by Not4Prophet Not4Prophet illustrated by Vagabond Beaumont introduction by Tony Medina
2Leaf Press, 2013 eISBN: 978-0-9884763-2-5 | Paper: 978-0-9884763-3-2 Library of Congress Classification PS3564.O788L37 2013 Dewey Decimal Classification 811.54
ABOUT THIS BOOK | AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY | REVIEWS
ABOUT THIS BOOK
LAST OF THE PO'RICANS Y OTROS AFRO-ARTIFACTS, the debut poetry collection of Not4Prophet, provides an incredible verbal and musical profusion of poetry that reflects the cultural landscapes of the perpetual islands of Puerto Rican and New York City through the eyes of a Puerto Rican born in Ponce, living in El Barrio/East Harlem and the South Bronx. As he elaborates this otherness, which includes the hassles of poverty, racial pride and racial discord, Not4Prophet pays homage to the old school cats from the Nuyorican and Black Arts movements. Written in free verse and layered with cultural and historical references, LAST OF THE PO'RICANS Y OTROS AFRO-ARTIFACTS breaks boundaries and challenges us with iconic imagery and word play that dares to speak of the unspeakable. Vagabond's agit-pop artwork creates a powerful visual to Not4Prophet's raging verse.
AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY
NOT4PROPHET was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico and raised in El Barrio/East Harlem and the South Bronx in New York City. He has released several indie music CDs, two self-published poetry chapbooks, and his writing has been featured in various books and magazines. He currently teaches writing at the Homeless Organizing Academy, located in the South Bronx section of New York City, and continues to diligently organize in the "hood”. www.agitrap.com. VAGABOND is a filmmaker and multi-disciplinary artist who was born in Brooklyn to Puerto Rican and Jamaican parents. He has written, produced and directed the documentary RICANSTRUCTING VIEQUES, and the award-winning feature film, MACHETERO. A former member of the RICANSTRUCTION Netwerk, he continues to work on films, create posters, pamphlets, videos and all kinds of other agit-propaganda for "the cause” or just because. www.nothngtobegainedhere.com.
REVIEWS
Like a cool glass of water on a hot summer day . . . no . . . more like an oasis not a mirage on this desert we call earth . . . not4Prophet comes to bring relief . . . to let you . . . me . . . all thinking people know . . . we are not alone . . . . -- Nikki Giovanni, poet
In LAST OF THE PO'RICANS, Not4Prophet delivers The Daily News of poetry in a hip-hop beat entangled in blues/plena/ rock 'n roll/punk/fusion/folk jazz mixed with explosive emotions crafted into each outburst. He delivers rapid fire political, apolitical, patriotic, treasonous, nationalistic, anti-capitalistic, take it or leave it, fuck it, in your face poetry that excites and incites. -- Jesus Papoleto Melendez Nuyorican poet and author of HEY YO! YO SOY!
The poet's nu, yo, and he's rican as ri can. He claims to be po'rican, and that po is for the poEMS you know, bro, as the rican is rich as a tostones slangwhich. . . . a Prophet for our time. -- Bob Holman, founder of the Bowery Poetry Club
LAST OF THE PO'RICANS Y OTROS AFRO-ARTIFACTS, the debut poetry collection of Not4Prophet, provides an incredible verbal and musical profusion of poetry that reflects the cultural landscapes of the perpetual islands of Puerto Rican and New York City through the eyes of a Puerto Rican born in Ponce, living in El Barrio/East Harlem and the South Bronx. As he elaborates this otherness, which includes the hassles of poverty, racial pride and racial discord, Not4Prophet pays homage to the old school cats from the Nuyorican and Black Arts movements. Written in free verse and layered with cultural and historical references, LAST OF THE PO'RICANS Y OTROS AFRO-ARTIFACTS breaks boundaries and challenges us with iconic imagery and word play that dares to speak of the unspeakable. Vagabond's agit-pop artwork creates a powerful visual to Not4Prophet's raging verse.
AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY
NOT4PROPHET was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico and raised in El Barrio/East Harlem and the South Bronx in New York City. He has released several indie music CDs, two self-published poetry chapbooks, and his writing has been featured in various books and magazines. He currently teaches writing at the Homeless Organizing Academy, located in the South Bronx section of New York City, and continues to diligently organize in the "hood”. www.agitrap.com. VAGABOND is a filmmaker and multi-disciplinary artist who was born in Brooklyn to Puerto Rican and Jamaican parents. He has written, produced and directed the documentary RICANSTRUCTING VIEQUES, and the award-winning feature film, MACHETERO. A former member of the RICANSTRUCTION Netwerk, he continues to work on films, create posters, pamphlets, videos and all kinds of other agit-propaganda for "the cause” or just because. www.nothngtobegainedhere.com.
REVIEWS
Like a cool glass of water on a hot summer day . . . no . . . more like an oasis not a mirage on this desert we call earth . . . not4Prophet comes to bring relief . . . to let you . . . me . . . all thinking people know . . . we are not alone . . . . -- Nikki Giovanni, poet
In LAST OF THE PO'RICANS, Not4Prophet delivers The Daily News of poetry in a hip-hop beat entangled in blues/plena/ rock 'n roll/punk/fusion/folk jazz mixed with explosive emotions crafted into each outburst. He delivers rapid fire political, apolitical, patriotic, treasonous, nationalistic, anti-capitalistic, take it or leave it, fuck it, in your face poetry that excites and incites. -- Jesus Papoleto Melendez Nuyorican poet and author of HEY YO! YO SOY!
The poet's nu, yo, and he's rican as ri can. He claims to be po'rican, and that po is for the poEMS you know, bro, as the rican is rich as a tostones slangwhich. . . . a Prophet for our time. -- Bob Holman, founder of the Bowery Poetry Club