J.Ivy Never Let You Down
Nov/26/06 18:47 |
Poetry
J.Ivy
Never Let You Down:
It gives us great pleasure to introduce one of Chi-town's finest, J.Ivy. The young man, his poetry and his story are all truly amazing.
J. Ivy was the first African-American to represent Chicago on the award winning Russell Simmons' HBO Def Poetry during the first season. After years of paying dues, he was invited back to the Def Poetry stage for the fourth season, where he performed his heartfelt poem 'Dear Father' and was featured in the shows award winning promos. He has recorded with the RZA of the infamous Wu-Tang Clan, and with super-producer Kanye West for his triple platinum/Grammy nominated album,
The College Dropout, where his is featured on a song with Hip-Hop legend Jay-Z. He was seen in a cameo performance, where he played 'Jesus' in Kanye's 3rd version of his hit single 'Jesus Walks' video. He has done voice-over work for HBO Boxing, several MTV shows - 'Who's Got Game,' Snoop Dogg's Televizzle, and MTV2's 2004 New Year's Eve Bash.
JUST ABOUT J. IVY
STRIVE: Tell me a little about yourself? Where are you from, Brothers/Sisters, Children, Affiliations, Marital Status or anything else?
J. IVY My name is J. Ivy, I represent the beautiful city of Chicago, and my profession is poetry/spoken word/ voiceovers. I am the middle child of two brothers, Virgil and Sergio, I currently don’t have any children, and I am married to Tarrey Torae, an unbelievable singer/writer/dancer, who is my best friend, my stage mate, and business partner.
STRIVE: How did you get started? Have you always wanted to do this? Where did the inspiration and passion come from?
J. IVY I actually started performing in high school (Rich Central in the house) when my English teacher, Ms. Paula Argue, awarded me with a “A” for a prose I wrote and told me I had a very nice speaking voice after reading that same prose in front of the class. She was so moved that she insisted I participate in a program she was putting together at the school. Me being the shy type, I faked her out, so when another opportunity came around for Ms. Argue to get me on stage, she didn’t ask me to perform, she made me. Long story short, the first show I did, I received a standing ovation for a monologue I performed about Malcolm X and I’ve been hooked ever since. So I guess you can the inspiration and passion comes from the simple fact that I’m still here, everyday situations, the millions of people, who find inspiration in MY words, and just wanting to be one of the Greatest to ever do it.
STRIVE: What jobs did you hold before you became successful?
J. IVY As far as jobs, there were many, from passing out promotional items for different companies like Coke, Sprite, Splenda, and Mountain Dew, to Customer Service jobs, to janitor, to exterminator, to my last job which was Sales for Dell computers. If you ever called that number on the commercials and you just might get my ass selling you a computer, like I know about computers…Sorry Dell customers.
STRIVE: Who influenced you the most in your career/life when you were starting out? Is there anyone's path that you particularly admire and would like to emulate?
J. IVY As far as influences in the early stages, I definitely have to give it up to my Moms. Now my boys and the ladies supported me as well, but my Moms noticed that I had a gift and pushed me to pursue it. She suggested I inherit a pen name, she encouraged me to do shows, and she believed I could make a difference with the edge of my pen. As far as if there’s anyone’s path that I admire. Well, I admire many people’s paths and stories. I have been inspired by the likes of my Wife Tarrey Torae, Common, The Roots, The Last Poets, Roy Ayers, James Brown, and many many others, but I honestly feel that my own path is so unique and special that I only want to follow it.
THE STRIVER IN J.
STRIVE: What signifies a STRIVER to you?
J. IVY A STRIVER is someone who has found away to escape every bit of fear that may create obstacles for our paths and life missions. Once you get pass the fear of succeeding there is absolutely nothing you can’t STRIVE to become.
STRIVE: What makes you original or sets you apart? Why are you on top of your game?
J. IVY What makes me original is that there is only one J. Ivy in the World that does poetry the way that I do. My style is a combination of wordplay, a dynamic delivery, and a unique but very distinctive voice. People that have never met me know me before formal introductions because they remember the voice, they remember the style, and they remember a certain smoothness that has been obtained from my Chicago upbringing. And I’m not being cocky when I say it, but being that there is no one else in the World with my set of eyes, with my outlook on life, I am one of a kind, just like everyone else in the World. That’s the beauty in God’s creations…Yeah, we’re alike, but we are all very, very different.
STRIVE: How do you define success? People often talk about "Making IT", butt when will you consider yourself as having made it?
J.
IVY I think success
grows with each individual. I think we all are
successful to a certain degree, but once we
reach one level of success, rest assured, there
will be another level to follow shortly after
that. So in that sense, it grows with us. If I
would have had the same credentials I have now
10 years ago, I would have felt very successful,
but if I have the just the same credentials 10
years from now, I won’t feel successful, because
I won’t feel as if I have grown. So I guess
Success is based on Growth……As far as making it,
I will feel I’ve made it when I’m an old ass
man, and my Grandkids and their friends are
talking about what their Granddaddy did in his
day. I’ll feel I’ve made it, once I’ve created,
or better yet, continued a very proud
Legacy.
TO OUR READERS
STRIVE: Do you see any changes or patterns in the industry and what is your opinion of that? What is the insider perspective on getting ahead in your industry?
J. IVY As far as changes in the industry, the Internet alone will continue to do that, because technology is making the World smaller than it already is. Being able to reach someone in Australia from Chicago with a click of a button to let them know what’s going on over here is revolutionary, making artist depend less and less on labels to get their voice out here. And with that, that is the main ingredient for getting ahead in the industry…Word of Mouth…Which still is the greatest form of marketing in the World.
STRIVE: What advice would you give others attempting to make their dreams come true? What are your 3 lessons for success? Or what is your recipe for success?
J. IVY
My advice for someone making his or her dreams come true is
1) let go of any and all fear
2) visualize about where you see yourself being. Dream about it, see it, as if it’s already happening,
3) Never give up. The road is long and there will be roadblocks along the way, but that’s how you know you’re on the right path. When you’re doing what you we’re put here to do, some mysterious energy will appear to prevent it from happening. That’s how you know you are on your way. Just don’t get discouraged.
LAST WORDS
STRIVE: What is the first thing you think of when you wake up in the morning and what is the last thing you think of at night.
J. IVY The first and last thing I think of in the morning and at night is “What’s next?”
STRIVE: What do you know for sure?
J. IVY What I know for sure is that my destiny is definitely in my hands. I have the controller and the moves are all up to me based on what’s placed on the field to hold me back. I can juke, sprint, dive, or hurdle. I can take a step back and observe what’s going on, I can make History, but whatever I decide, it’s up to me.
STRIVE: Any last overall advice?
J. IVY “Dream BIG!”
connect with J. Ivy:
at myspace...click here and the new group J.Torae at myspace...click here
Upcoming Shows for J.Torae and J.Ivy
Commerce, TX
Mar 3 2007
CHICAGO, IL
May 23 2007
Chicago, IL
It gives us great pleasure to introduce one of Chi-town's finest, J.Ivy. The young man, his poetry and his story are all truly amazing.
J. Ivy was the first African-American to represent Chicago on the award winning Russell Simmons' HBO Def Poetry during the first season. After years of paying dues, he was invited back to the Def Poetry stage for the fourth season, where he performed his heartfelt poem 'Dear Father' and was featured in the shows award winning promos. He has recorded with the RZA of the infamous Wu-Tang Clan, and with super-producer Kanye West for his triple platinum/Grammy nominated album,
The College Dropout, where his is featured on a song with Hip-Hop legend Jay-Z. He was seen in a cameo performance, where he played 'Jesus' in Kanye's 3rd version of his hit single 'Jesus Walks' video. He has done voice-over work for HBO Boxing, several MTV shows - 'Who's Got Game,' Snoop Dogg's Televizzle, and MTV2's 2004 New Year's Eve Bash.
JUST ABOUT J. IVY
STRIVE: Tell me a little about yourself? Where are you from, Brothers/Sisters, Children, Affiliations, Marital Status or anything else?
J. IVY My name is J. Ivy, I represent the beautiful city of Chicago, and my profession is poetry/spoken word/ voiceovers. I am the middle child of two brothers, Virgil and Sergio, I currently don’t have any children, and I am married to Tarrey Torae, an unbelievable singer/writer/dancer, who is my best friend, my stage mate, and business partner.
STRIVE: How did you get started? Have you always wanted to do this? Where did the inspiration and passion come from?
J. IVY I actually started performing in high school (Rich Central in the house) when my English teacher, Ms. Paula Argue, awarded me with a “A” for a prose I wrote and told me I had a very nice speaking voice after reading that same prose in front of the class. She was so moved that she insisted I participate in a program she was putting together at the school. Me being the shy type, I faked her out, so when another opportunity came around for Ms. Argue to get me on stage, she didn’t ask me to perform, she made me. Long story short, the first show I did, I received a standing ovation for a monologue I performed about Malcolm X and I’ve been hooked ever since. So I guess you can the inspiration and passion comes from the simple fact that I’m still here, everyday situations, the millions of people, who find inspiration in MY words, and just wanting to be one of the Greatest to ever do it.
STRIVE: What jobs did you hold before you became successful?
J. IVY As far as jobs, there were many, from passing out promotional items for different companies like Coke, Sprite, Splenda, and Mountain Dew, to Customer Service jobs, to janitor, to exterminator, to my last job which was Sales for Dell computers. If you ever called that number on the commercials and you just might get my ass selling you a computer, like I know about computers…Sorry Dell customers.
STRIVE: Who influenced you the most in your career/life when you were starting out? Is there anyone's path that you particularly admire and would like to emulate?
J. IVY As far as influences in the early stages, I definitely have to give it up to my Moms. Now my boys and the ladies supported me as well, but my Moms noticed that I had a gift and pushed me to pursue it. She suggested I inherit a pen name, she encouraged me to do shows, and she believed I could make a difference with the edge of my pen. As far as if there’s anyone’s path that I admire. Well, I admire many people’s paths and stories. I have been inspired by the likes of my Wife Tarrey Torae, Common, The Roots, The Last Poets, Roy Ayers, James Brown, and many many others, but I honestly feel that my own path is so unique and special that I only want to follow it.
THE STRIVER IN J.
STRIVE: What signifies a STRIVER to you?
J. IVY A STRIVER is someone who has found away to escape every bit of fear that may create obstacles for our paths and life missions. Once you get pass the fear of succeeding there is absolutely nothing you can’t STRIVE to become.
STRIVE: What makes you original or sets you apart? Why are you on top of your game?
J. IVY What makes me original is that there is only one J. Ivy in the World that does poetry the way that I do. My style is a combination of wordplay, a dynamic delivery, and a unique but very distinctive voice. People that have never met me know me before formal introductions because they remember the voice, they remember the style, and they remember a certain smoothness that has been obtained from my Chicago upbringing. And I’m not being cocky when I say it, but being that there is no one else in the World with my set of eyes, with my outlook on life, I am one of a kind, just like everyone else in the World. That’s the beauty in God’s creations…Yeah, we’re alike, but we are all very, very different.
STRIVE: How do you define success? People often talk about "Making IT", butt when will you consider yourself as having made it?
J.
IVY I think success
grows with each individual. I think we all are
successful to a certain degree, but once we
reach one level of success, rest assured, there
will be another level to follow shortly after
that. So in that sense, it grows with us. If I
would have had the same credentials I have now
10 years ago, I would have felt very successful,
but if I have the just the same credentials 10
years from now, I won’t feel successful, because
I won’t feel as if I have grown. So I guess
Success is based on Growth……As far as making it,
I will feel I’ve made it when I’m an old ass
man, and my Grandkids and their friends are
talking about what their Granddaddy did in his
day. I’ll feel I’ve made it, once I’ve created,
or better yet, continued a very proud
Legacy.TO OUR READERS
STRIVE: Do you see any changes or patterns in the industry and what is your opinion of that? What is the insider perspective on getting ahead in your industry?
J. IVY As far as changes in the industry, the Internet alone will continue to do that, because technology is making the World smaller than it already is. Being able to reach someone in Australia from Chicago with a click of a button to let them know what’s going on over here is revolutionary, making artist depend less and less on labels to get their voice out here. And with that, that is the main ingredient for getting ahead in the industry…Word of Mouth…Which still is the greatest form of marketing in the World.
STRIVE: What advice would you give others attempting to make their dreams come true? What are your 3 lessons for success? Or what is your recipe for success?
J. IVY
My advice for someone making his or her dreams come true is
1) let go of any and all fear
2) visualize about where you see yourself being. Dream about it, see it, as if it’s already happening,
3) Never give up. The road is long and there will be roadblocks along the way, but that’s how you know you’re on the right path. When you’re doing what you we’re put here to do, some mysterious energy will appear to prevent it from happening. That’s how you know you are on your way. Just don’t get discouraged.
LAST WORDS
STRIVE: What is the first thing you think of when you wake up in the morning and what is the last thing you think of at night.
J. IVY The first and last thing I think of in the morning and at night is “What’s next?”
STRIVE: What do you know for sure?
J. IVY What I know for sure is that my destiny is definitely in my hands. I have the controller and the moves are all up to me based on what’s placed on the field to hold me back. I can juke, sprint, dive, or hurdle. I can take a step back and observe what’s going on, I can make History, but whatever I decide, it’s up to me.
STRIVE: Any last overall advice?
J. IVY “Dream BIG!”
connect with J. Ivy:
at myspace...click here and the new group J.Torae at myspace...click here
Upcoming Shows for J.Torae and J.Ivy
7:00P
Texas A & M Univ.-Commerce/ Poetry Slam featuring J. Ivy
Commerce, TX
Mar 3 2007
12:00A
J. Ivy's Birthday!!!
CHICAGO, IL
May 23 2007
8:00P
Tarrey Torae's Birthday
Chicago, IL
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Feb 1 2007 |
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