i saw each other, the height jokes began. Him, always looking over and around me saying, 'where is Copa? i hear his voice but dont see him.' It was always in fun and love. He never let his celebrity get the best of him. He stayed humble and true about who he was and where he came from, and always showed love.

It was the attitude that made it a please to see Will. Just like previous Southern Fried's, i was looking forward to seeing the tall dude. Having another chance to talk shit, laugh with and learn from him. The Black On Black Rhyme Family and Southern Fried Family lost a member but we will always carry him in our hearts.

Love and Miss ya brah....

"I just got a knack for reaching people. I got a message that I'm trying to distribute, a piece of myself I'm trying to share." - Will Da Real One.

something new

i have a website www.copapoetry.com go check it out. i will still be posting here though.

today

im trying to write out, while adding body, pieces that are normally freestyled. this task is harder than i imagined. there was no issue freestyling the pieces, which were good, on stage....so, why am i stuck now?

the idea of a voice recorder came up. good idea...but then im more focused on recording than getting the piece out. on top of all that confusion, mix in me being sick and having a feature tomorrow night. bailing on the feature is not an option since I have actively invited people to come out.

lets pray everything works in my favor. Ashe.

back...again.

so, im trying the blogging thing again. this one is being done from my phone. i miss the connection here....facebook is cool but this is HOME.

so, im gonna start posting pieces, half pieces and partial pieces...and whateva floats my boat.

back...again.

so, im trying the blogging thing again. this one is being done from my phone. i miss the connection here....facebook is cool but this is HOME.

so, im gonna start posting pieces, half pieces and partial pieces...and whateva floats my boat.

since July......WOW.

daaaaang, i havent been on since july, im ashamed.

Grateful Day

Im grateful for:

*The Creator - for giving this sinner another day of life.

*Cookie - she is growning up so fast. i miss the baby she was but glad to see the woman is becoming.

*the parents - they keep holding me up when im slipping. im blessed to have them.

*Buffy made it through surgery.

*a trip to Chicago - being able to spend time with the blood family and poetic family.

*Winning a slam the Green Mill. the place was packed, Marc Smith remembered me and it was a great experience.

*finding my way through the maze of life.

*to all of YOU for reading these words.

*to the Most High, for blessings seen and those unseen. prayers answered and those not. You know whats best for me.

peace...

its been a minute but im back....

i still cant believe Michael Jackson is gone, its as if i lost a cousin. im expecting him to appear on some tv show claiming it was all a joke. i watched his memorial service, and while a little dull, it was entertaining. Al Sharpton gets points for the best statement; to Michaels children, 'your daddy wasnt strange, how people treated him was strange.' Al is still a media whore but he gets love for that. Michael was different but if you cant take a walk, go to the movies, go shopping or take your kids to the zoo...pretty much trapped inside. what kind of life is that? regardless of his mistakes, the brother still brought people together with his music. people of all ethnic make-ups would sing his songs, side by side, hand in hand...no other artist has been able to do it. he gets props for that.


im working on a poem that is slowly coming together....very slowly. i will be posting it here as soon as its finished.

quik update

Its been too long since i updated this blog but im going attempt to do better. instead of making this some long entry, im going to keep it quick and sweet with an update.

Update:

1. Before a tour date in Atl, a chapbook was put together, Life Lessons Vol 1. i actually sold and traded a couple at the ArtAmok gig in Atl. i so heart the ArtAmok crew for taking a chance on me. if you every get the chance to go down there, i suggest that you do...its beautiful.

2. im now part of the JK Publishing family. the company is responsible for publishing the work of Jon Sands and William Evans. it is truely and honor to be associated with such great writers.

3. i didnt make the STL Slam Team this year. it sucks in a way, but then again it could be a blessing. it let me know that more work needs to be put into writing. i was getting by with the same three pieces. while this might be ok for some, its not for me. im going back into the lab to write....i just have to find the inspiration. im not even upset about missing Nats this year.

4. did some studio work for an ep. studio work is NO joke, i thought it would be easy to just go in and do the poems and move on. nope, i kept messing up and messing up, it was crazy. I am determined to have this cd finished by the end of the summer. im thinking there will be 5 or 6 tracks on the cd, mixing the old with the new. it should be interesting.

5. attended Southern Fried Poetry Slam in Nc. it took some of the sting out of not making the slam team. I rolled down there with Poets in the Streets from Arkansas. we had a nice squade which consisted of Mo-Man and TJ from Arkansas, Kosher from OK, and myself. i dont know where we finished as a team but we made couple of the squads that went to finals, sweat! i was really proud of our guy TJ for making it to indies final stage....and winning it ALL!! I cheered for him so much, i lost my flippin voice! it was worth it though..

thats pretty much things. im late, i have work in the AM...so im outta here. not before i take a shower though, i watched the BET Awards and feel rather dirty!

onelove

Birthday Grateful...

my 40th birthday was two weeks ago, i am so blessed to have reached this milestone. im grateful for the Most High allowing me to achieve it. i have family and friends that wont ever get the chance to celebrate another birthday, so i celebrate for them while mourning them not being here.

i appreciate and celebrate life everyday because we arent promised tomorrow.