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"Poetry for the Urban Survivalist" Poet/Activist www.33third.com/monte The Art of Killing Children by Monte Smith (Audio recording as aired on KRUX 91.5 fm) Page 1 | 2 | 3 Lee: Monte Smith, first let's get an intro of who you are. Monte Smith: My mental demons are bloody hungry and scheming to break open my brain for their next feeding, inside my skull they're full now fucking and breeding, the babies, I can feel them eating my spinal nerves, their shitting on my tongue come smell my words... --Taken from 'Kill Me' People tell me it's only a matter of time before the Gov't kills me. I don't know. What I do know is most booking agents are scared to book me because when I perform, clubs get shut down and the police sometimes show up. L: How did you first get involved with the art of spoken word? M: I received the life long feeling to write poetry by being saved through the lyrics of rap, reggae and hardcore music. I didn't have a family, so rebellious music raised me, taught me how to be a [hu]man, so to give back I've always written and worked in music. Spoken word was just a natural transition. I Started entering readings and contests around 1997. L: In terms of how you viewed the art form then, what's changed? M: Poetry readings in the beginning were small and overlooked. Street poetry especially, had little or no support. Now, street poetry competitions and readings are getting respect on a much larger level. There's more people willing to invest time and money to help venues feature real social and economic talk. This is what the common man and women is dealing with, not that fluffy, candy ass escapism so many readings and slams are filled with. We've been escaping for to long, that's why 'our' situation continues to stay out of hand. (Party's over, tell the rest of your crew!) L: Who is the producer of the three 'Digital Tears' tracks? M: The three tracks on GM GRIMM'S album were produced by DJ Soundmachine and myself. L: Walk us through the creation of one of these songs. M: The Enemy at Home was written due to my incarceration in New Orleans in 2003. The relationship DJ Soundmachine and I have is a very creative one. We look at what we're doing as soundscapes...mini-movies like if a line was left out of the poem, how would the backdrop fill its void and still carry the message? We sent it to GM GRIMM and he went nuts over it. L: Tell us about the future project you're working on with DJ Soundmachine. M: The EP's done. It's titled the Wargasm EP. There's five tracks, three by DJ Soundmachine, and two by DJ Vadim. L: What's your opinion of incarceration in terms of how the media downplays this issue? M: The people who own the prisons own the television channels. Where even most conscious people have it wrong is believing the elite are different individuals working for individual greed. When in all actuality the elite is one unit, one system, all interlocked to better the 'FAMILY'. L: Any thoughts on the marketing of incarceration through popular artists and groups? M: Yeah. It's evil when songs like (for ex.) Akon's 'Locked Up' has such an appeal. Ask yourself, what does freedom and democracy really mean in this country, when 9 year old children are reciting lyrics such as " I'm locked up, they won't let me out." It just reinforces the fact that Amerikkka is a prison colony. L: Tell us about your involvement at 33third.com. M: 33Third.com sponsors me. They sustain my webpage and help with bookings and promotion.
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