Daily Inspiration: Meet Tommy Bottoms

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tommy Bottoms.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
At the heart of my story, I’m just a small town kid from Indiana living out my big city dreams. And spoken word has the been my vehicle of choice for this journey.

I landed in Atlanta in the fall of 2002, hungry to hone my craft in a city pulsing with culture, music, and that unmistakable “you can do it too” energy. Before long, I started getting a footing at spots like the Apache Cafe (formerly the Yin Yang Cafe ), and I started building a name for myself there and other local stages, which lead to me earning a spot on Russell Simmons’ Def Poetry Jam. Over the years, I’ve been fortunate enough to travel the country doing what I love most. But the real honor? Sharing stages with Atlanta’s spoken-word royalty and true heavyweights: Georgia Me, Queen Sheba, Abyss, Red Storm, and Theresa tha Songbird. Those collaborations, those rooms, those voices—they’ve shaped me as much as any road or spotlight ever could.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I don’t know if my obstacles have been unique. I think I have faced the typical trials and tribulations of an independent artist. Just enjoying the rollercoaster of feast and famine while trying to remain creative and productive.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Though i have worn many hats during my artistic journey- film producer, documentarian, playwright- spoken word artist is what best describes where my truest creative lies. But regardless of the medium, telling a good story is what’s most important to me.

As spoken word artist, I see my self as more of a socio-cultural critic than in the romantic traditions of Loves Jones. I attempt to approach topics from 5000 feet above, hopefully providing the audience members with a perspective they may have never considered before.

What were you like growing up?
Interestingly, I was an art major in high school, but never really considered myself an ‘artist’ or had dreams of a career in the arts-I just liked to draw. I was much more into sports. It’s wasn’t until my mid-late 20’s before I discovered spoken word and eventually my love for it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.TommyBottomsATL.com
• Instagram: @EducatedGangster