GET SOME™ FEATURED ARTIST HAKIM BELLAMY- aka HAKIMBE

Describe yourself in two words.

No Bullshit (Can I say that?) <——– Yes, yes you can!

When did you discover the art of poetry/writing/and hip hop in yourself?

I come from a lyrical family. Family gatherings were always a competition to see who had something to say. Loud, funny, attention grabbing, the Bellamys are a rowdy bunch. But it was my Mom who gave me a Khalil Gibran book of poetry when I was real young. I did not know the value of what she was giving me til years later, coming back from college and calling myself a “poet” after having won a talent show. But I’d have to say it was my parents’ impeccable taste in music and vinyl collection that really exposed me to my earliest writers, song or otherwise. They had a diverse collection from Motown, to Buddy Miles and Carlos Santana, to Janis Joplin, Sly and the Family Stone and, of course, the Last Poets. It was the mix of all these influences that gave me material to rhyme about when I was in the back seat of my homie’s whip in South Jersey freestyling to the ribbon on the beat tape popped.

What is SLAM poetry and how did you come into performing it?

It is the competitive art of performance poetry. It’s like a hip hop rap battle except you are not kicking punchlines about the person across from you, you are putting your best rehearsed and originally written pieces up against another poet’s best rehearsed and originally written piece in front of a live studio audience…and then they audience gets to judge your creation and the poet they like best advances…win or go home. It really is the first reality show. American Idol except you don’t text in your selection you write it on a scorecard and boo the judges who give scores you don’t agree with.

Who is Hakim Be?

It’s me and my last name minus the last five letters. I needed something gully like all these other rappers and poets who take on aliases or pen names. I wasn’t cool enough having hosts, emcees and announcers call me up on stage by my “government” and all. So I took a page from one of my favorite hip hop duos, Eric B and Rakim…since everyone who’s close to me likes to fool with my name and call me “Ha-Kim” (pronounced like Rakim AKA Rakim Allah). Been digging them since Paid In Full, so since me and Eric both apparently have last names that begin with “B”, I just bit it. It’s the hip hop, American way.

Where do you get your inspiration from?

Life. Sounds trite, but it’s true. I am a newsie, journalist by trade and hobby. Very inquisitive, so I read news stories and think “what’s missing?” And then I write my version of the “news.” I write a lot about social justice and injustice. Some folks who get used to music and writers who rap about nothing, think that my subject matter is depressing or too serious sometimes. I disagree, just because we over here trying to save the world with our music doesn’t mean you can’t shake ya tailfeather to it. There’s more to write about than money, cash, hoes. I prefer to write about why we ain’t got no money, why they got all the cash, and why we AIN’T hoes,

What is it that you hope to accomplish through your art?

That I will inspire others to not give up their dreams for a “real job” and realize there is nothing realer than bringing something new into this world that puts a smile in someone’s heart and/or betters someone else’s situation. Whether that creation be a child, a song or a poem.

Was there ever anytime where you doubted yourself and wanted to give up on pursuing your passion?

Yeup. The first time I heard Soldier Boy on the radio, I said, “I’m never gon let myself write shit like that so I should just give up now if that’s what they want!” I’m playing…sort of. Everyone doubts themselves. I’m a father of a 4 year old. Sometimes people tell me to stop spending so much time making art and start making money, save up for the future. And sometimes, I think about what they are saying and wonder if I am being responsible. THEN I realize that if I tell my son to chase his dreams and I don’t live my life as an example of that…he’s gonna think I’m a hypocrite or worse, a chump. Someone who is scared to take my own advice. So this is less about me being an artist and more about me being a parent. More do as I do, rather than do as I say. And that’s how I get over my doubts.

What advice would you give to someone going through a similar experience?

I’d say no matter how “safe” you play it, you are still gon die some day. Might as well chase your dreams because regret is scarier than failure. Like my man (and dope poet) John Blake said, “You never know if you can fly until you jump. Leap from the cliff, wings only sprout when needed.”

What has been one of your most memorable moments so far since you began living in your passion?

Hmmmm. Tough one. The standing room only, sell out audience for the world premiere of my multimedia Hip Hop Theater Production/Musical that I wrote with Carlos Contreras and Diles (Colin Hazelbaker). We kicked off the Revolutions International Theater Festival in 2011 and though we’d done an unfinished version of it in upstate New York in 2010, Albuquerque showed up and it felt like coming back to a ticker tape parade in your hometown after winning the World Series.

What creation has Hakim Be come up with that is your personal favorite?

My son. But besides him…my favorite creation is
“The last one.” I’m a prolific creator. I write a lot. And believe me, it ain’t all good! It shouldn’t always be good if you are challenging yourself and getting out of your safe zone or what you usually do. I try the things I am not good at to get better at them, and then bring what I learned back to my art, my poetry, my bread and butter. So I always think the last thing I did is the best thing I did, until I do the next thing. The old stuff is the old stuff. I assume I am always growing and getting better. Or maybe I am just never satisfied.

Here at Vizion 9, we promote the GET SOME movement , which is all about inspiring people to push forward in their passion through low moments. So, with that being said, what does GET SOME mean to you?

It means don’t wait for your future, make your future. It means if God gave you a gift, use it or lose it. It’s like you at your girlfriend’s parents’ crib and they offer you some food, and they burn, so you know it’s smelling good as hell, and you know your parents raised you better than turning down some good homecooked food and insulting people in their home by pretending you don’t eat pigs feet…BOY YOU BETTA GET SOME!

My friends he lives in the core of GET SOME ™ by inspiring and encouraging us to keep going for our own heart goals. He does this and manages to keep himself grounded, always looking with honest eyes and speaking with a truthful tongue. Not to mention that the mans schedule is packed and he always finds time to write a newer and better piece ready to be performed. His work ethic is amazing!!! Follow his works and then share his works. This is not simple language baby babble that has flooded our mainstream ears, this is a well thought out craft. He works to master his art and we appreciate him for that. Art is not art if it not authentic and always growing. Thus is why we are PROUD to say that Hakim Bellamy. a.k.a HakimBe is more than deserving of the GET SOME™ stamp of excellence!!!

and we leave  you with an excerpt from recent pieces written by Hakim, In memory of  Etta James

Jamesetta 

Etta James
Is who you was
After you went blonde

After you were told
To take advantage
Of your light complexion

After you agreed
To dye everything
Except your eyebrows
Cause you wanted to
Look like a “bad girl”

You bad girl!
Bad enough to
Make B.B. King
Sweet on you
At 16

In addiction recovery by 21

Gone 5 days
Before your 74th
Dementia
But still telling
Anyone who cares to listen
That you remember

That when you
Were still a child
People used to travel miles
Just hear you sing

Perform your own kind of miracles
In temples
With money changers and prostitutes
A prodigy too

With a voice
As milk and honey
As the heaven you’re from

No wonder
We’re still addicted to what you sung

Because it comes from
The heroin in ya lungs

Going thru withdrawals
Since you’ve been gone…

Hakim Bellamy

You know you want to know more about this intriguing being. So go Here…and get your HakimBe on!!

and also find him on FACEBOOK