Let now your heart burn with a flame
A few posts ago, I shared my passion for writing, but I must always give credit to where it’s due. And I want to share with you guys the group that totally brought my writing to another level - iLL-Literacy. I clearly remember the day that I was first exposed to the art of spoken word. It was my senior year and I became heavily involved with the Filipino Youth Coalition (FYC). I served on the core team that organized that year’s “Battle of the Tribes.” I got pretty close to my mentor and he brought me to a this day-conference called “Broken English.” I still have remenants, or souvenirs, from that day. The flyer, the ticket, the papers they passed out during the workshops… the memory. We arrived early that Saturday morning and got lost trying to find our way to the classroom which was their gathering/meeting area. After some time maneuvering through all the streets and buildings, we arrived at our destination. The exact location is faded in my memory. So we finally arrived, registered and took our seat in a lecture hall just in time for things to start poppin’. Things literally started poppin’, and I mean heads! We sat in a half-filled room anticipating for the day’s festivities to begin, and all of a sudden a person in front of me stood up and just started flowin’. After one, another popped up and spit a verse. The cycle went on and as each one did, my adolescent mind totally transformed within minutes of this opening presentation. And as they finally began with the traditional speech-like welcoming introduction, I was blown away. What the hell just happened!? Fast forward through all the other introductions, presentations and workshops to the final “show,” all I knew… this is it. This is my calling. Spoken word is the friggin’ ish yo! Thank you iLL-Litearcy!!! I was so awe-inspired and empowered to bring writing to another level and to unleash this creative monster in me that I knew was gnawing to get out. As soon as I got home that day, I just went rampant writing. I was already growing in love with writing, but iLL-Lit really brought it to a completely new playing field, expanding my writing horizons. They taught me how to incorporate creativity, truth, movement and all that hard-knocking jazz into my writing. I said hard-knocking ‘cause just the flow of my writing, I really wanted to aspire to have that feel-good but hard-knock feel. Writing that will really knock you hard with inspiration mind, heart, and soul… but above all, had you move. It was a struggle especially having the insecurities and still learning how to craft words together, but I’m finally owning in on the writer in me. I’m not much into getting on stage as I was before, which was pretty little to begin with, but at least where it stems in my writing, they helped me master grasping myself as a writer. I definitely owe homage to one of the iLLest groups that has helped transform me into the writer that I am today. I’ve been a fan since the beginning, when they were still students at UC Davis and still am to this day as they make huge strides throughout the world and currently making things happen in NY. And today, they release their first epk, “iB4the1.1”! Hooray! Not only have they taught me how to master the writer in me, but they are also the ones that absolutely exude passion. So they also play a part in the conception of this project. It’s because of people like them who are so passionate with what they do and just as passionate individuals overall, this vision is molded into what it is today. The roots are stronger than what the branches could ever grow into, yet all the strength they possess derives from the roots. The roots are the heart of everything. iLL-Literacy definitely is in the roots of this vision and project. So, to the iLL-Lit crew and all the “graduated” members, THANK YOU! My love, gratitude and prayers always go out to you all! This project and even myself would be near nothing without your passionplay and inspiration through your words and movement! Take this as my simplest of thank yous. Pretty complex for a simple thank you huh? Hahaha… there’s just so much I could thank you for. :) iLL-Lit has definitely evolved through the years. Starting off strong and using the art of spoken word and their personal experiences to create a movement among the people for social change… to still creating movement among the people but giving them that reminscent vibrancy that’ll connect you back to pretty much, you, where all movements should begin. They’re definitely adding more of their own twist and flare into their work, which really makes them even more unique in the art. They’ll really make you feel good about yourself, or else make you want to give yourself some lovin’! Oh, I can’t forget to mention how they helped me add a little swag in the way I write, and maybe the way I walk and talk too. Haha! Whatever they evolve into, I will always be a fan and remember who they really are - Kings and Queen(s) of the iLLest of iLL spoken wordestry! Passion at its best and still striving for better… So, check ‘em out if you haven’t! Most especially check out their freshly dropped epk, “iB4the1.1” now available for free download on their website (http://www.iLL-Literacy.com)! Future collabos?? Heck yessss, please!!!

A few posts ago, I shared my passion for writing, but I must always give credit to where it’s due. And I want to share with you guys the group that totally brought my writing to another level - iLL-Literacy. I clearly remember the day that I was first exposed to the art of spoken word.

It was my senior year and I became heavily involved with the Filipino Youth Coalition (FYC). I served on the core team that organized that year’s “Battle of the Tribes.” I got pretty close to my mentor and he brought me to a this day-conference called “Broken English.” I still have remenants, or souvenirs, from that day. The flyer, the ticket, the papers they passed out during the workshops… the memory.

We arrived early that Saturday morning and got lost trying to find our way to the classroom which was their gathering/meeting area. After some time maneuvering through all the streets and buildings, we arrived at our destination. The exact location is faded in my memory. So we finally arrived, registered and took our seat in a lecture hall just in time for things to start poppin’. Things literally started poppin’, and I mean heads! We sat in a half-filled room anticipating for the day’s festivities to begin, and all of a sudden a person in front of me stood up and just started flowin’. After one, another popped up and spit a verse. The cycle went on and as each one did, my adolescent mind totally transformed within minutes of this opening presentation. And as they finally began with the traditional speech-like welcoming introduction, I was blown away. What the hell just happened!?

Fast forward through all the other introductions, presentations and workshops to the final “show,” all I knew… this is it. This is my calling. Spoken word is the friggin’ ish yo! Thank you iLL-Litearcy!!! I was so awe-inspired and empowered to bring writing to another level and to unleash this creative monster in me that I knew was gnawing to get out.

As soon as I got home that day, I just went rampant writing. I was already growing in love with writing, but iLL-Lit really brought it to a completely new playing field, expanding my writing horizons. They taught me how to incorporate creativity, truth, movement and all that hard-knocking jazz into my writing. I said hard-knocking ‘cause just the flow of my writing, I really wanted to aspire to have that feel-good but hard-knock feel. Writing that will really knock you hard with inspiration mind, heart, and soul… but above all, had you move.

It was a struggle especially having the insecurities and still learning how to craft words together, but I’m finally owning in on the writer in me. I’m not much into getting on stage as I was before, which was pretty little to begin with, but at least where it stems in my writing, they helped me master grasping myself as a writer. I definitely owe homage to one of the iLLest groups that has helped transform me into the writer that I am today. I’ve been a fan since the beginning, when they were still students at UC Davis and still am to this day as they make huge strides throughout the world and currently making things happen in NY. And today, they release their first epk, “iB4the1.1”! Hooray!

Not only have they taught me how to master the writer in me, but they are also the ones that absolutely exude passion. So they also play a part in the conception of this project. It’s because of people like them who are so passionate with what they do and just as passionate individuals overall, this vision is molded into what it is today. The roots are stronger than what the branches could ever grow into, yet all the strength they possess derives from the roots. The roots are the heart of everything. iLL-Literacy definitely is in the roots of this vision and project.

So, to the iLL-Lit crew and all the “graduated” members, THANK YOU! My love, gratitude and prayers always go out to you all! This project and even myself would be near nothing without your passionplay and inspiration through your words and movement! Take this as my simplest of thank yous. Pretty complex for a simple thank you huh? Hahaha… there’s just so much I could thank you for. :)

iLL-Lit has definitely evolved through the years. Starting off strong and using the art of spoken word and their personal experiences to create a movement among the people for social change… to still creating movement among the people but giving them that reminscent vibrancy that’ll connect you back to pretty much, you, where all movements should begin. They’re definitely adding more of their own twist and flare into their work, which really makes them even more unique in the art. They’ll really make you feel good about yourself, or else make you want to give yourself some lovin’! Oh, I can’t forget to mention how they helped me add a little swag in the way I write, and maybe the way I walk and talk too. Haha! Whatever they evolve into, I will always be a fan and remember who they really are - Kings and Queen(s) of the iLLest of iLL spoken wordestry! Passion at its best and still striving for better…

So, check ‘em out if you haven’t! Most especially check out their freshly dropped epk, “iB4the1.1” now available for free download on their website (http://www.iLL-Literacy.com)! Future collabos?? Heck yessss, please!!!

Posted 2 years ago