THE LYRICIST LINKUP

By Eve Labi Contributing Writer

Tuesday, September 21 marked the eve of the Autumn Equinox - a night where the full moon shone down over the streets of Toronto with a powerful, magnetic force. A natural mystic was definitely blowing through the air - one that touched all who came out to the premiere launch of The Lyricist Linkup - an event held by I.S.I.S. CIRCLE and 8 Rooks Enlightenment.

All eyes were centre-stage at B Sweet Lounge (1279 Queen St. W.), as hosts EvE and Soul-R welcomed the 90+ attendees to what promised to be a captivating night. The Lyricist Linkup boasted a variety of Toronto.s rising spoken-word and musical artists - namely Jah Chris, EvE, Prophet Of Rage, Holiday Simmons, Soul-R and Shawna Dixon. Also on the line-up were Hajile Kalaike, Jason Kinte, Leviathan, Blak Child, Jah Brilliance, Simply Speaking and a riveting performance by Hilltop Productions featuring Testament (accompanied by DJ Babwa). With each passing act, the growing crowd.s anticipation became more evident, creating a positive energy that could be felt all the way to the front door. Entrepreneurs from around the city also showed up to lend their support - creating an Afrikan Market that included I.S.I.S. CREATIONS, Concise Apparel, M-Press Personal Care, Peace of Mind Wear and Dogon Star Productions.

The goal of The Lyricist Linkup is to unite Toronto.s lyrical artists (hence the name), and provide them with a venue where they can interact with both their fellow artists and the audience. The proposed outcome at the end of each show is a higher level of conscious awareness for everyone involved, as well as increased exposure for those artists committed to further establishing themselves in the performing arts industry. This initiative is the brainchild of EvE and Soul-R, who each own companies within the industry. 8 Rooks Enlightenment is a collective quickly blossoming under the well-guided direction of Soul-R, an artist who has taken Toronto.s poetry population by storm with the intense staccato of his lyrical prowess. 8 Rooks seeks to provide the masses with .enlightenment through entertainment., building bridges on a foundation dedicated to .the upliftment of mind, body and spirit.. Established in 2004, the ever-expanding company web-site, 8Rooks.Com, hosts a variety of articles; spoken word pieces (Afua Cooper, Unblind Africanus, etc.); event and music reviews; as well as links to many community resources. "I want to take this to higher heights" says Soul-R, who is currently working on the production of his debut spoken-word album. "My mission is to give people a deeper insight, deal with the essence of core issues, so we can actually start seeing some positive changes in our society".

The female balance for The Lyricist Linkup is provided by I.S.I.S. CIRCLE - a company 'dedicated to celebrating the natural gifts, beauty and talents of powerful Black women. - using the eyes of the media' Launched in March 2004, I.S.I.S. CIRCLE has quickly risen to stake its claim in the performing-arts industry. With an acronym that means .In my Sister Is my Strength., the CIRCLE firmly stands by its 'no apology' policy, in portraying an uncensored reality of what it means to be a striving, Black women in this day and age. "I'm feeling the connection between I.S.I.S. CIRCLE and 8 Rooks," affirms EvE, company founder and C.E.O. .My vision for the CIRCLE parallels 8 Rooks, in the sense that both Soul-R and I are dedicated to spreading conscious gospel.and blowing 3rd-eyes wide open.. Aside from managing both I.S.I.S. CIRCLE and I.S.I.S. CREATIONS, EvE is a self-taught freelance writer/photojournalist and Co-Director of Marketing & Media for G.O.D. Collective (an educational organization). Her works have been featured on BlackPlanet.Com and PoeticSoul.ca - as well as in Pride News Magazine, Peace Magazine and Canada Extra.

The energy at The Lyricist Linkup.s premiere launch was heightened by DJ El Machetero, who provided patrons with musical vibes that complemented the night.s conscious theme. The event was also made unique by its free raffle-draw, which offered an astounding 13 prizes to eager ticket holders. This evening highlight was successful due to the generosity of I.S.I.S. CREATIONS, Knowledge Bookstore, M-Press Personal Care, Concise Apparel, Peace of Mind Wear, Dogon Star Productions and Chupkali Entertainment. Gratitude was also expressed for the Lyricist Linkup volunteers, as well as the proprietors of B Sweet Lounge.

Both artists and performers alike can look forward to Tuesday, November 9 - when the initiative.s second event will take place (at the same location). And, with the success of its premiere launch, it.s inevitable that The Lyricist Linkup will serve its full purpose in the spoken-word community, and enjoy continued success for years to come.

Copyright 2004 by Eve Labi

(As Printed In PoeticSoul.Ca)