Sekou

Sekou (tha misfit) is a versatile performer whose dynamic presence and energy never fails to command an audience’s attention. A two-time champion of the National Poetry Slam Competition (2002 and 2003), as well as the winner of the Word Up! National Poetry Slam, his work has been featured on such diverse media outlets as ABC World News, Good Morning America, MSNBC’s Hardball, twice on HBO’s Def Poetry, Showtime’s Crossover, MTV’s Battlegrounds, BET’s Lyric Café, Artisan Films’ Belly DVD, NIKE...

Sekou (tha misfit) is a versatile performer whose dynamic presence and energy never fails to command an audience’s attention. A two-time champion of the National Poetry Slam Competition (2002 and 2003), as well as the winner of the Word Up! National Poetry Slam, his work has been featured on such diverse media outlets as ABC World News, Good Morning America, MSNBC’s Hardball, twice on HBO’s Def Poetry, Showtime’s Crossover, MTV’s Battlegrounds, BET’s Lyric Café, Artisan Films’ Belly DVD, NIKE’s Hooptown and Witness promotions, Oprah Winfrey’s celebrations of Maya Angelou’s 75th birthday and Barack Obama's presidential campaign, Quincy Jones' private event for Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign, Sean “Diddy” Combs' Annual White Party, and several national commercial spots. He’s also performed in two national spoken word tours, The Underground Poets Railroad and Declare Yourself - the voting initiative founded by legendary TV/Filmmaker Norman Lear, which traveled with the Declaration of Independence and registered over 1 million new voters. A remarkably universal artist, Sekou is also sought as a “secret weapon” by major companies, corporations, and communications firms - including Nike, Microsoft, Waggener Edstrom Worldwide, Wieden+Kennedy, the ACLU, the Sierra Club, and the NCAA - who have all commissioned Sekou’s creative writing and performing talents to reach their staff and clients through distinctive and motivating internal presentations, marketing pitches and business conferences. His unrivaled gift for transforming the objectives of a standard presentation into an emotive, captivating presentation has made him the go-to guy when a company needs to set itself apart and dazzle an audience of executives, investors, or potential clients. Sekou’s dedicated years as an elementary school teacher make him a favorite among schools. His performances and seminars on diversity, creative writing, and poetry as a career are in demand at venues around the world - from universities in America, to festivals in Europe, to his residency at the annual Mind, Body & Soul Women’s Retreat in Jamaica. Sekou is also an accomplished actor, voiceover artist, songwriter, and music producer. He and collaborative partner Steve Connell were invited to perform at the 12th Annual HBO U.S. Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen, CO, as well as the prestigious 2005 & 2006 Ojai Playwrights Conference where they unveiled their new play, The Word Begins, directed by Robert Egan. This inspirational, thought provoking show had its world premiere, 9-week run at the Signature Theatre in Washington, DC, receiving standing ovations and critical praise, including three Helen Hayes Award nominations. Each of Sekou’s independent CD releases - including his latest double CD of spoken word, Afrodeezyackz/The Mumblings of a Madman - have also earned him an impressive array of regional and national music awards. Not only did he receive the Los Angeles Music Award for Outstanding Music Video and a nomination for Best Hip-Hop Artist, but his collection of Just Plain Folks awards, including Best Spoken Word Album, Best Hip-Hop Album, Best Producer, and Best Holiday Album - for his compilation "Seven: A Kwanzaa Soundtrack" - make him the most awarded artist in the largest music organization in the nation. With an intoxicating blend of passion and presence in every word: Sekou (tha misfit) is not just an artist, but an experience.