Besskepp: Poet with an MC Mentality

Besskepp is a poet with an MC mentality. Right now! Raised on hip-hop but still literary. Back then!

Besskepp rockin' right now!

Listen to the lines of LA poet Besskepp.  From the first time I heard him he grabbed my ear.  Besskepp is a poet with an MC mentality.  Right now!  Raised on hip-hop but still literary.  Back then!  He can rewind time or take you back to Trinidad, Texas. The range of his voice allows him to reach a wider audience than a poet that speaks from only one standpoint.  He can rock mad joints. 

He speaks the language of the people.  He puts his heart out in every word.  His versatility has taken him to the National Poetry Slam  Finals the last two years as a member of the Hollywood Slam team and in 2001, the Long Beach Slam team.  The squad of Rachel Kann, Mark Gonzales, R.A.C & Ben Porter Lewis blew the roof off the Blue Cafe in Strong Beach on the way to Seattle. 

Besskepp has lived in three very different places.  His early years were spent in Trinidad, Texas. 

Take me back to Trinidad, Texas              

where the north side of the tracks is all white,              

and the south side of the tracks is all black              

and the only time the blacks would go up north               

was for school, the post office, or to mow lawns              

and the only time the whites would go down south              

was to arrest somebody, or to recruit somebody              

for football or basketball...              

These early years in Trinidad, Texas have prevented Besskepp from having any illusions on realities such as racism.  He tackle sociopolitical topics with the neccessary realism, yet still projects love when he discusses it.   He moved to Stockton in California's Central Valley in his mid-childhood.  He eventually settled in Southern California where he now lives with his wife and daughter.  Having lived in these three very different places has given him the range and understanding to present work that is universal.  His upbeat delivery always leaves rooms feeling electric.  He has the rare ability to present the cold truth while still offering hope.  Click here to hear a nasty verse...         

Every Thursday night he hosts an open mic night called A Mic & Dim Lights. If the adage that every open mic assumes the personality of its host there is no better example then A Mic & Dim Lights. Held in Pomona's Art Colony this open mic radiates vitality, talent and love. Each week a standing-room-only audience gathers around to hear poets, MCs and singers ignite the vibe. Nag champa burns in a warm room that gets hotter as each poet hollers. 

People throughout the audience write furiously in their notebooks. A collective creative energy permeates the setting. Between acts, co-producer and DJ JB spins underground hip-hop, playing an instrumental for anyone that doesn't wanna go a capella. The setting at A Mic & Dim Lights is like home for the 70 to 100 people who show up every week because they love hip-hop, spoken word and creative energy. 

Besskepp and JB keep these values every Thursday night starting at 9:30. Often incredible improv moments manifest like beatboxing accompanied with soulfull singing.  The warm room promotes fireworks.  It promotes spontaneous performance more than any other open mic venue I've ever seen. 

The line-up at A Mic & Dim Lights is a smorgasbord of talent.  Poets like Saul Williams, Jerry Quickley, Philharmonic, have been found rockin' the mic. Regulars like Lavoice, Mark Gonzales, Slim, Rachel Kann, John Hensley, Sir Preston, Sekou the Misfit, C-Bone, Scrap Lover Zulu and even underground gospel MC's. Queens like Yvette, Tiffany Scott, Abbye Atkinson, DeAngela and Nafessa. Besskepp has created an artistic platform built on love. 

When we caught up recently, this is what he had to say about his open mic, his writing and his life: 

What got you into writing and when did you become serious about it? 

I became serious about writing after I saw Rakim perform 'I Got Soul' in '86 on Soul Train. I still have it on video. I was 12. 

Who are your influences? 

My influences in writing were my brother Ty, and my 11th grade English teacher Mr. Hamilton. Ty taught me why. Mr. Hamilton taught me how. 

What in life influences you? 

I am deeply influenced by hip-hop culture and by life's experiences. I convey those experiences through my craft. I am also influenced by "change" through creativity. 

What's your favorite book? 

My favorite book is Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison. 

What are you currently working on? 

I had the opportunity to be featured a lot of places throughout February mostly relating to Black History for Black History Month shows, as well as my weekly show every Thursday, A Mic & Dim Lights in Pomona. It's a trip-back-to-the 60's-open-mic-poetry-spoken-word-underground-hip-hop-incense-smoke-type of joint. Me and my man JB created and produce the show. I also remain consistent on the poetry circuit throughout SoCal. 

What do you see yourself writing in the future?                      

I only guarantee my frequent journal entries, because that's what I do best. If they someday happen to influence something other than a poem, prose or phat rhyme? I dunno. 

How long have you been rhymin'? 

I've been rhymin' since 11.                      

What would be your advice to other MC's, writers and poets who are struggling and want to get noticed?  

Write for yourself first. It's our uniqueness as individuals which makes our work original, different. Once you begin writing for others you lose credibility. We all have a story to tell. My advice is to get out there and tell it.  

How old are you? What's your education? 

I'm 27 years old, and five classes shy of a Masters Degree in Education. 

What's next for Besskepp? 

I am grateful to have this college student who wants to do a film documentary on me. We've accumulated a lot of footage, and I'm excited to see how it'll turn out.    

Who do you listen to? 

Right now Slum Village, the old Camp Lo, Psycho Realm, Lyricists Lounge 2, Janis Joplin's Greatest Hits, and Jill Scott. 

A Mic & Dim Lights shines like Besskepp. Besides being a poet, Besskepp is a father, husband and teaches 4th and 5th grade Special Education as well as coaching high school football. He's a humble man with many identities. He explores his layers of identities in this piece: 

when I'm besskepp
I step on stage at least twice a week
freak beats and fill silence
stir emotion with poetry emotion
coastin' on the 10 freeway to the 101
to locate my next poetry venue
send you
pieces of my heart
givin' you my heart
with this art
when I'm besskepp                      

when I'm cory
I'm minus the beanie
I look too nerdy to be a rapper
I look too thuggish to be a poet.. 

Besskepp is that special breed of the 21st Century renaissance man.  In these days of multiple layers of identity, Cory C is one comfortable with each of his roles.  He's the consumate professional.  Adored as a host, MC, teacher, PoeT extraordinaire by those who've heard him flow.  He's the light @ A MiC & Dim Lights..   

A Mic & Dim Lights is held on Thursdays at 9:00 pm at 296 W. 2nd Street in Pomona. 

Recently JB & BesskePP have been joined by Jeremy Sole.  Jeremy's an ill DJ that just came to LA from Chicago.  He spins hip-hop, house & everything in between.  His mix CD is a 65 minute mix with tracks from Alice Coltrane, MosDef, St.Germain, Ahmad Jamal, Common, King Tubby, Grover Washington, Boozoo Bajou, DJ Krush, Shelly Thunder, Dawn Penn, Chocolate Milk and Marvin Gaye.  The shit is slammin'!His presence joins with JB & Besskepp to create a triangle of flavor.

A Mic & Dim Lights will also be hosting record release parties in the coming monthes.