Artist of the Week: Blade Brown

Name: Blade Brown
Hometown: Long Island, NY
Current Town: Atlanta, GA





How would you describe your art form??
I guess you'd call me a Poet.
Typically, I prefer to write about anything dealing with unbalanced emotions –and not that nursery rhyme shit, either. I mean real shit that people go through on a daily basis. Love lost, annoying ass children, wanting to kill your dog because he pissed on your carpet one too many times this week—shit like that. The catch is that I’m usually referring to an internal conflict or something that has an ulterior meaning. Not necessarily MY conflict, but a conflict that someone has faced or will soon face. Perhaps, killing the dog represents destroying an ego that continues to shit on any relationship you try to build—the relationship being the carpet, aka foundation. I dunno—that’as just an example.
I feel like, with poetry, because it is so under-appreciated, you have to draw people in and make them feel as if they understand. If your delivery is massive, they’ll remember it. They may not get the deeper meaning at that point, but eventually, they’ll have that “Ooooh, that’s what he meant” moment.
Metaphors and Personification are my right-hand men, so, with them, I can make anyone feel as if they can relate.

How'd you get your name??
Ha! Blade Brown came about one spring break when some friends and I were just sitting around. I don’t remember the exact conversation but I do remember from that day forward it kind of just... stuck? The funny thing is it actually fit perfectly. The original Blade Brown (Class Act) was an aggressive guy. He didn’t take shit from anyone and he had this confidence about him that, even if he was wrong, it would make you think he’s right. That’s exactly how my (performance) poetry comes across--Really aggressive and hostile, even at times where it shouldn’t be. It can come off as pain or hostility; depending on the piece.

How did you start??
Wow… I started writing back in the 6th grade. I remember sneaking into my cousin’s room, sitting on the floor, and reading her Diary. The shit she wrote was far too hilarious to keep to myself so, in an attempt to mock and make fun of her I wrote some bullshit of a poem about her boyfriend kissing her. I don’t remember the damn thing—but I’m sure it was some “roses are red” type of shit. Real wack. The funny thing is, she loved it! Then she told me “you should start writing more poetry” Haha!
So, the joke was on me but it birthed something new.

Favorite place you've performed??
I don’t think I have a favorite place—I don’t think I’ve been around enough to claim a favorite or least favorite.

What is your inspiration??
Umm… I guess Pain is my inspiration. I feel like it pulls out your inner Super Hero …or Psycho. Through pain, you can see how far a person will really go. You see who they really are and what they’re willing to do to end it. Pain can manipulate, destroy, or rebuild—it’s some powerful shit.

What are your goals or what do you hope to accomplish with your art??
Well, I guess I’d first have to get back into the swing of writing. That’d be my first goal. Long term: I want to write one piece that captivates the masses. I don’t want to be an acclaimed poet or compete in Slams worldwide. That shit doesn’t interest me—I just want to write ONE piece that travels on it’s own, regionally or nationally. I mean, obviously, I’d have to put it out there—maybe I’ll do a Youtube video or some shit like that, I dunno.

What is your favorite piece you've done??
Let’s see… MY favorite piece would have to be “Bottled In” only because when I wrote it, I was going through so many different emotions and the only way to let them out were to either kill someone, or write about it. Obviously, I chose the latter. The reason I love it so much is because it captivates EVERYTHING I wanted to say and EVERYTHING I felt. Usually, when you write under an emotional pressure, you’re not able to spill out everything the way you want to—your mind is racing so fast that you miss shit. With “Bottled In” I hit the nail on the head.
Most people, who’ve heard it, don’t really understand it-- and that’s okay. I’m fine with that. The persons who needed to hear it got it.
On the flip side, I really dig the reception I get whenever I perform “Dodge-Ball”. It’s about me seeking revenge against bad ass kids in a “friendly” game of Dodge Ball. It’s a bit cynical but mostly humorous. I love kids... haha!

Who is your favorite artist?? Underground and Professional
I can’t say that I have a favorite artist. Everyone has a different approach when they’re on stage. I appreciate anyone who has control over their art. However, that whole “I-am-A-bird (pause) IN-the-WIND…” approach, I can’t fuck with. If you know poetry, you know what I’m talking about--

Where can you be heard and/or seen??
Umm.. Twitter? Or catch me in Atlanta. I’ve been meaning to check out the open mics here but I haven’t gotten around to it just yet--

What are your upcoming projects?
Well, I do have an online publication and blog that’s doing pretty well—it focuses on Indie music and art. Phresh Mentality Blogazine—It’s a monthly online magazine and a daily blog all housed under the www.PMBlogazine.com url. Check it out!

What is your favorite quote or quote you live by??
“Success is simple enough for a child to achieve, yet too complex for some minds to perceive.” --I came up with that quote in High School. It was supposed to be for my Senior Quote… I ended up using something else instead.
It stuck with me because it’s fuckin’ true. It’s so easy to misconstrue success by means of monetary value or recognition. And for that, people will lead lives never knowing how successful they truly are. I don’t live my life for recognition. If it’s something I’m passionate about, I just hope it impacts the lives of others—whether 200 or 2 million.

Message to fans
I have fans?? Lol! –No but seriously, to anyone who supports my artistry “Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!!” It means a lot when people look forward to you sharing your life experiences.

Do you have a twitter facebook or other way you can be contacted??
Twitter.com/theeBladeBrown --I have a Facebook but, I’m never on it.

Young :
Trust strangled by your manic lies
Dangling hopelessly from the peaks of my frustrations.
I've witnessed you murder my interests in anything Happily linked
to Romance.
I thought I had figured out your smile
but it seems you've sold me a Decoy to keep me from recognizing that
this
was just another ploy.
Have you ever ran into what you knew was a trap?
Perhaps I'd seen the Acid bubbling at the bottom of your Wish-Me Well
but I fell freely with no regards to what was soon to burn.
I think I had convinced myself that If I allowed my eyes to rain long enough
I could dilute your worst--
but instead
the mixture only created something much more fiery.
--Flashback
You signed off on "miss u" text messages
as promissory notes in exchange for my affection
but obviously
I wasn't the only lender in which you were applying.
Now silly me,
left with no interest to even
bother collecting something I ultimately never had.

nothing but subtle eviction notices
stapled to midnight kisses
assuring you that you have 30 days to get out of my care

So,
this is where we end.
I'll move on vowing to "never again"
and you'll continue on
counting it as nothing but life experiences.
You're just a Wild Young Heart
Beating from the lusts flowing through your veins.
A Young Warrior
Fighting to make every silly mistake you possibly can
with the hopes of one day saying ''ah, i remember when.."
You're a Youngin with no regards to giving me time and keeping your Space
You
are just
a Young
Buck.