Everything Starts With Writing. I Heard Nikki

I Think The First Time I Really Heard Poetry Was In The Schoolyard. Just The Little Limericks That Kids Say When They're Jumping Rope And Playing Games. I Think That's The First Time I Heard Rhyming Words - I Don't Know If I'd Call That The Definitive Poetry, But That's When I Heard Rhyming Words Said And Not Necessarily Sung.

I Was Reading Poetry To My Girlfriends, And They Were Like, You're Really Good. You Should Go To Some Poetry Readings Or Something. And I Eventually Went And Got A, You Know, Somewhat Of A Name For Myself And A Little Bit Of A Following.

I'd Been Told That When You First Put Your Feet On African Ground, You'll Be Hit By A Feeling Of Overwhelming Understanding, Like You've Returned Home And Suddenly Belong. Quite Frankly, I Didn't Feel That.

My Earliest Influence Was Quincy Jones. I Thought 'the Wiz' Soundtrack Was The Most Amazing Thing I'd Ever Heard. It Was My First Record And You Had Michael Jackson, Ted Ross, Nipsey Russell And Diana Ross On It. I Even Took It To Show And Tell In Third Grade!

Just Because You Have A Nightmare Doesn't Mean You Stop Dreaming.