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Dwayne Morgan sat down and talked with 8 Rooks. September 29th, 2004 SouL-R: Greetings, We're at the MyUrbanProfile, 2nd Anniversary party. I'm here outside on Adelaide Street chilling with Dwayne Morgan. I'm bout to ask him a few questions. He has just performed, a riveting performance as usual. Dwayne, say a few words. Dwayne Morgan: What's up man? SouL-R: What's up? So tell me about "Up From The Roots", what's it all about and what direction is it going in? Dwayne Morgan: Up From the Roots is a business that I run, that I started in 1994, and what we do is, we're all about promoting artists and promoting positivity through the arts as well doing community building through the arts. So, we put on a lot of shows. We used to do a feed the homeless initiative, where on the last Saturday before Christmas we get volunteers and we just go out and make food and just give out to homeless people. And we chill with them and talk with them. And it's like one of those special things that we like doing because it's like... You know the last Saturday everybody's out there shopping and hustling and we take the time to just go and chill with some homeless folks and just ... Yo, that's really what the season's about, you know what I mean? It's one of those special things Not really the shopping and stuff. We go into a lot of schools, we do workshops, we do all sorts of things and it's... I mean I'm a poet and I started the business, but Up From The Roots consists of comedians, dance, singing, so it's like a lot of different art forms and we all work together to make sure that we keep things positive so that even when we put on events, we make sure it's events that our parents can come to. You know what I mean? And that they can see, that they can say that they feel proud of what their kids are doing because they can come out they can invite their friends. It's nothing that they are going to feel disrespected by or whatever. We make sure that everything is on the up and up and it's positive things that we're doing. We put the work together to make sure that it's a quality event, like if we charge 10 dollars, that means that you're going to get at least 15 dollars worth of entertainment. So, that's how we look at the stuff that we do so whatever price it is, just know that you're getting more than that when you come to an Up From The Roots event. Soul-R: For real! How do you view the spoken word scene in T.O. What do you like and what do you think needs to be changed? Dwayne Morgan: I mean, I like the fact that a lot of young artists are starting to, start up a series here a series there, starting to do shows and that sort of thing. So, that's really promising that they have that initiative towards putting on they're own things. There's still a lot of growth that needs to happen. There's still a lot of experience that people need to get. There's still a lot of research that people need to get in terms of you know the history of the modern spoken day movement and of the Toronto spoken word movement. And, I think once you have a lot of that you get to understand where you fit into the whole scheme of things. Looking at the scene right now! There's a lot of people, there's ego, ego is a big thing with a lot of, well with some young artists right now and it's like there's no real room for that in the arts and Especially if you're doing stuff with community, any kind of community, really. I mean, so a lot of people need to check their egos and they gotta forget that people are buying their CD's and that people are you cheering for them or whatever, and just really deal with the work and just really deal with what's really important because all of that at the end of the day is really superficial stuff. But, it's really the work that we have to be dealing with and build an infrastructure so that in the future when we're not here, there's young people who can look back and can say that Ya so and so did this and pick up the baton and continue... SouL-R: True, true. Tell me who or what artist/person or place inspires you to do the poetry and to keep up the work that you're doing? Dwayne Morgan: Me, I mean every poem I write is about life it's about people. You know what I mean? I just like to be around people, I like to observe people, I like to talk to people and see what's going on and everything that I write comes from that. Comes from you know? Watching TV and seeing what's going on, seeing and just trying to give a different perspective to everyday things that people might be experiencing. You know what I mean? It's like, if you look at what's going on with the media now, there's concentration of ownership of the media. So, you get to hear from fewer and fewer perspectives. So for me it's a matter of taking a different angle and showing a different perspective and a different way to look at the exact same thing that we're all dealing with. SouL-R: We do need more perspectives... Dwayne Morgan as an artist, you've been doing this a long time... You have toured around the U.S. and Europe. What's the scene like over there in the U.S and Europe? Dwayne Morgan: I mean the U.S. it's such a big market just because of the population, you know? ... There's stuff going on. If you go to a major city in the states there's almost a spoken word show every night. If you go to New York, there's maybe three spots you can choose to go to, every single night. There's a lot of stuff happening, there's a lot of competition, there's a lot of slams. And, what you find, when it's that saturated it's positive and negative. What's positive is that a lot of times you'll find that the work is better, because if you want to stand out you have to actually concentrate on your work. Where as, over here, there isn't that much competition. People are just happy to do whatever they want to do. So you know, the work isn't as tight as it might be in other places, because that competition and that drive isn't necessarily there to make sure you're works the tightest and sticks out. Pretty much you just stick out regardless just because you're doing it, over here. You know what I mean? In the U.K and Europe in general, they just have an overall greater appreciation for the arts, period. You know what I mean? Like, if it's artistic they dig it. They're not really into the commercialized, Puff Daddy, Bad Boy hip-hop or whatever. The want like the real essence of hip-hop. They're still into the break dancing, into the raw elements of everything. So, when it comes down to spoken word, they're just into the... they're just into it. You know what I mean? I go to shows in Germany where there's 300 people who come out every month, for open mike...and it's just because they appreciate the arts so they're gonna come out, just because they wanna hear the art. Whereas, over here, I mean, you gotta kill yourself to get 300 people to come out to a show. And it doesn't even happen all that often either. Even when you do kill yourself to do it. There's a completely different mindset and a different orientation towards the arts. SouL-R: You've had a long career! During your career, what do you think has been the highlight of your career? So far! Dwayne Morgan: I mean the highlight really, probably, would have to be my most recent trip to Barbados to perform and it was part of the tour that I was doing. And just really because they showed me you know, so much respect and so much love when I was out there. I mean I have never been treated that way before. Like anywhere, not here in Toronto not anywhere that I'd been before. I got there, and they had an itinerary set up for me. I had TV interviews I was on the cover of the newspaper, I was doing radio interviews. Everything, like they covered all the bases and it's like... You pick up the paper there was something about me, you turn on the radio, there was something about me, you go on the TV there was something...and it was just like, such an amazing experience, to have people, you know, look at my bio see the things at I have done and be like yo, we have to treat this guy a certain kind of way. And it was a real pleasure, really, just to have that experience of being treated that way and after doing this for so long having people actually acknowledge and show some respect for what you've done and what you bring to the table. I think that would have to be the highlight for me SouL-R: And would that also have been your most memorable performance? Or do you have another performance that's your most memorable? Dwayne Morgan: I mean, memorable performances as well! That would have to be an early performance I did, an event called Stomping Block and that was a big step dance competition, with step dance crews from around Canada and the states and that happened at Humber College. And that was a situation where there were thousands of people in this place, and this was before I had any books or anything and it was like... When you perform, and you tear it up, and there's a few thousand people cheering and making noise ... you heard this entire stadium erupt. And it was one of those things where people even come up to me today and say, "that I still remember that show." Because it got so loud and so crazy, just how people were responding to my work.... it was still early in my career and I was just happy to be on the show and it just went really well! SouL-R: That sounds hype! Before we go let me get a quote from either you or someone else who has inspired you. Or it could some words describing your thoughts on a particular belief or subject... Dwayne Morgan: You know what I always say to people? ... If you show your face in the world the world will reflect your image. You know what I mean? You gotta put yourself out there in the world, it's gonna be what you wanna put out! If you want change, you gotta be that change and that change is gonna happen. So, whatever you want to see, you gotta do it and then you're gonna see the results! Either within yourself or within your immediate surroundings or within the society in general. SouL-R: Indeed, And what's your contact info? Dwayne Morgan: Contact info. People can reach me online upfromtheroots.ca or they can call the info line 416 822 1465. SouL-R: For real! That was big, man. Dwayne Morgan. Thank you! Dwayne Morgan: thank-you very much. Thanks for havin me man. SouL-R: Bless!! Dwayne Morgan:Cool SouL-R:8 Rooks out........
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