In Volume Five, Chapter Sixteen, we welcomed Poet, Artist, Writer, and Author Dre Hill.

Dre is a Black literary and visual artist. Hill tags himself as an artist, writer, and storyteller. He is a published fiction writer, poet, photographer, painter, and more.

He graduated from Trimble Tech High School in 2017, then earned his B.A. in Animation and Writing from Drury University in 2021. While at Drury, he had two pieces published in the literary magazine Currents. His work was featured in the “Race in America” art exhibit. His senior film, “Solace”, won second place in the 2022 MBEA competition.

Hill’s work is both individualist and collective, seemingly speaking for and to each reader respectively as well as to and for groups as a whole. His work is vivid, colorful, and animated in nature. There are heavy Afrocentric, and often supernatural or metaphysical themes, in his work. Often exploring the connections between some of life’s mundane experiences and the almost extraordinary ways in which black people engage and grapple with them.

Contact Dre:
Instagram: @drehillart Website: drehillart.com

Recorded Spoken Word Performances Featured Include:

Alysia Harris – Controlled Burn
Instagram: @poppyinthewheat Website: alysiaharris.com

Bianca Phipps – Born To Embody It
Instagram: @biancaphipps

Taalam Acey – Seldom Seen
Instagram: @taalamacey
Website: taalamacey.com

Barbara Fant – Brown Bodies Burning
Instagram: @iambarbarafant Website: barbarafant.com

Danez Smith – Dear White America
Instagram: @danez_smif Website: danezsmithpoet.com

In Volume Five: Chapter Fifteen, we welcome Poet, Writer, and Spoke Word Artist Asia Samson.

(From theasiaproject.com):

Since 2009, The Asia Project has toured over 2000 colleges with an acoustic music poetry act that has amazed audiences all over the country. On the microphone is Asia Samson: writer, poet and part-time ninja. He has been seen on HBO Def Poetry Jam and has shared the stage with such artists as Janelle Monae, Jill Scott, DMX, Mos Def, Dead Prez and KRS-One. Accompanying him on the guitar is his brother-in-law Jollan who uses music to create an atmosphere that brings poetry to emotional levels you would never expect. They have been featured on HBO Def Poetry, Button Poetry, TEDx, NPR’s Tiny Desk Contest, SoFar Sounds, Story Conference, and Entrepreneur’s Organization. They have worked with companies such as the US Military, Nokia, Disney, To Write Love On Her Arms and AEvolve. They have broken college-booking records for the most booked poetry act in the college market garnering them the awards of APCA College Performer of the Year and thrice APCA Spoken Word Artist of the Year.

Contact Asia:
Instagram: @theasiaproject
Website: theasiaproject.com

Recorded Spoken Word Performances Featured Include:

Sunni Patterson – Black Back
Instagram: @sunnipatterson
Website: sunnipatterson.com

Ashley Lumpkin – Inheritance
Instagram: @lumplestiltzken Website: ashleylumpkin.com

Ephriam Nehamiah – Teaching My Son How To Say No
Instagram: @ephraimnehemiah
Website: ephraimnehemiah.com

Asia Samson – As I Am
Instagram: @theasiaproject

Asia Samson – Enough
Website: theasiaproject.com

In Volume Five, Chapter Fourteen, we sit down with Baltimore-based artist Dream—an educator, poet, writer, photographer, and meditation guide. In our conversation, Dream discusses her creative journey, releasing her spoken word pieces on streaming platforms, and talks about the influence that her family’s creativity has had on her. We dive into poetry, writing, the benefits of meditation, and the beauty of helping others. A conversation about art, presence, intentionality, and more.

Contact Dream:
Instagram: @dreamreallovec Threads: @dreamreallovec

Recorded Spoken Word Performances Featured Include:

Reagan Myers – Depression Is Funny Like That
Instagram: @reagancmyers

Imani Cezanne – Flowers
Instagram: @imanicezanne

Marshall Davis Jones – Touchscreen
Instagram: @marshalldavisjones
Website: tonalinfluence.com

Elizabeth Acevedo – A Love Letter To My Beloved
Instagram: @acevedowrites Website: acevedowrites.com

King Yaw – Ancestral Ghosts
Instagram: @kingyaw_