I didn’t sit and enjoy Shakespeare or Wordsworth at school. I found poetry lessons uninspiring, not because the writing wasn’t superb – honestly? I found them hard to engage with because they were in no way reflective of the current time, language and my experiences. They were nothing like me and I was often alienated by that.
It was rappers like Eminem and Tupac Shakur that inspired me. I felt connected with them and the way they told their story, fascinated by their manipulation of sound and language. I still carry those influences, along with the many others I have collected on my journey to become the vocal, passionate poet-activist I am today. My spoken word can be raw at times, hard-hitting and always thought provoking. I write to engage and raise awareness of serious and often neglected issues. I am passionate about equality, social injustice and Human Rights which is evident every time I speak or perform publicly