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An optimist looks at a cup and says that it is half full, while a pessimist looks at the cup and says that it is half empty. Khaiim the Rapoet, known to his audience as Selfsuffice, will look at that cup and spontaneously jump into a lyrical rollercoaster ride, causing listeners to wonder how this artist compelled them to clap to the beat of an impromptu rhyme about a glass of water that seems to be only half full or half empty. While the cup may be only half full of water, if Selfsuffice is around that cup will turn out to be full of catalysts for a mind-blowing musical thought process which produces insight and makes both the pessimist and the optimist marvel at the power of words.
To watch Selfsuffice’s live performance is to bask in the glow of a professional who truly loves doing what they do. He is proud to let his skill and intellect shine, rather than cater to those who require stupidity in order to be entertained. The Rapoet doesn’t front for anyone, maybe because he has already rocked with the best. Since his mother became close friends with many artist-activists during her youth in the era of the civil rights movement, he was always close to artists with a message. He says that due to being around people such as Alice Walker and Bernice Reagan as a child, he naturally just thought that all artists were expected to make you think deep and feel good.
After a year of feeling out of place at a prestigious college, he returned to the City of New York, where he worked part time while organizing, performing, and promoting hiphop events. During this time, Selfsuffice performed for and learned from many successful and business savvy artists, including Talib Kweli and Jessica Care Moore. Realizing that he would not only make a living with his art, but also be a role model for other aspiring artists, he decided not to accept a major label deal or start his own business before completing the requirements of a bachelor’s degree. Although he didn’t break a sweat trying to maintain a high grade point average, he wanted to make it clear that a lack of finances, family ties, or white skin would not hold him or any one like him back from intellectual achievement, if they were truly motivated.
After graduating from college, the Rapoet got back into his craft like never before. The first event was a battle at St. Joseph’s college. A friend mentioned that it was happening, so he went to the battle and won. Since then, he has competed and made it to the final round in two major emcee battles. Another event he attended after graduating was the Invoice Open Mic, where he tested out a few poems he had written while in college. The promoters were so impressed that they booked him to be the featured act, and he has been their official host ever since. He recently celebrated one full year of hosting the weekly open mic. After making promoters aware of his live show, he began collaborating on tracks for other artists, and putting together a compilation to showcase his talent.
Selfsuffice is currently working on his own solo debut at Influx Studios. He is also the resident host of the Invoice Open Mic, spinning hiphop on WRTC FM’s Rapoets Show, and preparing to launch an online lyricist showcase for RAPOETS.COM. You can book him within a week’s notice for shows in the New York and New England region. Larger venues can book him to perform outside of that region.
Performances
- include features and competitions at cafés, stages, and educational institutions
- recently tied for the top spot and went into overtime at the First Annual Hartford Hiphop Festival’s emcee battle, where he took second place
- recently won a competition to open Trinity College’s 2004 Spring weekend, which featured TOK, Eve 6, Ludacris, the Beatnuts, and others, where he rocked the crowd with instrumentalists, “Luca and the Band”
- has been featured along with the best, including Kweli, Mos Def, De La Soul, Jessica Care Moore, Immortal Technique, Rise and Shine, Wordsworth, Saul Williams, Mums, Stronghold, Kenn Starr, Oddisee, and many, many more
- live freestyles and recordings have been featured on pirate, public, and college radio shows, including Bobbito’s world famous CM FAM show.
- include collaborations with peers, mixtape appearances, and compilations
- featured on critically acclaimed releases by DJ’s including Eddie Ill & DL, Blowout, DJESE, Black Panther, and others
- recently recorded for Ceschi’s upcoming release on Red Balloon 444
- recently recorded for the Amphibians upcoming “Breathe” compilation
- recently released the “So Close” compilation, dedicated to his deceased father
- recently hosted discussions on, and presented work from, his upcoming book, “Getting a Bad Rap” at Trinity College and at Yale University. The book is based on valuable insight and constructive criticism for the culture of hiphop.
- recently interviewed for National Public Radio
- recently featured prominently in photo and article in the Hartford Advocate
- according to the Hartford Advocate, Selfsuffice's flow consists of,
"…intelligent, descriptive rhyme and not a second of hesitation on the mic…"
- website is http://suffice.rapoets.com
- email is suffice@rapoets.com
- booking is getlive@rapoets.com
- voice mail is 866-282-1452
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