Christopher Owens is a spoken word artist and 2010 National Poetry Award Winner who is lovingly called Truth B. Told by fans while he is on and off the stage. He will release part two of his Lyrical Therapy album trilogy on December 28 at 8:00 p.m. at Jazzyblu Cafe' and Lounge at 815 W. Market St in Louisville, Kentucky. The album is titled Lyrical Therapy Volume 2: The Death and Rebirth of Christopher Owens, Part 1 and 2 and he'll be performing it live.
Blurring the lines between conscious hip hop, poetry, neo-soul and inspirational music, Truth’s lyrics and style defy the limitations of categorization. He’s opened for Mint Condition, Jazmine Sullivan, Bilal and Dwele, among others. He’s performed at black-tie events, night clubs, coffee shops, rock concert halls and churches throughout the country and consistently delivers work the audience embraces.
For the several weeks leading up to the official release, Truth has released one song from Lyrical Therapy Volume 2 every Monday to his fans on Reverbnation.com. The album includes the award winning poem My Testimony, which won the "Best Poem of the Year" award at the 2010 National Poetry Awards. He describes the album as “a lyrical self-crucifixion” in which he essentially hangs himself on a cross by judging his own life over the past several years: the good, the bad and the ugly parts.
Truth also was recently selected to perform on the 2011 BET Black College Tour. Amid cutting an album, touring the country and winning awards, Truth has also been raising money to complete part three of the trilogy, promote it throughout the US, and submit it for a Grammy
Award nomination. (Find details about the fund raising project .) A win would make him the first spoken word artist to win in the spoken word category.
Truth began his steady climb to success in Louisville, Kentucky about three years ago. He performed regularly at Sub Rosa: The Gypsie Courtyard, Expressions of You, and Positive Energy Lounge. Since then, he has gone on to make a name for himself throughout the midwest, nationwide, and even internationally. He is a multiple slam champion and has garnered the attention and respect of audiences and peers alike, including internationally acclaimed poets such as Taalam Acey, J. Ivy, and Shihan amongst others. In addition to winning "Best Poem of the Year", he was also nominated for Best New and Upcoming SPoken Word Artist and Poet of the Year. He has also stepped into the acting arena with a cameo appearance in the film How you Look to Me featuring Frank Langella.
Much of Truth's poetry seems aimed at enlightening and empowering women. He has several pieces that stand out, which focus on speaking to women about how they let men treat them. Although some of them are purely directed to women in general, Be With Me seems to be a personal appeal to someone from Truth to see that he is a better option.
It begins with, "You deserve to see sunrises over oceans, have poems written in skies to provide shade from sunshine, but for the time being, I'll take just seeing you treated better than you have been. I've been asking why would you remain in a cage that has the door open, hoping things would change from the way they were before, and you already told me how your man can be controlling. Since when do relationships have captains?"
Although much of Truth's stuff reveals much truth and braves deep waters often left unexplored by artists who hope to catch a mainstream ear, he also shows he has a sense of humor with Your Savior. This piece is about the way women fantasize and wish for the lover that will just make everything okay: oftentimes a poet.
"Hello ladies. How are you? Phenomenal. It is I. Superpoet. You know the poet that you see everytime: the real conscious brother that has incense burning from his ear. That is me. How are you? Don't worry, any issues you have: I will take care of them. You know those bills you haven't paid since 2002? I already had those taken care of. I even paid them before I met you. I love you that much. You know all those words you hear on the stage? I really mean them. I'm talking about all those fantasies you ever heard someone say in those erotic poems you want someone to bring to life...."
Louisville fans can enjoy the artist and his innovative blend of music and poetry on December 28 at Jazzyblu for $10 in advance, $15 at the door. VIP seating is $50. Contact the artist at 502-544-8438 to purchase tickets. Copies of “Lyrical Therapy Volume 2” will be available at the event.
Photos: Album Cover and Show flyer provided by Truth B. Told Video: Truth B. Told at Sub Rosa: The Gypsie Courtyard
