#BlackCreatorsSpotlight: Savon Bartley

Happy Valentine's Day, readers! *smiles in lonely*

Wow, wow, wow we're halfway through February already!? It's been real fun (and stressful) doing these #BlackHistoryMonth posts but we ain't done yet so let's keep the ball rolling!

Welcome to #BlackHistoryMonth with Matthew

For the entire month of February all my blog posts will be centered on celebrating my brothers and sisters. From giving writing advice about how to write black characters to showcasing some amazing black content creators changing the game right now, I'll be pushing out fully black content all month long. Not to mention, for this limited time I'll be uploading twice a week instead of once. So, you need to get in on this. Subscribe below to never miss an update!

Savon Bartley: Redefining Black Poetry

Honestly, I'm not sure how I stumbled across Savon, but I am so thankful that I did. Now, when I think of a poet I look up to, Savon immediately comes to mind. Especially since he is a young black man, he is that much easier to identify with and I think he represents us well in a female-dominated space. Savon is brutally honest and his words are painful yet pleasant to hear especially when he recites a poem he's passionate about. I could read and listen to Savon all day. He's just that good.

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"Bullets are a joke

All the black boys are laughing

So hard they can't breathe"

- Savon Bartley, No Laughing Matter

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A Storyteller

Savon doesn't describe himself as a poet as much as a storyteller. Accurate if you ask me. He is dedicated to telling stories through whatever medium suits them best whether it's through his podcast, through remixes, his screenplay, or his poetry. Either way, Savon encapsulates what it is to be a modern black creative in a way I don't even think words can describe but that nevertheless I can relate to.

Blurring The Lines Between Music And Poetry

Perhaps one of my favourite things about Savon that I think is extremely unique, is how he incorporates music into his poetry. He's heavily influenced by artists and I think he even said he wanted to become one before deciding on poetry so it's no surprise that many of Savon's poems are done over beats and instrumentals. In a world where poetry is evolving and taking new forms, Savon's way fits right in with the movement. It's clear he was made for this. This has to be one of my favourites of his:

King Of Spoken Word

Pretty self-explanatory. When Savon spits, it is lethal. He is a must-listen. Even at my club's meetings in school, we listen to Savon and everyone sits in awe. Hedrips with talent and it's hard to not pay it due attention. Unlike other aggressive poets, Savon doesn't sound like he's shouting at you. It sounds like he's speaking with you in the most real way. Here's a prime example:

Conclusion

To me, Savon Bartley is an inspiration and role model to create raw stories and speak truth always. It would be idiotic of me to not feature him for my blog's #BlackHistoryMonth. Alright, alright now that I've droned on and on about how much I respect him, you all should check out Savon on his website where you can find out all about him with links to all his projects, merch and more!

If you think Savon deserves more recognition, drop a like below! Don't forget to comment too and let me know who you think could be featured next for #BlackCreatorsSpotlight! For more #BlackHistoryMonth content, be sure to subscribe by filling out the form below and you'll get an email notification every single time that I update!

Lastly, don't forget to follow me on Twitter and Instagram where I occasionally rant, share music and discuss the pains of being a creator. Oh, also, I share sneak peeks of my novel and new blog posts at times too, if you're interested in that. That's a wrap, readers! Go check out Savon, follow him on all his social media and I'll you on Saturday!