Sekou Andrews: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|American actor}} |
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| name = Sekou Andrews |
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| caption = Sekou Andrews in 2019 |
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| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1972|11|13}} |
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| birth_place = [[Berkeley, California |
| birth_place = [[Berkeley, California]], US |
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| occupation = |
| occupation = Spoken word poet, actor, musician, playwright producer, voice-over artist |
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| nationality = American |
| nationality = American |
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| education = |
| education = Bachelor of Arts, Sociology |
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| alma_mater = [[Pitzer College]] |
| alma_mater = [[Pitzer College]] |
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| awards = *[[Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album]] |
| awards = *[[Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album]] |
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*[[Clio Awards]] |
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*[[Helen Hayes Award]] |
*[[Helen Hayes Award]] |
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*ABA Entrepreneur of the Year (Gold) |
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'''Sekou Andrews''' is an American actor, writer, producer and innovator of |
'''Sekou Andrews''' (born November 13, 1972), also known as '''Sekou (Tha Misfit)''', is an American actor, writer, producer, and innovator of "Poetic Voice".<ref>{{cite web |title=Press Release – Studio SCR 2012 |url=https://www.scr.org/press-room/press-releases/11-12-season-releases/press-release---studio-scr-2012 |publisher=[[South Coast Repertory]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Zaru |first1=Deena |title=As 'I can't breathe' haunts America, Sekou Andrews' poem reflects cycle of injustice |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/breathe-haunts-america-sekou-andrews-poem-reflects-cycle/story?id=71533161 |publisher=ABC News |language=en}}</ref> |
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Sekou Andrews has been performing spoken word poetry |
Sekou Andrews has been performing [[spoken word]] poetry professionally since 2002. In that time, he has won two National Poetry Slams, two Independent Music Awards, and six CLIO Awards. In 2019, Sekou became the first spoken word poet in over 12 years to be nominated for the [[Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album]].<ref name="Grammy">{{cite web |title=GRAMMY Awards Winners & Nominees for Best Spoken Word Or Non-musical Album |url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/awards/winners-nominees/219 |website=GRAMMY.com |language=en}}</ref> |
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Sekou is the innovator of a new category of public speaking called "poetic voice", which blends inspirational speaking with spoken word poetry. Through his work as a top Black public speaker, Sekou has over 2 decades of experience delivering presentations for hundreds of global brands, [[Fortune 500]] corporations, leading associations, and non-profit organizations, including [[Nike, Inc.|Nike]], Google, [[AT&T]], [[PayPal]], [[LinkedIn]], [[Electronic Arts|EA Games]], [[Microsoft]], [[Toyota]], and [[Viacom (2005–2019)|Viacom]]. Sekou's work and impact on the business world has been notable, including a [[Forbes]] article calling Sekou "the de fact poet laureate of corporate America."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kotler |first=Steven |title=Learning To Learn Faster (Part III): The Amazing Sekou Andrews |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/stevenkotler/2013/08/08/learning-to-learn-faster-part-iii-the-amazing-sekou-andrews/ |access-date=2022-04-05 |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref> |
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He is also the founder of 7-figure company on poetry named "SekouWorld".<ref name="BE">{{cite web |last1=Thornton |first1=Cedric |title=Sekou Andrews Says He Built a 7-Figure Company Through Poetry. Here's How |url=https://www.blackenterprise.com/sekou-andrews-says-he-built-a-7-figure-company-through-poetry-heres-how/ |publisher=[[Black Enterprise]] |date=23 March 2020}}</ref> |
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== Career == |
== Career == |
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Sekou started his career as a school teacher. While teaching, Sekou pursued music, formed his own record label, Blind Faith Records, and released his early hip-hop albums independently. |
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Sekou started his career as a school teacher. Initially he had a little interest in poetry, but took to the stage as a way of showcasing his talent. One thing led to another and pretty soon Andrews had fallen in love with spoken word and had a part in MTV’s Battleground, which is when his entrepreneurial instincts kicked in.<ref>{{cite web |title=Super Session With Sekou Andrews – Getting to the Next, Next Level |url=https://americanstaffing.net/sw21/sessions/item/keynote-sekou-andrews/ |publisher=[[American Staffing Association]]}}</ref> |
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Sekou's work has been featured on national media outlets such as [[ABC World News Tonight|ABC World News]], [[CBS]], [[MSNBC]], [[HBO]], [[Good Morning America]], [[Showtime (TV network)|Showtime]], [[MTV]], and [[BET]]. He has given private performances for such prominent individuals as [[Maya Angelou]], [[Quincy Jones]], [[Larry King]], [[Hillary Clinton]], [[Norman Lear]], [[Sean "Diddy" Combs]], and [[Coretta Scott King]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Sekou Andrews: Poetic Voice As Power |url=https://www.goodlifeproject.com/podcast/sekou-andrews/ |website=Good Life Project}}</ref> Sekou also performed for [[Barack Obama]] in [[Oprah Winfrey]]'s back yard.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Snow |first=Shane |title=Leaders Need To Deliver Inspiration Now More Than Ever. Polymath Sekou Andrews Is Here To Help. |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/shanesnow/2020/03/26/leaders-need-to-deliver-inspiration-now-more-than-ever-polymath-sekou-andrews-is-here-to-help/ |access-date=2022-04-05 |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref> |
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He is also a voiceover artist and actor with several national commercials, films, and critically-acclaimed two-man play.<ref>{{cite web |title=Speaker: Sekou Andrews, Creator of "Poetic Voice" {{!}} LAI |url=https://www.leadingauthorities.com/uk/speakers/sekou-andrews |website=Leadingauthorities.com}}</ref> |
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In late 2004, following the conclusion of the Declare Yourself tour, Sekou and fellow poet Steve Connell formed a creative partnership to write and perform spoken word together. As a duo, the two poets toured multiple colleges, created, recorded, and filmed poems for various corporate and political organizations., including [[American Civil Liberties Union|ACLU]], The Gap, [[Rock the Vote]], [[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]], Oceana, the [[HBO US Comedy Arts Festival]], [[TEDMED]], and The Pasadena Pops Orchestra.<ref>{{cite web |title=Steve Connell and Sekou Andrews: The Word Begins |url=https://www.redcat.org/event/radar-la-steve-connell-and-sekou-andrews |website=Redcat}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Sekou Andrews – The Chopra Foundation |url=https://choprafoundation.org/speakers/sekou-andrews/ |website=choprafoundation.org}}</ref> |
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== Discography == |
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===Studio albums=== |
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*I Love U/For The Rest of my Life – EP (1998) |
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*Seven: A Kwanzaa Soundtrack (1999) |
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*Therapy – EP (2000) |
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*Afrodeezyackz/The Mumblings of a Madman (2002) |
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*Poetic License (2008) |
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*Sekou Andrews & The String Theory (2019) |
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{{ Singles discography | all_albums=yes |
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| title1 = The Music Movement | album1 = Sekou Andrews & The String Theory<ref>{{cite web |title=Sekou Andrews |url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/sekou-andrews/251626 |website=GRAMMY.com |language=en |date=December 15, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=String Theory (artist collective) |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/String_Theory_(artist_collective) |website=Wikipedia |language=en |date=November 26, 2021}}</ref>{{Circular reference|date=September 2023}} | albumspan1 = 6 | year1 = 2019 | yearspan1 = 7 |
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| title2 = Good Vibes |
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| title3 = Be Voiceful |
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| title4 = Love Says |
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| title5 = Poem |
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| title6 = Poets Have Fun To |
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| title7 = | album7 = Sunrise Sunset | albumspan7 = 1}} |
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===Other Releases=== |
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*2004: "Devil’s Advocate" – Underground Rise: Sunrise Sunset<ref>{{cite web |last1=Andrews |first1=Sekou |title=Sekou Andrews & The String Theory |url=https://open.spotify.com/album/2ryq4HU774ukeMzvkso6aT |website=spotify.com |language=en |date=August 30, 2019}}</ref> |
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*2019: "Vocalise: Poem of No Words” – Denise Young: Soprano |
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* 2006: “Streets of Gold” – Celeste Prince: Untitled |
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* 2006: “That’s How They Getcha” – Celeste Prince: Untitled |
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* 2013: “DPL Anthem” – Shihan: Music is the New Cotton |
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* 2013: “Keep On Rollin’” – Shihan: Music is the New Cotton |
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==Filmography== |
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===Films=== |
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* Nike Battlegrounds: Ball or Fall (2003) as Poet/Narrator and Writer |
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*Crossover (2004) as Actor and Writer<ref>{{cite web |title=Crossover (2004) film |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-ozjcej/crossover/ |publisher=[[Radio Times]] |language=en}}</ref> |
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*[[I'm Through with White Girls]] (2007) as cousin2<ref>{{cite web |title=I'm Through with White Girls (The Inevitable Undoing of Jay Brooks) (2007) pełna obsada |url=https://www.filmweb.pl/film/I%27m+Through+with+White+Girls+%28The+Inevitable+Undoing+of+Jay+Brooks%29-2007-467166/cast/actors |publisher=[[Filmweb]] |language=pl}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=I'm Through with White Girls – Filamu kwenye Google Play |url=https://play.google.com/store/movies/details/I_m_Through_with_White_Girls?id=4CC5C0EA2E17F921MV&hl=sw |publisher=[[Google Play]] |language=sw}}</ref> |
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*The Sea of Dreams (2011) as Marvin Bell(Actor) and producer<ref>{{cite web |title=The Sea of Dreams |url=https://flyx.me/movie/5d3b614a70ddcb6891ae11fc/the-sea-of-dreams |website=flyx.me |language=en}}</ref> |
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*Rice on White (2017) as I.B.M<ref>{{cite web |title=Rice on White (2017) |url=https://letterboxd.com/film/rice-on-white/ |publisher=[[Letterboxd]] |language=en}}</ref> |
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===Documentaries and TV Series=== |
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*Lyric Cafe (2002–03) (TV Series) as self-poet |
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*Nike Battlegrounds: Ball or Fall (2003) as Self (Poet/Narrator and Writer) |
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*Crossover (2004) as Self (Actor and Writer) |
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*Underground Poets Railroad (2003) (Documentary) as Sekou Tha Misfit |
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*Def Poetry (2002–2005) (TV Series documentary) as Self – Poet |
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*The Underground (2006) (TV Series documentary) Self as Sekou da Misfit |
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*Graffiti Verité 7: Random Urban Static (2008) (Video documentary) Self as Sekou Tha Misfit |
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*Rhymecology: Write Better Rhymes (2021) (Documentary) Self<ref>{{cite web |title=Rhymecology: Write Better Rhymes (2021) |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-buvav3/rhymecology-write-better-rhymes/ |publisher=[[Radio Times]] |language=en}}</ref> |
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*The Sound of Us (2021) (Documentary) as Self |
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== Awards and recognitions == |
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*Nomination – [[Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album]] – "Sekou Andrews & The String Theory" (2020)<ref name="Grammy"/> |
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*[[Clio Awards]] 2020<ref>{{cite web |title=Color of Change – Love Says |url=https://clios.com/awards/winner/film-craft-cinematography/color-of-change/love-says-87226 |website=Clios |language=en}}</ref> |
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*American Business Awards "Entrepreneur of the Year" (Stevie Awards) – Gold Level (2019)<ref>{{cite web |title=SekouWorld Inc. – Entrepreneur of the Year {{!}} Stevie Awards |url=https://stevieawards.com/aba/sekouworld-inc-entrepreneur-year |website=stevieawards.com}}</ref> |
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*[[Helen Hayes Award]] 2008<ref name="ted"/> |
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*National Poetry Slam championship Winner (2002, 2003)<ref>{{cite web |title=Sekou Andrews {{!}} Bio {{!}} National Speakers Bureau |url=https://nationalspeakers.com/sekou-andrews/bio |website=nationalspeakers.com}}</ref> |
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*2020 Independent Music Awards for "Best Spoken Word Song" and "Best Spoken Word Album<ref>{{cite web |title=THE 18TH INDEPENDENT MUSIC AWARDS NOMINEES ANNOUNCED |url=https://independentmusicawards.com/blog/2020/04/09/the-18th-independent-music-awards-nominees-announced/ |website=Independent Music Awards |date=April 9, 2020}}</ref> |
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*Feature Performance – for President Barack and Michelle Obama in [[Oprah Winfrey]]’s back yard<ref name="ted">{{cite web |title=Sekou Andrews |url=https://www.tedmed.com/speakers/show?id=6463 |publisher=[[TEDMED]]}}</ref> |
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*Winner – [[LA Music Awards]] for "Outstanding Music Video" (1999)<ref>{{cite web |title=Sekou (Tha Misfit) |url=http://www.lamusicawards.com/act/sekou/ |website=LA Music Awards}}</ref> |
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*Winner – Images of Voices & Hope "Award of Appreciation" (2011) |
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==References== |
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{{reflist}} |
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==External links== |
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*{{IMDB name|id=2256686}} |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Andrews, Sekou}} |
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[[Category:American spoken word poets]] |
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[[Category:1972 births]] |
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[[Category:Living people]] |
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[[Category:Musicians from Berkeley, California]] |
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[[Category:American male stage actors]] |
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[[Category:American male voice actors]] |
Latest revision as of 11:42, 27 September 2024
This biographical article is written like a résumé. (September 2024) |
Sekou Andrews | |
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Born | Berkeley, California, US | November 13, 1972
Occupation | Spoken word poet, actor, musician, playwright producer, voice-over artist |
Nationality | American |
Education | Bachelor of Arts, Sociology |
Alma mater | Pitzer College |
Notable awards |
|
Website | |
www |
Sekou Andrews (born November 13, 1972), also known as Sekou (Tha Misfit), is an American actor, writer, producer, and innovator of "Poetic Voice".[1][2]
Sekou Andrews has been performing spoken word poetry professionally since 2002. In that time, he has won two National Poetry Slams, two Independent Music Awards, and six CLIO Awards. In 2019, Sekou became the first spoken word poet in over 12 years to be nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album.[3]
Sekou is the innovator of a new category of public speaking called "poetic voice", which blends inspirational speaking with spoken word poetry. Through his work as a top Black public speaker, Sekou has over 2 decades of experience delivering presentations for hundreds of global brands, Fortune 500 corporations, leading associations, and non-profit organizations, including Nike, Google, AT&T, PayPal, LinkedIn, EA Games, Microsoft, Toyota, and Viacom. Sekou's work and impact on the business world has been notable, including a Forbes article calling Sekou "the de fact poet laureate of corporate America."[4]
Career
[edit]Sekou started his career as a school teacher. While teaching, Sekou pursued music, formed his own record label, Blind Faith Records, and released his early hip-hop albums independently.
Sekou's work has been featured on national media outlets such as ABC World News, CBS, MSNBC, HBO, Good Morning America, Showtime, MTV, and BET. He has given private performances for such prominent individuals as Maya Angelou, Quincy Jones, Larry King, Hillary Clinton, Norman Lear, Sean "Diddy" Combs, and Coretta Scott King.[5] Sekou also performed for Barack Obama in Oprah Winfrey's back yard.[6]
He is also a voiceover artist and actor with several national commercials, films, and critically-acclaimed two-man play.[7]
In late 2004, following the conclusion of the Declare Yourself tour, Sekou and fellow poet Steve Connell formed a creative partnership to write and perform spoken word together. As a duo, the two poets toured multiple colleges, created, recorded, and filmed poems for various corporate and political organizations., including ACLU, The Gap, Rock the Vote, NCAA, Oceana, the HBO US Comedy Arts Festival, TEDMED, and The Pasadena Pops Orchestra.[8][9]
Discography
[edit]Studio albums
[edit]- I Love U/For The Rest of my Life – EP (1998)
- Seven: A Kwanzaa Soundtrack (1999)
- Therapy – EP (2000)
- Afrodeezyackz/The Mumblings of a Madman (2002)
- Poetic License (2008)
- Sekou Andrews & The String Theory (2019)
Year | Title | Album |
---|---|---|
2019 | "The Music Movement" | Sekou Andrews & The String Theory[10][11][circular reference] |
"Good Vibes" | ||
"Be Voiceful" | ||
"Love Says" | ||
"Poem" | ||
"Poets Have Fun To" |
Other Releases
[edit]- 2004: "Devil’s Advocate" – Underground Rise: Sunrise Sunset[12]
- 2019: "Vocalise: Poem of No Words” – Denise Young: Soprano
- 2006: “Streets of Gold” – Celeste Prince: Untitled
- 2006: “That’s How They Getcha” – Celeste Prince: Untitled
- 2013: “DPL Anthem” – Shihan: Music is the New Cotton
- 2013: “Keep On Rollin’” – Shihan: Music is the New Cotton
Filmography
[edit]Films
[edit]- Nike Battlegrounds: Ball or Fall (2003) as Poet/Narrator and Writer
- Crossover (2004) as Actor and Writer[13]
- I'm Through with White Girls (2007) as cousin2[14][15]
- The Sea of Dreams (2011) as Marvin Bell(Actor) and producer[16]
- Rice on White (2017) as I.B.M[17]
Documentaries and TV Series
[edit]- Lyric Cafe (2002–03) (TV Series) as self-poet
- Nike Battlegrounds: Ball or Fall (2003) as Self (Poet/Narrator and Writer)
- Crossover (2004) as Self (Actor and Writer)
- Underground Poets Railroad (2003) (Documentary) as Sekou Tha Misfit
- Def Poetry (2002–2005) (TV Series documentary) as Self – Poet
- The Underground (2006) (TV Series documentary) Self as Sekou da Misfit
- Graffiti Verité 7: Random Urban Static (2008) (Video documentary) Self as Sekou Tha Misfit
- Rhymecology: Write Better Rhymes (2021) (Documentary) Self[18]
- The Sound of Us (2021) (Documentary) as Self
Awards and recognitions
[edit]- Nomination – Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album – "Sekou Andrews & The String Theory" (2020)[3]
- Clio Awards 2020[19]
- American Business Awards "Entrepreneur of the Year" (Stevie Awards) – Gold Level (2019)[20]
- Helen Hayes Award 2008[21]
- National Poetry Slam championship Winner (2002, 2003)[22]
- 2020 Independent Music Awards for "Best Spoken Word Song" and "Best Spoken Word Album[23]
- Feature Performance – for President Barack and Michelle Obama in Oprah Winfrey’s back yard[21]
- Winner – LA Music Awards for "Outstanding Music Video" (1999)[24]
- Winner – Images of Voices & Hope "Award of Appreciation" (2011)
References
[edit]- ^ "Press Release – Studio SCR 2012". South Coast Repertory.
- ^ Zaru, Deena. "As 'I can't breathe' haunts America, Sekou Andrews' poem reflects cycle of injustice". ABC News.
- ^ a b "GRAMMY Awards Winners & Nominees for Best Spoken Word Or Non-musical Album". GRAMMY.com.
- ^ Kotler, Steven. "Learning To Learn Faster (Part III): The Amazing Sekou Andrews". Forbes. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
- ^ "Sekou Andrews: Poetic Voice As Power". Good Life Project.
- ^ Snow, Shane. "Leaders Need To Deliver Inspiration Now More Than Ever. Polymath Sekou Andrews Is Here To Help". Forbes. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
- ^ "Speaker: Sekou Andrews, Creator of "Poetic Voice" | LAI". Leadingauthorities.com.
- ^ "Steve Connell and Sekou Andrews: The Word Begins". Redcat.
- ^ "Sekou Andrews – The Chopra Foundation". choprafoundation.org.
- ^ "Sekou Andrews". GRAMMY.com. December 15, 2020.
- ^ "String Theory (artist collective)". Wikipedia. November 26, 2021.
- ^ Andrews, Sekou (August 30, 2019). "Sekou Andrews & The String Theory". spotify.com.
- ^ "Crossover (2004) film". Radio Times.
- ^ "I'm Through with White Girls (The Inevitable Undoing of Jay Brooks) (2007) pełna obsada" (in Polish). Filmweb.
- ^ "I'm Through with White Girls – Filamu kwenye Google Play" (in Swahili). Google Play.
- ^ "The Sea of Dreams". flyx.me.
- ^ "Rice on White (2017)". Letterboxd.
- ^ "Rhymecology: Write Better Rhymes (2021)". Radio Times.
- ^ "Color of Change – Love Says". Clios.
- ^ "SekouWorld Inc. – Entrepreneur of the Year | Stevie Awards". stevieawards.com.
- ^ a b "Sekou Andrews". TEDMED.
- ^ "Sekou Andrews | Bio | National Speakers Bureau". nationalspeakers.com.
- ^ "THE 18TH INDEPENDENT MUSIC AWARDS NOMINEES ANNOUNCED". Independent Music Awards. April 9, 2020.
- ^ "Sekou (Tha Misfit)". LA Music Awards.