The Journal

Issue date: 3/2/06 Section: LifeStyle

Media Credit: Lanz Christian Banes Spoken word artist J. Ivy performs in Sunnen Lounge Feb. 24 to a crowd of nearly 50 people at Love Jones, an annual MCISA event. Ivy won a Grammy for his work on the Kanye West album, "College Dropout" and appeared on HBO's "Def Poetry Jam."

Master of ceremonies C. Jay Conrod took the stage at Love Jones, an open mic poetry night and began reciting his poem "Are You Listening?" Conrod, a senior music technology major, concluded the poem by asking the approximately 70 people in attendance to "holla back if you are listening."

The audience erupted with applause, kicking off the 9th annual Love Jones.

Love Jones gives students the opportunity to present their written or favorite poems and free verses in front of a live audience. The Multicultural Center and International Student
Affairs sponsors the event.

Similar to years past, the evening was highlighted by a special guest performer. This year, Love Jones featured J. Ivy, a Grammy Award Winner known for his appearances on HBO's "Russell Simmons Def Poetry Jam."

J. Ivy treated the audience to an 80-minute set. He kicked off his performance with a trilogy of poems about love. The series was highlighted when J. Ivy called his wife, Tarrey Torae, to the stage to sing accompaniment on a poem about their love, "Life Goes On." Torae has won Grammy Awards for her work with artists Kanye West and John Legend.

J. Ivy recited a healthy diet of new and old poems. In "Quit Playing Games," J. Ivy talked about how he had to overcome his video game addiction and then concluded that he's "glad Nintendo's gone, but I'm a grown man with a (Sony) Playstation 2." The audience laughed and clapped with his confession.

J. Ivy finished his set with a performance of three poems that he says have become among his most famous and define who he is. They are "I Need to Write," "Never Let Me Down" and "Dear Father."

"I Need to Write," a poem he performed on "Def Poetry Jam," was written at a time in his life when he said everything seemed to be going wrong for him. He said "I Need to Write," as well as many of his works, are stress alleviators.

Continued...

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