“Black Pearl”, the title of one of Tshombe, the Poet’s hip-hop songs speaks of love – a woman with silk smooth skin, the daughter of Sheba. He speaks of her body, each part, and the strength that he gets – her lips that spread truth, the wisdom that stimulates his intellect. “You are the foundation.”

 

He talks about her as his destiny…that this woman holds the key to his redemption. How could he possibly forsake her? She stood by him as he failed in his efforts to become great. She is strength. All she asks for in return is his respect and to be honored by him. She will give him everything for the dignity she deserves.

 

Although this message seems to be quite personal and intimate, between Tshombe, the Poet, and this woman, who he extols as his “life”, it is a universal message, speaking to all who receive and give love yet perhaps don’t truly value the gift that they have been given. In his own way, he is reinforcing the values of matrimony – to honor, to respect. And that is what his love is asking of him, as all woman want from their partners.

 

“Black Pearl” is a wonderful message for all who are open to listening to Tshombe, the Poet.

 

Tshombe the Poet takes us into the 21^st Century, musing over how the digital age has transformed us, as we’re lost in the .dot coms where the “mouse has us trapped”! What a clever play on words as Tshombe brings to life our dependency on computers, smarphones, and iPads – connected like an umbilical chord to these devices. Thumbs clicking away on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and other social media platforms to stay connected, all the while disconnecting from the fabric of our lives.

 

Tshombe reminds us that we are looking for love in the all the wrong places, “more concerned about how our faces look in Facebook”. Think about it: Every time you upload a photo, take a video, what are you saying to your virtual world? What are you showing? The real you? The virtual you? Tshombe, the Poet, has us looking inward as to what we’re really aiming for, a life of real connection or one that has a screen between us and others.

 

All of his commentaries are set to riffs and sounds – verbal jazz as he calls it – that are meant to sometimes offset the strong messages he is conveying while at other times designed to underscore the meanings of his words. Each of his words has been carefully chosen. His voice is mesmerizing, its depth soothing, while the words he speaks can be quite cutting. You are left with an experience that leaves you wanting more.

In his song, Kai (Life), Tshombe The Poet speaks of the degeneration of this generation. He speaks of greed and self-loathing and how we have turned our backs to the real meaning of life. He also speaks of the plight of African children and makes reference to the diamond trade and the need for “ice”.

 

“African children digging in mines instead of developing their minds, so they sing freedom songs as they are made to be slaves for the sake of blame. So that our wives can show us how much we love them through the size of their rings”. This is a verse from “Kai” that Tshombe so eloquently reveals, capturing the real essence of the moral breakdown we face when children are not being educating but instead are mining for ice so that we who have riches can don rings, necklaces, and bracelets made of gems mined by the hands of our young.

 

His poetic brilliance, which is both simple and complex, set against a jazzy soundtrack and his ability to bring his commentary to life sets the tone for reflection…perhaps discussion, even movement. He reminds us of what life should be about, not what it is, especially for the disenfranchised, such as the homeless and the “child that feels the pain when there is nothing to eat”.

 

Tshombe, the Poet, reminisces in “Kai” when it was just about “we”. Now it’s just about “I”, he says. It’s a call for community, for that village that once was.

 

Tshombe Sekou, Tshombe The Poet, is part of a small group of North American independent artists who have taken poetry to a new level. He has the unique ability of expressing his innermost thoughts in a way that is reminiscent of both ancient philosophers and great thinkers like Krishnamurti and Khalil Gibran.

 

With ocean sounds and drums beating in a melodic rhythm, Tshombe brings us into his world of truth through uncensored thought-provoking commentary. He refers to his style as verbal jazz, combining his love for jazz and poetry and his life’s experiences into one-verse.

 

“Life is a gift”, he says, and speaks in metaphors to deliver his message. His deep voice resonates with his listeners as they are encouraged to lay back, stay a while, and think about what he is saying.

 

In the song Kai (Life), he extols what life is about and how so many of us have lost our way, no longer “meeting the beauty of the birth of a new sun”, but getting caught up by the lines of lies we are snorting, becoming greedy, and getting high on our own supplies. We change our clothing, he says, and mask ourselves pretending to be someone else because of our self-loathing. All the while as we listen to these challenging words we’re lulled by background music that is soothing and comforting.

 

The juxtaposition of his deep voice and scathing commentary (albeit with metaphors that delight) on humanity set against music that is meant to soothe is not lost upon the listener. You want to continue to listen, to hear what Tshombe, the Poet, has to say. To see if you agree – or disagree. To ponder over his message and then listen again to fully realize where you stand.

 

He takes on big issues – the treatment of woman, drug abuse, apathy, lack of education, and so many other social issues – all set to a beat and a poetic rhythm that prevents you from hitting stop.