False Prophet Poetry
November 2021
Mega Modd aka ModEst
"A Moddern Day Renaissance Man"
Take a moment to imagine the last time you felt free; like you’re on top of the world with people like you with no worries in mind. The better you can imagine that place, the closer you’d be to understanding what it’s like at one of Modd’s events. Mega Modd (a.k.a. ModEst) is a NYC native artist with a plethora of artistic practices and skills under his belt. He’s had his hand in everything from writing to music producing to painting and drawing; even clothing design and sound engineering have found their way into is life. The great thing about Modd’s versatility, and what I believe lives at the center of who he is as an artist, is that it’s ever expansive. He has this genuine, undeniable craving for learning new art styles and letting himself be inspired by them, partly motivated by the fear of stagnation which almost all artists struggle with on a daily basis. He utilizes his repertoire of skills to spread joy and positivity to his community, showing his audience love and strength through vulnerability and transparency. Getting to know Modd, both through studying his works and this interview (that I wish was longer), has been a really eye-opening experience that’s reminded me of the power of being yourself and creating solely because you want to create and not because of the expectations of others. Modd has been pushing himself further and further as an artist, breaking through his own creative limits to see how far he can get with the talent he’s cultivated over an extensive career.
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Modd’s creative life began before he could even take his first breath. His mother, a retired professional singer, would instill the curiosity in young Modd to try his hand at music. It was something that made him feel happy, something that strengthened the bond between him and his mother. Soon, he would pick up learning the guitar, spending endless hours perfecting each chord and riff until his fingertips burned and blistered. However, the catalyst that started the journey was writing his first song: a love song to a girl he liked. It’s a classic story, but the simplicity of it is important. Modd poured himself into this song and, once it was done, something changed for him. He had the assurance that this was possible; that this dream of living through art and music could be a reality for him. He then spent years writing music, going from one genre to the next. He spent some time making rock singles, despite the lack of acceptance from both the white community who predominantly listened to rock in the early 2000’s and the black community who had forgotten where rock’s roots existed. He then dipped his hands into other genres such as soul, R&B, and alternative rap, perfecting his personal style along the way. To him, it was about the happiness that the art brought him. He created for his own sake and not for the gratification of others and that’s a quality I’ve come to respect about him and his journey. Modd now spends his days rediscovering his visual arts side through drawing and canvas painting while putting out song after dope song on his streaming platforms.
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I asked Modd what he had to say to other artists, and he said that we should “be open to criticism”. A lot of creatives, myself included, tend to forget the value that constructive opinions can have while we drown in our own thoughts. It’s important to take the time to listen to what the world around us can offer so that we don’t miss out on the growth we seek. He also brought up an important note on introspection regarding criticism. When you’re hearing out the advice of the crowd, look into yourself and decide if this advice/criticism is valuable to you. Is this the path you want to take? Will this get you where you want to go or where they want you to go? At the end of the day “there’ll always be someone who doesn’t like what you’re doing” and it’s better to “have strong feelings than no feelings” (according to the artist himself)! Check out Mega Modd on all streaming platforms, follow his IG below, and keep an eye out for the many videos, singles, and events he has on the way. I promise you won’t want to miss a second.
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photo by Cameron Keon Sykes
August 2021
Awkwardly Khaotic
"Not A Resting B****"
If there was one word that could describe Awkwardly Khaotic, it would be serene. Awkwardly Khaotic, aka Kaniz (kah-NEECE), is a Brooklyn spoken word artist, poet, and an amazingly good vibe to be around. She frequents NYC open mics and poetry showcases in the hopes of sharing her stories with others. Kaniz, in my opinion is a “poet’s poet”. She’s been driven to writing by the happiness it brings her and I’m a sucker for that kind of purity in an artist. She exudes this sense of surrealness and transparency that is still there off stage, whether you’re talking about art, shopping in the city, cracking jokes, or getting tacos from your favorite hole in the wall. When you speak with her, no matter how long you’ve known each other, it’s like you’re catching up with a lifelong best friend that’s been away for a while. It should be a testament to the sense of tranquility that surrounds her that I couldn’t see one possible reason anyone wouldn’t enjoy her company. She, like many others, has been pushed away from her art, but is currently on the path of rediscovering her love and purpose for writing. Today, she shares beautiful stories of self-love, self-empowerment, hope, and what it’s like being a South Asian girl trying to free herself from tradition. For Kaniz, these stories are laid down as ladders, allowing other young women like her to climb up out of the same situations she’s found herself in.
Becoming a writer, for Kaniz, was an experience most writers would relate to. It starts with free time at school, an interest in literature, and a desire to create. She remembers that one day, during a 6th grade free study period, she decided to start writing what would be one of her earliest, unpublished pieces titled “happiness is like gold”. She states herself that, despite it being “cheesy”, there was something about it that she really liked and decided to keep writing more. She would continue to grow her volume of poetry, writing whenever the opportunity arose, and submit those poems into multiple competitions with the hopes of having them published. Feeling at home in her writing, she sought out other artists like her and started frequenting and performing at open mic events, such as those held by Shanice Ariel of Open Mic Renegades. To Kaniz, striving to improve herself as a writer and share more stories started to make her purpose more tangible. Later in life she would choose to reject the traditions of her heritage which she felt restricted her freedom and potential to succeed, as it has been and was still doing to other girls like her growing up in similar homes. In her own words, she seeks to “give a space to girls who look like me”. She also knows that, with her South Asian heritage, some of the topics she discusses, being mental health, sex and sexuality, and drug culture, are taboo to even address. Refusing to accept that, she performs exactly because she knows that these topics are ok to, and need to be, spoken about. Through her words, she hopes to spark the flames in others so that they can share words of their own, which I think is a beautifully moving sentiment.
Kaniz had three pieces of solid advice for other artists, both aspiring and veterans alike. “Don’t be afraid to talk to people”, “It’s hard to be creative by yourself”, and “Learn and experience art however you like”. If you take a close look at the state-of-the-art community of the present, you’d notice that many artists are closed off and unapproachable, scared to be vulnerable, or just straight up unwilling to share themselves with others. While everyone has their reasons, it’s important to come together, truly BE a community, and grow together, throwing off the cookie cutter path of becoming an artist that we assume we must follow. We work hard to understand ourselves and the world around us, cultivating our styles and stories to fit no other mold but our own. That is why, from the bottom of my heart, I agree with everything Awkwardly Khaotic has to say. It’s with this motivation that she continues to perform and meet other artists in the hopes of creating opportunities to collaborate, share ideas, and create new experiences. She also hosts a dope virtual open mic which she plans to hold bi-weekly through her IG Lives called House of Khaos where she makes exactly that happen. If you’ve been convinced to follow her journey as a writer and storyteller, you can follow her Instagram page down below. She is currently working on a collection of poems, tentatively titled Road to Kansas, detailing her journey into womanhood over the course of her life.
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Photo by Cameron Keon Sykes.
July 2021
Hattress Barbour III
"The People's Poet
Hattress embodies the characteristics that I hold dear in my own work: vulnerability, positivity, and self-love. His poetry and storytelling paint the image of a black man doing his best to uplift himself and his community as he uses his words to spread joy and healing to his listeners and readers. Hattress Barbour III, a Harlem native, dope writer, spoken word poet, storyteller, event curator, and low-key fashion designer and screenwriter, views his artwork and platform as a “catalyst for change” which he uses to speak on social justice and the intricacies of human emotion. He is very passionate about helping others and supporting his community and that selflessness bleeds through his pen and pad with every word written. Those words themselves, to him, are a “service to the people”, written with the intent to show love and elevate the people around him. For us who are blessed to be in the audience watching him spit poetry, whether on a stage or through virtual mediums, we are met with a sense of warmth and understanding akin to that given by an older brother. For him, it’s a chance to make a change in the world and put a smile or an introspective thought in the heart of even one person.
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Hattress’ creative journey began when he could barely hold a pencil. He always felt drawn to writing and he found that he was fairly gifted in the craft. Still, like many artists throughout their lifetime, there were always doubts as to whether this was the right path. It wasn’t until recognition for his work came to him in the form of a school contest. Being selected out of a group of contestants and having his work displayed publicly in Harlem had a profound effect on Hattress which would lead him to devote himself to his writing. Then, in the early 2010’s, Hattress got exposed to Def Poetry and had his mind blown. It was amazing watching spoken word artists, such as influential spoken word poet Black Ice, get to be genuine and soulful on stage and be loved for it by so many people. He sat there in awe as he found himself relating to the stories that he listened to, envisioning himself on that stage. It led him to write his first poem about what it would be like to have a daughter. From that point, he was hooked on the pursuit of creativity. Ignoring discouragement from peers and educators alike, Hattress worked hard to cultivate his skills all while working a multitude of jobs ranging from social work to working in a butcher’s shop. Along the way, he stepped into the ring that is spoken word and, in the 5 years since his first performance, he’s made a name for himself sharing his soul with the world and working hard to make impact after impact, changing the game one person at a time. One of his main goals regarding his work is having a positive impact on others and, in his own words, “If he can touch one person, he has succeeded”. He also aims to break boundaries and win a Grammy for his spoken word poetry.
When asked what his advice to other artists would be, Hattress said “stay true to you”. The importance of personal truth and vulnerability is so vital when it comes to writing and Hattress stays true to that belief regardless of the subject matter. He speaks to us from the heart and only from the heart and I feel like that was what truly drew me into his work. If you leave a Hattress performance with anything, leave with the idea that there is a man who cares deeply about you and wants to see you grow and prosper as much as he wants himself to. Hattress is currently working on 2 separate spoken word EPs: The Pisces Edition EP which is a journey of romance, tragedy, and self-exploration which allows us to understand Hattress as he begins to understand himself and the Tea Tree & Tequila EP which will be a collaborative effort between Hattress and amazing black women in his community who will narrate stories about black womanhood’s perception in society and the contrast with the reality of black womanhood. He has also recently released a collection of poetry titled If We Ever Were and, if you haven’t picked it up already, you’re slacking on yourself and potential emotional wealth. If you’d like to cop his book, keep up with his future projects, or attend one of his Poet Tree Open Mics, you can follow his Instagram, visit his website, and subscribe to his YouTube channel.
May - June 2021
Mental Health Break
No Showcases were published.
Thank you for your support !
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- Cameron Sykes
of False Prophet Poetry
April 2021
Amythst Siren
"'But A Humble Potato'"
Amythst Siren is, in a word, a “traveler”. When you listen to the words she so skillfully weaves together, you feel as though you’re following her on a journey through different realms of fantasy. Her use of imagery, emotion, and perspective truly give you an out-of-body experience which grows stronger as you allow yourself to be drawn into her voice. Amythst, known to her close friends as Kerry, is an amazing poet, model, and storyteller who uses fantasy to better understand the reality she resides in. Her life experiences are broken down and turned into colorful, mesmerizing stories. For those of us fortunate enough to be in the audience, it becomes a moment of blissful surrealism where life’s worries and struggles are painted in a completely new light. For Amythst however, these stories are her reality. They are her feelings, experiences, actions, reactions, and inactions all told as honestly as she can through poetry and the images created by that poetry.
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Amythst, like many writers, started her journey with a love of literature. Focusing on English & fantasy stories, reading and writing stories became a favored method of comprehension as she was able to better relate to the world around her, as well as the experiences she would have in said world, through her work. To her, this pathway for self-expression was vital. She believes wholeheartedly that “only you can explain who you are to others” and I believe that using one’s best means of communicating is a part of that sentiment. For Amythst, that became storytelling. She would use words and imagery to both express who she was as a person and to track the events and scenes she would experience throughout her days. The interesting part of Amythst’s story is that she originally had no plan to share her work with an audience, especially not on the scale that she does now. A few onlookers who provided positive reinforcement quickly turned to an entire community of artists who wished to see her grow as a storyteller and share more of her work. After being practically dragged to her first open mic as a teen, Amythst could no longer escape the allure of performing as she found spoken word added to her repertoire. She’s been seen on stages across New York, in venues such as The Parkside Lounge, the Nuyorican Poet’s Café, and The Well in Brooklyn. Her more recent modeling career began the same way as she was scouted by the fashion brand ModMara which set her up with an impromptu photoshoot. Despite the intimidating atmosphere, she quickly took to being in front of the camera and now, almost 3 years later, she uses her modeling to express herself and become more comfortable with who she is, inside and out.
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I will say, knowing Kerry personally, many people misunderstand her character. Though she is very strong, upfront, and bold most of the time, she also has certain moments of fragility, a desire to understand, and a desire to be understood which I find beautiful, and I believe is a very big influence on her artwork. Those desires motivate her to bravely explore the world around her, using her art to translate each new experience and image into poetry and prose. Now focusing her energy on sharing that work with audiences, she seeks to improve her skills to write stories which better convey her life and her perspective to her audience. Currently, she is working towards her goal of publishing a collection of poems while she searches for her place in this world of art and creativity. She has a Kickstarter slated for this month of April to help complete said poetry collection and is working on a poetry album she has titled Scenes and Siren Screams which she hopes to début soon. You can follow her work and support her journey through her Instagram page down below. I cannot wait to see what she will produce next, and I am thrilled to see how her collections of poetry will come out.
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portrait by Cameron Keon Sykes
February - March 2021
Mental Health Break
No Showcases were published.
I still appreciate you all though.
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- Cameron Sykes
aka False Prophet Poetry
January 2021
Sam Azule
A Voice That Can't Be Silenced
The one word that comes to mind when I think of Sam is “untethered”. In the time that I’ve gotten to know this wonderful artist, she’s shown me how beautiful the act of expressing one’s self is. Instead of letting her creations control and define her, she simply follows the flow that her emotions shift towards leading to multiple forms of creativity and self-expression ranging from poetry, journalism, and storytelling to singing, acting and even painting. The list doesn’t even stop there as her love and appreciation for the artist community around her gave birth to spaces such as her Mirror Talks platform where she invites artists, primarily of color, to engage in self-reflection through a myriad of topics such as accountability for one’s work, mental and emotional health, and education. This space she’s created allows people to have somewhere to feel safe to discuss what’s on their minds, occasionally allowing more difficult and uncomfortable topics to be shared and worked through with a group of like-minded, and sometimes unlike-minded, individuals.
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With her roots in visual art such as painting, Sam’s ability to create vivid expressions of emotion and passion can be seen ingrained in every bit of her work. Through her experiences growing as an artist, transitioning from painting and journalism to acting to poetry, Sam’s character as an artist had been tested almost to the point of quitting art altogether. However, after a long break away from creating, she found her way back to it through performing and written expression with a new outlook on who she was. The greatest realization that she experienced at this time was that she had to allow herself to be “open”, expressing herself outside the confines of labels and definitions other people chose to place on her. That realization carried over to her work and her spaces as she now strives to hold a space for others to realize their own greatness, their own magic. She saw the value in growing as an artist and as a human being so that there is no box that could keep you trapped and no label that can restrict your creativity and I really think that’s beautiful. Along with her Mirror Talks platform, she’s recently directed her attention towards written work, publishing and owning a publication.
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Sam is freedom incarnate when it comes to art and she refuses to let anyone stop her voice from being heard, which is something I’d challenge everyone to emulate. To keep up with Sam’s work, you can follow her personal page and her Mirror Talks page down below. She is also hosting a new installation of her Pocket Mirror series on January 19th where she will discuss spoken word poetry vs written poetry with fellow poet Joaquin Capehart. Check out her work and make sure to support her on her journey!
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*portrait by Elmer Quintero @elmzqphotos*
December 2020
Kimber Can't Draw
Creating For Art's Sake
When you get to witness Kimber’s work, you feel as though you’re being taken on a journey through her mind. She’s a highly talented artist who expresses herself through a multitude of art forms, ranging from beautiful paintings and line art to mind blowing visuals and woodburning. Unlike many artists who shoulder a burden or purpose when it comes to their art, she creates for the sake of creation alone, letting her work act as a window into her heart and soul. Each work of art communicates so much of who she is and what moves her that it would be more appropriate to call this an extension of her humanity rather than art as we understand it. Kimber is drawn to different forms of expression, especially those like line art which allow her to revel in the intricate details while also being simple enough in practice so she can drift into a Zen state of mind, letting her thoughts and emotions run free.
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She began her expressive journey around the age of 7 with drawing, becoming quite fond of the outlet that it provided. As she grew up, she exposed herself to as much artistic inspiration as she could to improve as an artist and better understand and express who she was. After an influx of influence from anime and other popular forms of art, Kimber felt she was losing her artistic self and took a step away from creating. It was only after her high school years that she returned to her line art roots, adding the soft aesthetic of cherry blossoms to her work which started to form the theme for her work today. Through interviewing her, I was left with one quote which I believe speaks to who she is as a human being and a creator and to who we, of the artistic community, should be. Her belief is that “everyone’s doing the same thing when it comes to art and that doesn’t allow the art itself to be successful. It’s what the individual brings that matters, that allows the art grow and prosper.” I have an immense amount of respect for her authenticity and her vulnerability when it comes to creation. I’d even go as far as to say that she is what I believe a true artist is supposed to be: someone who gives life to art to express their feelings and nothing more. She doesn’t tie her art down with responsibility and that freedom is something I hope to emulate as we grow closer.
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If you wish to follow Kimber and learn more about her through her work, you can follow her Instagram page and keep up with the amazing visuals she posts to her stories. You should also check out her website so that you can check out her past work and stay tuned for the innovative projects she has coming up by checking her New Ventures tab.
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photo(s) by Kimber Can't Draw
November 2020
Jade Brown
A Rainbow of Culture and Creativity
There should be way more people blessed to know Jade Brown and her work than there are now. An exceptional, published novelist, poet and creative writer from New York, Jade uses her ever-growing talents to speak on feminine liberation, queer incorporation, and racial politics. Through her poetry and storytelling, she strives to create dialogue and awareness for these issues, using her words to form a bond through which she and her readers can understand one another. She began writing as a young girl, creating stories for her mother, Roxanne. Developing a strong love for their shared appreciation of literature, Jade delved deeper into her writing and discovered poetry at 11, entering poetry slams and competitions to improve her skills. Soon after, she delved into theatre and drama at MCC Theatre Company before returning to fiction and attending BMCC’s Writing and Literature Course and then Brooklyn College’s Creative Writing program. Through her hard work and dedication, she was elected to study abroad at the University of East London’s Honors Writing Program.
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Her accolades aside, Jade’s writing speaks for itself. Her independently published novel, Vienna, is a beautiful story created with such care and passion that you can feel it through the ink on the page. Told from multiple different perspectives, it’s a story that challenges the reader’s thoughts and beliefs on many aspects of society, including religion, sexuality, sexual freedom, depression, obsession, and the perception of love. If you’ve heard and are fond of her poetry, then you will be pleased to experience her ability to string words together to create rainbows of emotions and lifelike characters in this piece. It’s one of, if not my favorite book and I don’t think I’ll ever let her forget that fact. I’m glad she’s allowed me to call her a friend and I’m constantly made proud by her writing endeavors.
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You can purchase Vienna and read some of Jade’s poetry on her website by clicking here. She also has a second novel, Hotel Stuff, that is slated to be completed and published early next year which I highly recommend you keep an eye out for. You can also follow her on Instagram to keep up with her writing, projects, and lovable dance moves!
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*photo(s) taken by Chebarrie Haynes (@iamchebarrie).
September 2021
Angiie
"A Voice That Won’t Go Unheard"
It’s amazing what one can do with enough hard work, dedication, passion, and resilience. If you know anything about Angiie already, then you know that she embodies these qualities to a T. Angiie is a spoken word poetess, visual artist, lyricist, and all-around dope creative writer born in Harlem and raised in the BX streets before finding her home in Brooklyn, New York. She bleeds NY through everything she does; you can see it in her words, her walk, her eyes, her style, and especially that powerful voice that refuses to go unheard. Angiie uses that voice and her visionary mind of hers to bring healing and awareness to her community. Whether you catch her lighting the stage ablaze in one of NYC’s many creative venues or you catch her speaking her truth on the streets and subways, she’ll show you why she deserves both your attention and your respect. There’s a subtle irony in the energy she gives off. Many people that know her would think of her as strong and unshakeable, but there’s a softness there which I think truly makes her work shine. She exudes this sense of pride and courage because she knows what it feels like to lack those qualities which speaks to her desire to motivate and uplift her supporters. She’s currently making her mark as one of the busiest artists that I know with back-to-back visual projects, poetry EPs and albums, and shows as she tries to push her art to new heights and make her name known everywhere.
Angie began pursuing writing as a means of connecting with her world around her. She saw the way her creativity allowed her to better understand her five senses and vice versa. The sensation of experiencing life through the lens of art drew her in and made her unable to turn back. So, to chase that experience, she threw herself into the world of poetry with the intention of sharing that same experience with others. She saw an opportunity to not only capture the hearts of regular people, but of other artists. Angiie believes that artists that pursue other forms of art, such as musicians and painters, see the world differently than she does as a dedicated writer. Therefore, she has taken to combining her poetry with music and visual representation in order to appeal to the entire spectrum of artists, bringing them all closer together through their similarities and making them aware of the negligibility of their differences. Using poetry as the glue to bind all forms of art together, she hopes to move hearts to action and become the voice of reason in a social climate where so many find themselves voiceless due to poverty, oppression, abuse, and neglect. Her personal goal is to act as “sage”, clearing out the negativity and foul energy that plagues her community while leaving a legacy of healing through her art and its impacts.
When asked what advice she would give to other artists, Angiie said that “even when no one understands what you are building, continue to build because even the building blocks are beautiful”. She has a strong belief that art is something to be cherished, regardless of form or function. In her eyes, artists like us don’t need to focus on what makes us different since it keeps us from learning from one another and growing our art in ways that would be previously unimaginable. If there’s anything that you leave with after hearing about Angiie, leave with the inspiration to open your mind to the possibilities that artistry as a whole has available to us, not just those of our particular practices. Angiie currently has a poetry EP out on all streaming platforms called Different Sides of She which is a definite must-listen. She also has new photoshoots, visuals, and other secret art projects in the works, so you can follow her on IG and YouTube to keep up with her and catch any of announcements!
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photo by Cameron Keon Sykes
October 2020
Jeri(ca)
Your Boyfriend's Favorite Poet
In addition to being one of the most supportive and loving friends I have, Jerica Deck (aka Jeri) is an established Spoken Word Poet and a Social Media Associate for Girls Who Code. She's directly involved in social media initiatives which help young girls achieve their dreams of careers in the STEM field by raising support for scholarships and educational/professional resources on platforms such as Instagram and Twitter. She was also recently featured in an interview on DoSomething.org for her lead role in executing the #BeHeard social media campaign which served to give a voice to black stories and to spark conversations on how to end racism.
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She also brings the same bold energy to her poetry. Focusing on women's issues, coming of age stories, personal trauma, and relationships, her poetry confronts societal issues such as cheating, mental health, and human rights while also speaking for other women of her generation by telling the story of her own life. She's been featured in numerous venues across the NYC boroughs of Queens, Brooklyn, the Bronx and Manhattan. She's recently broadened her creative talents to video editing and mixing rap styles into her writing.
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Check out her main IG to hear her poetry, watch some of her videos, and get info on her next show. She also has a second IG where she focuses on her work as a social media consultant and content creator.
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@jeri_rae
@jerididthat
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photo(s) by Cameron Keon Sykes
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