The Poet’s List: Prentice Powell

PRENTICE POWELL

Hometown: Oakland, CA

Quote: “Do you honestly think I would allow ink to be etched into my skin to reflect anything other than love?” — Prentice Powell

One Accolade: 2006 Oakland and San Francisco Grand Slam Champion

Prentice is a firm believer in practicing what he preaches. After performing on the national finals stage in 2003, placing fourth in the nation only two months after writing his first poem, he pursued a spoken-word career. He became the 2007 spoken-word artist of the year at the Black Music Awards and 2006 Oakland and San Francisco Grand Slam Champion. In 2010, he won the East Bay Express award for “Best Poet.” He is the only to poet to have performed on all three seasons of the hit TV Series Verses and Flow, with five episodes.

Prentice also works in education developing, creating and teaching creative writing courses.His work is primarily focused on youth development of African American boys.He also currently works with autistic children with severe bahavioral disorders.

Prentice and his poetry collective, “Fiveology,” were the official opening act For Jill Scott’s 2013 summer tour, and he is the first spoken-word artist to perform on “The Arsenio Hall Show.”As well as the only indivdual to appear on the show three times. Powell’s poetry has taken him all over the world, including to London, Amsterdam and South Africa, where he has also done community work. He has shared the stage with artists such as Eric Roberson, Goapele, Amir Sulaiman, and Stevie Wonder.