Contributors:
Contribution: Executive Producer
Name: TiGi Nii
Contact Info:
www.TiGiNii.com
admin@TiGiNii.com
312.545.4836 voicemail
Peace. I’m TiGi (pronounced “TEE-chee”). I am a writer/communicator/
documenter from Los Angeles though I now reside on the Southside of
Chicago. I love Black music- love to experience it, create it. I love my people,
Black people, more than I could ever explain. I love myself too, though I am a
little messed up.
Contribution: Music Production (all tracks), Vocal Performance & Original Lyrics
Name: Karega Ani
Contact Info:
www.karegaanionline.com
www.myspace.com/karegaani
karega_blacklight@hotmail.com
For the past 6 years, he's been perfecting his unique style of lyrical dexterity
and track construction. A style illustrated on his debut album released
September 2003. Open, an eclectic collection of hip-hop, acid jazz, poetry and
soul, is still regarded by many as the benchmark by which spoken word albums
are judged. Since the release of Open, Karega has been tirelessly at work,
generating tracks for local acts such as Inertia, Zin, Marie Brown, Black P.R.O.
F.I.T., PKT, et al. He's also blessed the projects of internationally recognized
acts such as Taalam Acey (international slam champion and independent
filmmaker) and Mahogany Brown. In April 2005, Karega released his
sophomore effort, The Eyes of the World. Building on the momentum of his
auspicious debut, this project is an eclectic-sonic saga, which must be
experienced to be fully appreciated. He was a member of the 2002, 2003 and
2004 Houston Poetry Slam Teams and the 2006 Detroit Poetry Slam Team. As
such, he represented the city at the National Poetry Slam, a tournament style
poetry competition held annually. He has performed at venues from coast to
coast as well as being featured in Jamaica with Mutabaruka and opening for
world-renown spoken word artist, Saul Williams.
Contribution: Vocal Performance & Original Lyrics
Name: e. nina jay
Contact Info:
www.myspace.com/eninajay
e. nina jay is a Black, lesbian feminist writer who attempts to use poetry to
break silence around all forms of oppression – especially within the margins
where gender, race and poverty usually intersect.
Contribution: Vocal Performance & Original Lyrics
Name: Zenif Be. P.
Contact Info:
zenith.theone@sbcglobal.net
773.559.2239 voicemail
I, Sarai Azun Graves, was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. My childhood
was spent in various areas of Chicago and neighboring suburbs; I gained an
adaptable aptitude for change toward life from the experiences I had growing-
up in such an ever-changing environment. In my opinion, the so-called ghetto
of my up-bringing reflects true Darwinism- “Only the strong survive.” Being a
Chicagoan, I love sports, music, diversity and industry. In the near future, I will
be building a company centered around my city, in hopes that I can give back
and create something for my community that is concrete. As an overall there
are four parts to my makeup: Sarai, the business women- Zenif Be. P. the
highest, being the prophecy- La Dona, the boss- Ms. Sage, the wise,
charismatic jewel amidst rubble. I chose the former aliases, because they
define me, being a person that believes we all have attributes that can not be
defined. Whether its writing or just expression in general, poetry to me has
been and will always be a light into the darkness of human cognizance.
Contribution: Vocal Performance & Original Lyrics
Name: camil.williams (Aqua)
Contact Info:
www.spokenexistence.com/aqua_moon
www.myspace.com/aqua_moon
camil_williams@spokenexistence.com
camil.williams, Aqua, is a multifaceted artist that is constantly exploring herself.
williams has appeared in several independent films and has performed at
spoken word venues across the nation. She is also a painter and has
showcased her work in various art exhibits around Chicago. Her latest
endeavors include perfecting her skills as a bassist in an all womon band
(Molly Sue Africa), and completing a screenplay. butta to fly is her debut
collection of poetry & art, music. In addition to her artistic accomplishments,
williams enjoys giving back to the community and supporting artistic social
causes. She is an enthusiastic contributor to programs that help womyn and
youth of color develop their artistic abilities, as she conducts workshops that
offer art as a healing tool for abused and disenfranchised womyn and children.
To this end, she is a cofounder of SpokenExistence, Inc. a womyn-centered
organization, and half of the writing, performance, and artistic team, AquaMoon.
Contribution: Vocal Performance & Original Lyrics
Name: veronica precious bohanan (Moon)
Contact Info:
www.spokenexistence.com/aqua_moon
www.myspace.com/aqua_moon
veronica@spokenexistence.com
veronica precious bohanan, Moon, is a moonchild on an excursion to earth.
Born under the Cancer astrological sign in Chicago, Illinois, she is as versatile
as the many names given to her at birth. A graduate of the University of Iowa,
she earned a B.A. in Speech and Hearing Sciences and an M.A. in Social
Foundations of Education. An accomplished writer, her poetry can be found in
Home Girls Make Some Noise!: Hip-hop Feminism Anthology and Check the
Rhyme: An Anthology of Female Poets and Emcees. In addition, Ms. bohanan
is half of the writing, performance and artistic team of AquaMoon, a duo
dedicated to providing a voice for disenfranchised womyn and youth. She is
also a member of the Nommo Gathering Black Writers Collective, and is a co-
founder of SpokenExistence, Inc., a womyn-based organization focused on
bridging the gap on all issues that marginalize Black womyn and youth. Om: My
Sistagyrl Lotus is her first collection of prose and poetry.
Contribution: Vocal Performance & Original Lyrics
Name: Tekhen Djehuti
Contact Info:
www.myspace.com/the_ibis
Tekhen Djehuti is a Chicago based poet, MC and writer. He enjoys the art of
writing for the sake of hearing the written word recited with diction and
poise. His initial journey into writing was prompted by a brother who
introduced to him to his own self-produced sound at the age of 12 and he has
written for enjoyment and self expression since that time. He was previously a
member of the Chicago hip hop group, The Death Angels, who released the
magnificent 17 track offering, War Of 1555. This album was a breakout
opportunity for Tekhen on many levels since he had never known performance
on such a large scale or the dynamics of mixing art with business while trying to
find your way with both. At a time when music, culture and business all stand
squarely juxtaposed to one another, he envisions himself as an artist who can
offer words that heal, humor, harmonize and bring a bit of heart back to the
sound of a community and a nation. He is now composing a book of collected
works entitled Ascension of the Muse: Reflections on My 27 Years as well as a
spin off companion piece to be tentatively titled Average Black Male. His
critique on culture, lifestyle, and rearing his 5-year-old daughter can be read
at his blog, The Literate Epoch (literate-epoch.blogspot.com).
