Meet Xposyur

We were lucky to catch up with Xposyur recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Xposyur, so excited to talk about all sorts of important topics with you today. The first one we want to jump into is about being the only one in the room – for some that’s being the only person of color or the only non-native English speaker or the only non-MBA, etc Can you talk to us about how you have managed to be successful even when you were the only one in the room that looked like you?
This is right up my alley! There are several stories but one that stands out is 2018 First Rehearsal for “TedxAkron:ConnecTED”. This had to be one of the first events I did outside of my norm. I was challenging myself to see if I really had what it takes in all arenas with my gift of spoken word. There were tons of applicants with compelling stories and premiere ideas of thought. I was the only one who applied with a different writing form. Being different isn’t an easy road. Most don’t understand you or judge you based off how you look not who you are. Now don’t get me wrong, Im big on first impressions but of CHARACTER. I decided in order to break barriers or color, caste systems, public biases and opinions, etc, to use a violinist to add performance technique and enhancement to what I was going to speak about. Smart idea.
I walked on stage rehearsed my poem and instantly it was silence. Now I’ve been shocked before like that but only in church not in a room full of corporate individuals, lawyers, and people much further in their careers as it had only been a few “solid years” in mine.
The best part about this story is I pulled up to the venue, Goodyear Theater on Market in my moms 2008 PT Cruiser. The power steering was out. It was all types of BMWs,Tesla’s, Lexus’s and everything. Joe Testa was a speaker, heads of Fortune 500 companies of Ohio- like everybody. However, all I could think was ” I’m SUPPOSED to be here”. I had ripped jeans on, red hair and an Ohio shirt on. Always show up as your true authentic self- you’ll be more powerful that way. And this is when I knew poetry was a sum( not the total way) of being effective and successful in a room where Im the only one that looks like me

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
Yeah so I like to consider myself as a “hope dealer”. Even though everyone (should) changes and evolves, the nexus will always be hope for me. I mean honestly take a look at America right now- the shambles we are in are honestly embarrassing but not surprising. Healthcare, the cost of living is high with “jobs” paying low, the murder ratio just in my city of Akron alone, sex trafficking, voting rights, social injustice and racism, homelessness, SAG-AFTRA , I could go on and on. It’s really every man for himself right now. Its very much giving both ghetto and Darwin’s “survival of the fittest” theory right now. Who doesn’t need some positivity and hope right now? I offer that through my spoken word and music- well most of it lol.

I was raised in a single parent household. S/O to my mother. She did the best she could with no handbook on parenting while experiencing and dealing with your own life experiences. Let me just stick this here- FORGIVE YOUR PARENTS! Readers, there are probably multiple reasons/ things that you had no clue about that they were battling themselves- yet they still wanted you to have life.
BE FREE!
But yeah, in contrast to that- I felt like I was in church more than I was in school lol. However, getting to know God that young and experiencing Him more now as an adult has developed who I am today as an artist. I started out playing upright bass, moved to drums and I dabble occasionally on keys, bass and acoustic. I make feel good music. Normally I do not indulge with today’s topics but be not mistaken I will hop on something and go crazy! Please know I do not judge anybody that does- everybody has their lane and I respect that. I know one day I will find my audience and vice versa.

Right now, I write spoken word for any arena- religious/churches, non-religious, corporate. Most of my pieces have 3 things-pain truth and change. Even when I rap you can hear 1 or more of those. Im more so hip- hop than any other genre. I have partnered with hospitals for training days, schools( private charter public alternative), LGBTQ community and organizations, Correctional Facilities, NAACP, Akron Urban League, TedTalks the list goes on! And Im grateful for that. Because who doesn’t need to feel hear see, experience hope?

I also have a band Xposyur & 1Take- we lit! We perform at festivals/ events/ shows! I love the fellas and shout out to them- GoldFrame, SmokeFace, and Reo Dinero. They are Xcellent musicians who have played all over the world, and internationally. None of us are local.

Professionally moving forward in a new space , I am focusing on what I am focusing on. Cant let everybody in on everything. I learned that the hard way. Sometimes it be your own folks close to you- this goes both ways. All Im going to say is I had to be completely broken down to build the right way. And sometimes life will do that. There was just some chinks in my armor that I am working out and on and that takes time. And it’s ok. I understand now the important of value and being valued but I also know I am building legacy that prayerfully I can pass down- even though at the moment I have kids but none of my own biologically. Lets just say the rebrand of teamX and Xposyur will be “better” and exponential-because I am becoming better. Turn them notifications on! Once I get up, I GET UP! Everything I was missing is on its way! Its time to really make my pain pay me something

What’s most important is the healing I know I offer some people. There have been many testimonials of people walking up to me after an event/ performance/ or workshop just expressing their gratitude. Man, that makes my day! Helps me to understand my purpose even more- why Im here and what for. I want to use every bit of gift talent skill that was given to me to do my part in the world. When I die, I want to die empty. I got a phrase I do my best to remember when prepping for shows that comes from Nina Simone ” An artist’s #1 job- is to reflect the times”.

I facilitate workshops teaching the importance of writing -whether it be journaling, short stories, blogging, spoken word or rapping. Writing is therapeutic and good for the soul. It is also personal and private. It can be shared or kept. The options are yours! It is my belief a healthy mind spirit and soul leads to a healthy lifestyle. This transfers over to exercise in whatever form you like, healthy relationships( familial, marriage, personal, professional) and causes you to develop something that you may or may not have- A RELATIONSHIP WITH YOURSELF!

Here at teamX, we stand with the underdogs. The ones who feel forgotten, abused, discarded but still know they have something to offer even with all that trauma. We love the people who’ve done wrong over here! Because people act like they’ve never made a mistake. Ion like det! We also do what we can to make sure they dont find themselves in that position again. Ain’t nothing like seeing a person win when everybody thought they would lose. I be cheering so hard for them types of folks. Because I know what it’s like. WE LOVE DREAMERS TOO! Because I am one. Making sure we stay in reality but knocking down goals and dreams as well. I love to have a good safe time too! We gone talk, heal, grow, have a drink, and EAT! We love weirdos, musicians, book lovers, history alluhdat! However, we do our best to make wounds turn into scars that tell a story to help others wounds do the same. AYE RUN WITH US OR GET RAN OVXR!

I’m planning something…..BIG!

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
A quality, maybe two, that I possess is the ability to be self-disciplined and deeply passionate. Sometimes in life, you’ll have cheerleaders and sometimes you won’t. Thats when you cheer for yourself the hardest- when the odds are stacked against you. Keep it a bean, I’ve always had odds so that doesn’t bother me as much as it used to bother me. Also I learned the folks who cheer the loudest, sometimes want you to fall the hardest. So cheering for myself, especially in a rough season, is always a must. It’s easy to fall, but hard to get up. I’ve failed multiple times at multiple things yet Im still successful. Talk about grace n grit. And Im just getting started. I also am deeply passionate about my work as an artist. I don’t consider myself a rapper- those come and go and quite honestly die before their time. I write about real life things I go through that are relatable and that people can feel. Also “passion” means in Latin to suffer. For a while this was the “catch word” people would use when talking about their business. Think about it who really is willing to lose it all, family friends relationships?it sound good when you say it though til you gotta walk that thang out.

Areas of knowledge and skills- definitely versatility and the ability to walk into any room and make it better. Versatility is key although you can have a specific niche. Being able to command a room with confidence is a skill set you have to work hard to obtain. They say 10,000 hours makes you an expert. I still have tons to learn but I’ve done my 10k hours.

Any advice I have is to focus on perfecting your craft, skillset, technique stage presence first- the money is coming! Block out all negativity even if its from yourself. How you treat and talk to yourself matters. I didn’t learn that until I was in my 30s. I’d been so negative towards myself all my life as a result of multiple issues/traumas. etc. Word curses are real. BREAK THEM. Speak into your dreams, pray over your goals and stay disciplined. The love of a thing can be fleeting but if you made a commitment and are disciplined those feelings will show back up eventually. Find yourself early- who you are who you aren’t what you like what you dont like etc. READ RESEARCH STUDY APPLY GROW REPEAT. Confidence is a war strategy- walk in every place like God sent you. I stand 5’3″ but Im BIG DOG! Lastly this is something that has carried me and pretty much the sum total of my life “passion over paycheck until your passion becomes your paycheck”.

What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?
I don’t really have a “number one” challenge. I got a few. Heavy is the head uhearme?!

No but just how to take it to the next level.I know where I want to be- just need the guidance and direction to get there. Its time to take it up a notch and my key missing piece is “marketing”. So if anybody is great at marketing please don’t be a stranger. On the other side of that as a woman in a predominantly male industry you gotta watch out for folks. Sometimes they want you to pay other fees and nah Im cool on that. You really gotta be a bull in this industry or you’ll get walked all over. So just finding missing pieces to complete the team and the get in alignment with the vision. I dont sound like or do the typical 32 year old music- spending folks money, fighting folks, selling bricks, etc. I dont create about things I dont know. Never was in the streets but I know about em. And I aint shading nobody I support music careers. But to some folks Im corny but to me Im the truth. IF folks can get with that then you solid with me. I ain’t for everybody so I know my music won’t be.

I am looking into different connections/ partnerships with other artists who are more successful than me in this vein. Youtube University is real and Im enrolled. Amongst there things. It’ll take me a bit longer but Lord’s will I got time.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Wilson’s Frames- Marion Wilson

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