In this edition of Poet’s Corner, we sit down with rising poet Demetrius to talk about his debut collection, You Decide What’s Next. Blending raw emotion with reflective storytelling, Demetrius invites readers into his poetic interpretations. In this Q&A, he shares the inspiration behind his work, his creative process, and what he hopes readers take away from his words.
Q: So tell us why you chose now to publish as a new author? What made this moment different from any other?
A: I felt like it was now or never, I’m at a point within my journey where I’m being introduced to who will be called my “day 1 fanbase” 10 years from now so I feel like i should take this year to show all that I want to do throughout my career so that there aren’t any surprises.
I’ve written concepts, manuscripts before but I think finding the balance of connecting the poetry with my music is key.
Q: Tell us more about the book? Why that title? What’s the overarching message?
A: I’m a big fan of R&B/Soul music, and I have a special attachment to the oldies. The way artists wrote and made you feel the moment were different than the music coming out today. It’s an ode to songs and albums like “Blue Light In the Basement”, “Love Ballad”, You are my starship,” etc.
At the top of the year, I released a maxi single based on the same muse. You Decide What’s Next was about the conversation for the two songs. You know, like this what I’m here for, this is what I can to do for you, etc but dangling the carrot there and placing the ball in the listeners court. Pulling from tracks like “Come and Go With Me” and “Turn Off The Lights” by Teddy P.
It’s about my interpretation of that sound, that feeling, that era but as a rapper/poet. Offering people a different side of me, without wandering away from who I am; something natural.
Q: What’s your favorite entry? Why?
A: A piece called “And I Never Felt So…” and it sticks with me because it’d be assumed that I’d fill the book with a bunch a cocky macho bravado, but the core of the book is being venerable and a man’s first time feeling open and exposed in that way can be a special feeling that is expressed often.
Q: What do you say to being a young black male poet and author? And what would you say to young black men who may be considering writing poetry but don’t know how to start or how it will be perceived?
A: I don’t think about the titles much, but I think it’s important for people to tell their stories, especially black people. The format in which they choose to do it, comes second to being honest and handling it with care.
I was a kid that was told not to be as loud and not to talk as much so I started writing; that just found its way into what I do now. It wasn’t the plan though.
I’d tell young kids, don’t let your hesitation be based on what movies and shows feed you. Sometimes before you get to the point of writing or sharing any art form, it can feel corny, lame, or whatever. I feel like that’s just what we see in media or from people putting on fronts. I’d encourage them to go into a book store or library find some black writers, read about their lives to see how thorough they lived. Look up old Def Jam Poetry clips to find poets like Black Ice, Gemineye, Shihan, or Julian Curry and see how real those dudes are.
Q: Explain the duality of being a rapper and poet. How do you do it? Do you differentiate? Most poets don’t consider themselves rappers and vice versa.
A: Both art forms have their own separate senses of freedom. There are no lines on a song to dictate how I flow throughout it, and when I write poetry there is no voice or face that you place there to alter your interpretation. I appreciate having both options. When I’m rapping, I’m writer first, and it’s the same with poetry. I might not be the best rapper or poet is someone’s eyes, but I am a writer and no one can take that away.
You Decide What’s Next is available for purchase. Visit the Golden Mile Studios website for more information. Happy National Poetry Month!