Meet Mr. Monte Smith. Revolutionary soldier. Street Poet. Activist. I first met Monte Smith at the end of 2004 in North Carolina. I was there to attend the Red-Bull Word Clash founded by Monte Smith.
The atmosphere at the venue for the Red-Bull Word Clash was REVOLUTION. I smelt it, I could taste it. I watched Monte running around like a general getting his troops ready for combat. The production of the event was incredible. The poets, every one of them hand picked by Monte were fierce. Monte himself opened up the event with some hell fire that had me ready to take up arms. I knew right there I wanted work with this brotha.
We were formally introduced by a mutual friend that night and we kicked it as best we could under the circumstances. We exchanged information and vowed to keep in contact. We have done just that for the past three and a half years.
Crazy thing about Monte and I meeting up the way we did, was that about ten years before I first met him in person and was formally introduced I had met Monte via a phone conversation. I had an article I took from The Source Magazine about 1994. It was a column speaking about the hip hop scene in North Carolina. It was a dope piece with a lot of information and contacts. I was on my way to North Carolina to visit family that had just moved there. When I arrived I called the contact which I just recently realized was Monte Smith because I actually still have the same photo copy of the article I had 14 years ago. Monte had told me what was going on in North Carolina. He told me Afrika Bambaataa was in town. I knew Bam from the Bronx back in the day. We wasn't close or anything but he knew me well enough to let me on stage and rock for 1000 college students. One of the best shows I ever did completely improvised.
I feel it was meant to be for me and this brotha to join forces in anyway possible for the good of the struggle. On 2-22-008 once again I got to meet up with Monte face to face after the countless e-mails and messages on myspace. All the phone conversations. It was dope. We talked for a bit outside the Arts Garage in Philly just sharing about our journeys to arrive in during the biggest snow storm of the year. With that we still managed to pull in near 100 people at peek thanks to Therapist and his vicious hustle. These is true soldiers fighting on the Frontlines, getting things done.
It was decided that I would open up for Monte, an unusual twist seeing most would have the poet open for the MC. I pumped up the crowd and then Monte came and took their breath as they were trying to catch it. The combination was crazy. Sandwiched in by Therapist just added to the verbal assaults.
The event was a success, the performances were tight. Everything could have been cleaner but for just coming together the way we did it was historical, the beginning of a true movement, a real revolution.
Monte and I will continue to work together. We share a common goal to break into the college circuit. We look to serenade the future of America with Revolution. It's happening. Monte just performed at a university in California, and I am set to speak at the university of Maryland next month. We are planning our attacks world wide in the months to come. Lyrical assaults that smell of the 60's revolts. "I smell a riot going on".
We have already been tagged the Che' and Fidel of the underground. George L Jackson incarnate and Satan himself. It's Capital-"X" and Mr. Smith mutha fucka's repping every sister and brotha, that knows what it is to suffer, knows hunger, but don't know they father or motha, running from the feds like we're terrorist or common muggers, striking like lighting louder than thunder, make mutha fuckas wonder, what would possess us to be willing to die for a cause, well we rather die fighting for the truth, than to live our lives lost. I refuse to die a slave, so I crave REVOLT!
Monte solidified all of what every MC spoke on at the Philly Arts Garage show. See an MC is only going to get so much reaction until the people start to really look into what they are saying. Spitting 1000 words a minute at times people don't get the entire message. Now here comes the judge. Monte started out just speaking, softly with the charisma of a scholared professor. His experience on the stage shined though without question. He lured the crowd into his first piece and he unleashed the beast.
His intensity feels like the impact of a bomb. The crowd was not going anywhere, I think the bar tenders stopped working while Monte was on stage for real. This man is a true soldier, a lion who's roar needs to be heard. I think it's the responsibility of every person that sees Monte perform to spread the word. Book this brotha for your events, hell book him for your house party he is worth supporting. This brotha is of the people, for the people. The struggle in the flesh. He needs to be heard.
Monte did about 4 or 5 pieces and talked with great intelligence. He shared some battle stories. True battles where blood was shed. He was the bond. He bonded every performer, activist, revolutionist in the building together. He bonded us all together in 30 minutes. We were family from that moment on.
I didn't get to build much with Monte after our sets because we were tending to the people, recruiting new soldiers for the struggle that are desperately needed but it's all good. Actions are being planned, moves are being made. New York and New Jersey may be the next to come under attack states Project Revolution President "Action" who has just picked us up on a promotion deal. Project Revolution is a multimedia data based promotion company based in Philadelphia. They are doing big things for the struggle.
So I bid you, Mr. Monte Smith aka Castro. Keep an eye out for Mr. Smith and Capital-"X" at a spot near you. The Revolution will not be televised, but can be found on "The Frontlines" www.onloq.com In solidarity. "X"