Biography

Poet. Motivational Speaker. Writer

Born March 3, 1986 in Miami, Florida first discovered his talent in the entertainment sector of poetry his Senior year of High School when his now mentor, Will "Da Real One" ,two times HBO Def Poet, walked into Ms. Blue's classroom at North Miami Senior High to give a poetry show. After constant contact with Will, he started calling him "DaYoungsta," because he was the youngest poet on the scene. At the tender age of 17, Da Youngsta's first performed at Literary Café in February 2004. Since then, he has been invited to perform nationally and internationally at numerous venues. Recognition of his artistic talent led him to open for "The Laugh Out Loud," Comedy Tour featuring comics Don "DC" Curry, Arnes J, Earthquake, Sommore and Malik Salon in July 2005 at the James L. Knight Center in Miami, Florida. He received a standing ovation from the sold-out crowd. On May 26, 2006, Da Youngsta received yet another standing ovation in Mobile, Alabama as the opening act for Sheryl Underwood, the present host of BET's Comic View. Other featured comedians were Ronnie Jones, RayRay, Lester Bibbs and Miami's own "Mr. Funny Man" Marvin Dixon. He quickly won the crowd over with his humble stage presence, artistic delivery, and heart-felt words of wisdom.

His first cameo appearance was in the music video featuring the late Notorious BIG and Bob Marley, "Hold Ya Head". Da Youngsta has combined his love for the stage with his dream of being on film. Da Youngsta's vision is to elevate spoken word to the same status of Hip Hop. He is convinced that his lyrics and content , without music or beats, can be celebrated as a form of cultural entertainment on the same scale as Hip Hop. His energy and excitement doesn't come from being recognized, it comes from his core as he feels a natural bond with any stage where he can grab the mic and let loose. He's quickly mistaken for a rapper because of his stereotypical Hip Hop demeanor, his platinum teeth that have "POET" engraved on them, and tattoos. But he's much more than his appearance, the saying "Don't judge a book by its cover" definitely applies to him. With a shy, shiny smile he states, "I am too lazy to be scared, it takes up too much time." There is certainly no fear in this poet as he transforms from a quiet, unassuming young man in the audience to a loud, demanding presence of forceful energy on stage. His vocal compositions range from soul stirring, thought provoking poems exploring desires, conflicts and contradictions, to mind blowing sex poems. He inspires with his views about the urban community. His poems have no limitations, capturing the audience's attention by being a master storyteller. He transforms his visual images into words, letting his viewers know that there is a better tomorrow. Healing the crowd through his sound vibrations he gives them hope and allows them to see other choices. October 25, 2006 Da Youngsta flew to Harlem, New York and performed at the World Famous Apollo Theatre, where he received a standing ovation for his hit poem "Where I Come From". Persistence, poise, and passion exuberates from his aura as his voice delivers just the right amount of tone, texture and tempo to convey his message to command the crowd's attention. Motivated by his own stories of growing up on the inner city streets of Miami-Dade County, he has seen his fair share of crime, violence, drugs, teenage pregnancies, single-parent households and other misfortunes. However, his internal beliefs and desires, coupled with a passion to succeed, focused attention and intention, he is as clear as a crystal. He's currently a sophomore at the HBC Benedict College in Columbia, South Carolina. Now at the age of 21 he has released his brand new highly anticipated spoken word album entitled "BROKEN STEREOTYPE". Stay tuned because this ambitious, passionate, complex, insightful and caring "Youngsta" is a rising Young Star! 2007 -State of Florida Poetry Slam Champion 2005 -E-literary Rookie Poet of the Year -3-time Audys Place Youth Poetry Winner -Verbal Arts Hall of Fame -2nd Poetry Fiesta -Featured poet at Islands of Turks and Caicos, Piper High, South Broward High, North Miami Senior High -Miami Apollo Show finalist and winner 2004 -Placed 2nd at Brave New Voices, a national youth competition in San Francisco, CA (Spit Fi'ya Youth Slam Team) -1st place Boxers vs. Bras Voices & Vibes Poetry Slam -Miami Apollo Show finalist -Miami Masters 1st place slam winner.

Media

Photos. Videos.

Guestbook

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COMING SOON.

Appearances

High Schools

Barbara Goleman Senior High - Miami Lakes, Florida
Calhoun County High- Orangeburg, South Carolina
Coral Springs High School – Coral Springs , Florida
Dillard Senior High – Ft. Lauderdale , Florida
Goleman Senior High - Miami Lakes, Florida
Hallandale Senior High - Hallandale Beach, Florida
North Miami Senior High – Miami , Florida
Piper High School – Tamarac , Florida
Plantation High School – Plantation , Florida
South Broward High School – Ft. Lauderdale , Florida

Colleges/Universities

Barry University – Miami , Florida
Benedict College - Columbia, South Carolina
Broward Community College – Ft. Lauderdale , Florida
Florida Atlantic University – Boca Raton , Florida
Florida International University – Miami , Florida
Florida Memorial College – Miami , Florida
Johnson and Whales University – North Miami , Florida
Lynn University – Boca Raton , Florida
Palm Beach Community College – Palm Beach , Florida
South Carolina State University- Orangeburg, South Carolina
University of Miami – Miami , Florida
University of South Carolina- Columbia, South Carolina
Winthrop University- Columbia, South Carolina

Events

Afrika House - Orangeburg, South Carolina
Amen Ra- Tallahassee, Florida
Art Serve – Ft. Lauderdale , Florida
Artist In The Industry (A.I.T.I) – Miami , Florida
Black and Gold Cafe: Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity - Columbia ,SC
Creek Hotel – Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
D'Jangos for Robert Townsend Auditions - Atlanta,Ga
El Palacio Hotel – Miami, Florida
Funk Jazz Lounge – Miami , Florida
Girl Power - Miami, Florida
Ghetto Poetry - Miami, Florida
Harambee Festival - Columbia, South Carolina
Improv – Coconut Grove , Florida
Juvenile Correctional Facility - Albuquerque, New Mexico
Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity @ University of South Carolina - Columbia,SC
Kola Nut Café – Miami, Florida
Landmark – Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
Literary Café – Miami, Florida
Love Jones – Miami, Florida
Mello Mondays @ District – Miami , Florida
Palmetto Classic Beauty Pageant - Columbia, South Carolina
Palmetto Classic Step Show - Columbia, South Carolina
Power Studio's – Miami , Florida
Red Pub - Columbia, South Carolina
Santos (Miami Live), Miami Beach, Florida
Show Time at The Apollo Auditions - Harlem, New York
Spitt Fi'Ya – Ft. Lauderdale , Florida
The Butterfly Lounge – Miami , Florida
Tiger Fest Talent Show - Columbia, South Carolina
The Red Tub - Columbia, South Carolina
Voices and Vibes - Sunrise, Florida
Wednesday's @ Power Studios – Miami , Florida
Youth City Mission – Miami , Florida
750 CLUB - Irmo, South Carolina

Poems

The Prelude

Instead of choices I was birthed with strikes
I was then told I would never amount to anything
And my dreams held no purpose, my thoughts were irrelevant
Therefore sleeping was meaningless
Because in order to dream my mind and heart had to depart from this world
My soul, sing, silent songs, but what's the purpose of singing if I'm the only one who hears the tune
The universe is a nesting ground
I feed from the knowledge it provides
Yet I'm still intellectually malnourished
And the life cycle continues like a chorus and I'm tired of fighting
My body is fatigued
Always trying to prove to the world that I belong
That I'm more than qualified to receive a slice of this so called "American Pie"
I'm attempting to break away from society's conventional way of thinking
Because my mind-set surpasses the typical
I am the definition of an original
I am beyond the normality, which has been provided for me
I wasn't birthed with instructions
More like a jagged destiny
Because the road gets rough when in search of answers
This is why I continue looking
This is why I continue searching
I welcome the pain I gain while on my journey
So join me in my endeavors of self-betterment
Inhale my exhale
As I tell tales of Truth

Pride & Joy

When gazing into the eyes of a grieving mother
I observe how her pride flows like untamed rivers
Almost as if it has no banks or boundaries
You can see how her pride leaves behind a stainless residue of sorrow
She is now an open sore
A terrain of heartache
A plateau of pain
She confides in her own misery
Wondering how she is going to make it through her tomorrow
She attempts to borrow happiness from old photos
Those frozen moments when things were normal
Her tears have arid
She is unable to get rid of that deafening cry for help
A cry which haunts her at night in her moments of rest
Sanity seems pointless
She stares out her window at the children that play in the street
She is jealous of their laughter
They partake in play without a worry in the world
Just children being children
Oblivious of life's many struggles
Growing up we aren't trained to deal with death
We are just told that it creeps in like a thief in the night
Stealing as many exhales as possible
Replacing the last breath with death
These tears were unexpected
She kept them safe and sheltered for another time
Birthdays and graduations
Touchdowns and dance recitals
These tears were premature like an anxious and naive embryo just ready to become a part of this ruthless existence
She can hear the tires screeching like an old horror flick without any regards to the children…….
She was just getting home from the factory with groceries in hand
Her children knew that it was time for them to retire for the night
Yet they begged their mother to allow them to stay out a little longer
She genuinely obliged their request
She smiles at her daughter
Blows a kiss at her son
Walks up the stairs after a job well done
Drops the groceries
Picks up the mail
Shakes her head nothing but bills
Then time stood still…….
All she heard was "They hit the babies"
Mother drops the mail and hurries outside
In an instant death struck her eyes
Migraines and sharp pains struck her chest right behind left breast
But good thing it wasn't the driver's fault the asphalt was new
We know how these hit and run drivers always have some stupid excuse
The blood kept the people at bay, but the mother wasn't prepared for such a sight
Both of her children
Her son "Pride" and her daughter "Joy"
Lay parallel like blood stained angels
The mother kneels between them with both in her arms praying this was all a terrible nightmare or hallucination, but she knew it was really happening Police sirens break the neighborhood silence
She holds the children close to her bloody bosoms telling the paramedics, "You are not taking my babies, they all I have to live for"
And here she is a week later
She sits in the window watching other children play day after day
Wishing she would've told her children to come inside for supper
Wishing that driver would have been driving a little slower
Praying Jehovah would have kept her babies out of harms way
But these are the situations we aren't prepared for
To lose the ones that we adore
You've never looked into grieving eyes until you have looked into the eyes of single-mother
A single-mother that lost both her children
She traces their names on fabrics at the factory
Oh how she wishes they were in front of the house when she came home from work
Nothing but memories and a blood stained street
With new signs that read "Slow Down" "Children at Play" how ironic
That it took the death of her "Pride" and "Joy" to display some type of caution
There is never any true concern until tragedy strikes
Then we take all the necessary precaution, but for this mother it's far too late
In the concrete the creator has etched their fate
So she sits in the window seal with her eyes fixated on the street slowly rocking back and forth imagining her children playing
A single tear finds its way to her lips
Its leaves a narrow trail for others to follow
She then gives a soft smile and says, "My Pride and Joy"

Jailhouse Blues

And he thought that if he slept
He could escape the demons that interrupted his rest each night
But his cries echoed off the prison walls like a crack baby would from withdrawal
Hunched in his cot with his pale face in his blistered palms
Wiping the saliva from the corner of his mouth
He holds his breathe
As he surveillances the quite shadows that decorate his cell walls
He begins to nibble at the enamel coated upon his dirty fingernails
And right then and there time stops
As well as his pulse
A dark figure standing as least six feet, seven inches tall approaches his cell
He pulls out a ring of skeleton keys
Inserting the key into the slot
Opening up the gateways to the devils dungeon
This guard drags this inmate by his pride as he's done on previous nights
Entering his warm shaft with a night stick
And his routine was perfectly choreographed
Because for a year in a half this inmate had to dance in this countless abuse
But I guess it had something to do with his previous life on the outside
Preying upon young souls
Luring them to his layer with bags of goodies
He wore a cotton gray hoody and blue jeans
With a warm and charming smile
This was the guard's way of allowing this inmate to pay back his dept to society
And this was the first time I ever heard a grown man cry
And this is how you take a grown man's pride
And I wonder why he hasn't committed suicide
Then I figured it's because his soul has already died inside
Because his screams transfigured to moans
As if he's grown immune to this once pain now pleasure
How ever he couldn't erase his past for it's written in blood upon blood stained concrete
Etched in the premature hearts he's toiled with
This was karma at it's best
He no longer knew what rest meant
Because torment became a familiar face
And sleep now a myth
So answer this question: Have you ever heard a mute man cry for help?
It sounds like sweet, silence, slowly, seeping through the sweltering heat of regret
It's kind of like having full-blown Aids
And not wanting to jump off a twelve story building
Basically, it's a slow death at a fast pace
But this man shall dance this dance until he can no longer stand like a man
Until he could no longer call himself a man
Until he himself calls it quits
With cowardly intentions on taking his own life
He smeared this poem on the cold walls of his jail cell with a bloody right knuckle
Praying his corpse is spared the embarrassment of the public eye
And God must've known what he was fixing to do and wasn't quite ready for this man to clock himself out so soon
So for all of sins God granted this fraction of a man
Eternal Life

No Reflection

I sometimes look at us in disbelief
I gaze in the faces of these easily influenced fabrications
Rewriting a destiny that has been etched in stone
But we conveniently alter the manuscript
We allow our paths to become dictated by outsiders
We no longer control our fate
Our masks we comfortably wear has become our face
We are all suffering an identity crisis
While Pisces swims in a cesspool of lies
Our inhibitions are lost
We know no longer our divine purpose
So as I gaze…. I give a sigh
And with poetic psalms I reply
Because these scriptures seem like the only thing that holds any purity
Smiles aren't genuine
Our eyes whisper lies like silent exhales
Therefore I'm forced to rebel through poetic tales of Now
We've grown comfortable with living by the thoughts of other people
Even the churches steeple stands to a lean
As it attempts to dodge criticism, but how can you dodge raindrops in a thunderstorm
There is indeed an identity crisis at stake
Our Faces have been modified to fit the lifestyle of everyone else's expectations except ourselves
We have mastered the Art of mimicking
Cherry picking at each other at will
It's sad to see that we no longer live with certainty
We NEED to find our identity
Mirror Me Not

Accolades

2007

-State of Florida Poetry Slam Champion
-University of South Carolina Poetry Slam Champion
-Benedict College Poet of the Year
-Voice of the People Award
-Accomplished the completion of sophomore album "Broken Stereotype"

2006

-ShowTime At The Apollo Performer
-Accomplished first CD at 19 entitled: Da Youngsta "Prince of Poetry"
-Member of the Miami Master's Poetry SLAM Team
-Miami Apollo Show finalist and winner
--Placed 2nd at Brave New Voices, a national youth competition in San Francisco, CA (Spit Fi'ya Youth Slam Team)

2005

-E-literary Rookie Poet of the Year
-3-time Audys Place Youth Poetry Winner
-Verbal Arts Hall of Fame
-2nd Poetry Fiesta
-Featured poet at Islands of Turks and Caicos, Piper High, South Broward High, North Miami Senior High
-Miami Apollo Show finalist and winner

2004

-1st place Boxers vs. Bras Voices & Vibes Poetry Slam
-Miami Apollo Show finalist
-Miami Masters 1st place slam winner