Today we’d like to introduce you to Queen Sheba.
Queen, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Every great things happen by mistake.
Because I have so much success promoting my own poetry shows I was asked to worked, as I like to call it, as a “paid intern” at the infamous Apache Cafe in midtown ATL as a talent buyer and booking manager for three years; one year longer than I initially committed to. The job was monstrous; and thankless. After the first day, I realized there’s no way I could keep 30/31 days of events filled on the calendar without someone taking on the marketing side.
I was the responsible for the hiring of a young Hip-Hop artist that was also newly successful at promoting his own shows.
A few months into our new positions, we had – as would happen every so often – an outside promoter canceled their night ten days before it was supposed to be at our cafe. With stress and a blank date on my hands, I had to quickly think of something as a place holder.
I thought of the idea of having a ‘Poet vs. Hip-Hop Artist’ type show. I remember that my long time friend and poet had a show like this in Jacksonville, FL and I didn’t want him to think I was purposely ripping off his intellectual property, even though he only did the show once and it had been a few years since.
Out of professional integrity, I called up Moses West and told him what I had in mind and he said, “Yeah sure – have at it; I don’t care,’ in true Moses West casual fashion – lol.
I was dating, my now fiance, Dj Knodat (she/her) and she had been Djing my other events: Famous 4th Sundays Poetry Night (now at 640 West every 4th Sunday – next one Sunday 12/22!), Rough Language Poetry Slam, Jokes and Notes and more so I asked her to be a partner in Poetry vs. Hip-Hop.
And so this hip-hop promoter and I threw the first Poetry vs. Hip-Hop on Sept 29th, 2015 AS AN OPEN MIC! LOL … We just called up one poet and one MC and they performed and then the audience chose a winner and they sat down. That was it. LOL
Cut to – April 2016 the three of us went on the road to Jacksonville, FL to show respect to Moses West and ask him to be our first on the road feature! He agreed and killed it in a small ass club that our hip-hop friend set up through a “connect” which ended up being way smaller than we needed. The club owner said the space held 100 people – it was more like a dirty living room for smokers anonymous. My fiance and I were pissed. We had to turn people away.
The three of us spent the summer on the road: Charlotte, Birmingham, Austin, TX another Atlanta show, then we ended trinity after our first Chattanooga show. The young hip-hop artist just wasn’t aligned with the larger vision I had for the brand. I was already going full speed ahead. Our energy was always clashing and most of things he said he could, most of the people he said he would get to come out, or had connections with – never populated. I would have been happier with him saying, “I don’t know shit about shit but this is cool and I want to ride.” People have challenges with vulnerability when they don’t think they are enough.
I initiated a severance letter and compensation for his last show via my legal team and young hip-hop guy did not take it well. LOL, He spent a year bad talking me, specifically, and the brand. Telling people he owned it. This was never the case. Let me say that again: Poetry vs. Hip-Hop is owned by myself and my fiance only and only ever has. We secured ownership through a lot of money and legal paperwork to keep people from nabbing it but every once in a while we have to make a phone call and that usually solves it.
Interestingly enough, most people think “a man” owns the production; and once they find out two black women, who happen to be in a romantic relationship, are driving the ship – people are typically even more supportive and receptive.
Young mc dude’s backlish didn’t stop shit. All of our shows sell out 500 person venues easily. We have a great marketing strategy and we are learning and growing all the time. Dj Knodat even went to a Facebook conference, to learn as much as she could!
We have expanded in the last four years. We have been in several festivals including the LA Get Down Festival, Tamika Festival, famous poetry clubs and music venues around the country including but not limited to the Nuyorican Cafe in Manhattan, the National Poetry Slam week long fest and we are adding new cities to our rotation all time. We’ve been all the way to LA, up to NY, Dallas and we swing through our beloved SE region all the time.
Since the Apache Cafe has closed – we are excited to be a part of the City Winery calendar. Our first show, there, was August 1st and we have two more dates on Jan 2nd, 2020 and the last Saturday in June.
We are currently creating our first short film documentary style to be premiered at our Jan 2nd show. I, honestly, am nervous about how it’s going to turn out because it’s my first attempt at piecing together a flick – lol
I’m excited about where we are and we’re about to go; as of today we extended the brand and added a Production Company and have since produced several shows under that umbrella including: Celebrate Atlanta, and the Atlanta Renaissance event powered by Lululemon on Thursday Dec 12th, we are also taking our first international trip and taking the show to Jamaica May 2020!
Has it been a smooth road?
Dj Knodat and I have had one of the best romantic relationships in my life. We are both A-type-go-getters. Working with her on Poetry vs. Hip-Hop and our newest production Sex Therapy is an irreplaceable experience. She is supportive and creative and her attention to detail along with my large personality is a perfect love-story pairing by God.
With both of our careers growing rapidly, there have been pockets of time that we weren’t able to dedicate to the growth of PvHH. Where, once PvHH was vital to our financial stability and we were cranking out 2-3 shows a calendar month – which means they could be back to back weekends, depending on how our tour schedule fell – to having to peel back the machine that was pushing us. Our late nights started to be stretched into more Dj gigs and people booking us as a package deal for hosting and djing their shows in and out of state.
I began Djing about a year and a half ago – which lead to even less time dedicated to our show. This summer we took a reorganizing break without any social media announcements – lol – we have so many future dates and other projects, no one even noticed we didn’t crank out our usual summer schedule – lol
We took two months and recharged ourselves and gained a fresh commitment to ensure we have at least one show a month somewhere in the country! Look for us!
We’d love to hear more about your business.
So, instead of having a stationary Hip-Hop Captain, what I do is go around the country “calling out” the best Hip-Hop crews in each city and “challenge” them to a friendly battle of storytelling with music! We choose one of the prominent Hip-Hop artists that we choose, to be the guest ‘captain’ in their city’s show. Sometimes, based on how well the show responds to said captain – we invite them back again.
The artists that really stand out, we invite them to the Atlanta All-Star Show that typically happens, based on schedule availability, during the Tamika Festival.
Our show has completely changed since that open mic in 2015. We have nicked things that weren’t working and added some things we love to see over and over. Below is what we send out to people interested in having our show.
Hosted by Internationally Award-Winning Poet & Comedian Queen Sheba as heard on albums by: Robert Glasper, Coriology and King Malachi, a seen on Verses & Flow, 106 & Park Apollo Theater and 12+ -Year-Host Famous 4th Sundays, in Atlanta
The Dj: Co-founder of Poetry vs. Hip-Hop, international touring Dj Knodat has performed in: S. Africa, Germany, is co-founder of the Annual Tupac Tribute Concert, Atlanta 420 Fest NipFest ATL and more.
In each city we look for the 5 best poets to side with Queen Sheba on #TeamPoetry and we look for a roving, guest ‘Captain’ of the emcees + Hip-Hop artists to oppose the poets and see who’s got the best lyrics & stage show!
How it works: 5 Poets will go head-to-head with 5 Emcees in a FRIENDLY, all Peace and all Love “battle”. Queen Sheba will call up one poet and one emcee for each round, they are REQUIRED to hug (or dap or show each other love in some way) to emphasize the bridging of gaps and culture – then the Poet and the Emcee performs one at a time; with the order being alternated each round. Round I if a poet starts, then an emcee will start the second round. Each artist is encouraged to perform their BEST work in a 4 minute time period – then at the end of each round the audience cheers wildly, throws money, stomps on the floor and goes bananas for their favorite performance. The team who wins the best out of 5 rounds wins!
What do you win?!: Bragging rights! Connections, new friends, networking. Healing people’s hearts. Saving someone from a messed up relationship. These are all the things you REALLY win! And then, you get to Snapchat all your friends and tell them you won your round and your team won the battle! Most shows, the winners of each round get to choose between a mystery envelope with a small cash stipend -OR- some Poetry vs. Hip-Hop (PvHH) swag. YAY! Chicken and Waffles for everyone!
At the end of the show: Audience members are introduced to the best Poetry, Spoken Word & Hip-Hop your perspective city has to offer and you will leave feeling empowered and light-hearted, cheering, hugging and taking picture with everyone! The artists are reminded they are the pulse of their community and are continued to be inspired to produce great works to heal the world.
…and our small, touring, crew that makes up PvHH goes back to our hotel room, or airbnb or someone’s home who was kind enough to house us … feeling fulfilled and exhausted …. ready to plan our next trip! (Hint…hint… this means bring us to your city!)
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Absolutely! Atlanta loves creativity! My best advice is do what YOU love. We are celebrating our 4-year-anniversary at City Winery in January and we are have come a long-ass way to get here! You have to believe in your product, keep going no matter what have integrity (do what you say you are you going to do! for your business and for those that support you) and lead with love!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.poetryvshiphop.com
- Phone: 404-697-9734
- Email: poetryvshiphop@gmail.com
- Instagram: @poetryvshiphop
- Facebook: Poetry vs. Hip-Hop
- Twitter: @poetryvshiphop
- Other: @djknodat @thequeensheba IG
Image Credit:
Our brand image designer is: Curt Dz designbydz@gmail.com
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