About I Have An Agenda & Idris Goodwin:
An interactive evening of the humorous, self reflective, and socio-politically critical work of writer/rapper/ and nomadic school teacher Idris Goodwin. After presenting spoken word and page poems from his latest collection, Goodwin, aided by a live DJ, will rock songs from his current and forthcoming hip hop albums. Idris Goodwin is a futuristic poet/rapper/playwright and teacher cut from the classic hip hop mold. Goodwin spits rhymes of long Chicago days hustling for his art, long lost loves and hip hop pride.
Idris has written, produced and directed almost a dozen plays at a variety of Chicago venues. He is a National Endowment for the Arts/Theatre Communications Group ‘Playwright in Residence’ grant recipient for 2004 to explore hip-hop aesthetics in theatre. His play BRAISING was selected in the 2005 National New Plays Showcase at Stanford University, and will be presented by Tricklock Company in collaboration with Hermit Arts in Spring 2006.
Before going solo, Idris was a front-man in the fringe hip-hop crew Farm Crew. With Farm Crew , he performed at the Metro (at two Chicago Drop Showcases), the Tweeter Center (Smokin' Grooves 2002 w/ Roots and Outkast) and at the Grand Opening of Millenium Park. As a solo performer, he has shared the stage with renowned poets and MCs including Sonia Sanchez, Nikki Giovanni, Capital D of All Natural, Family Tree and the Pacifics. He has also performed alongside Chicago storytellers Ira Glass and Studs Terkel. He has been featured on WBEZ 91.5 FM and in numerous Chicago publications including Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago Reader, Pistil Magazine, and UR Chicago, in which he was named one of the most influential people in Chicago under the age of 30.
"…a real reminder that hip-hop is about saying important, real things. Idris strikes the perfect balance of talkin' loud and sayin' somethin'"
Urbansmarts.com
In January 2005, he released "Idris Goodwin," an EP hailed by critics as, "an interesting combination of spoken word and rap, old school aesthetics, deep content, good beats and all, bundled up in nine songs" (Break4Dayz.com). Raising awareness without preaching, Goodwin calls out a society that idolizes the traditional model of the blinged-out rapper while simultaneously criticizing disenfranchised folks looking for meaning in the symbols and messages they receive. His stories flow effortlessly, painting real pictures of life in the fringe, struggling to maintain one's self worth in a society easily bought and always ready to sell.
About Hermit Arts:
Hermit Arts is a vibrant collective comprised of theatre artists, filmmakers, musicians, and visual artists committed to consistently creating new work and embracing stories that focus on character and examining unconventional presentation.
I Have An Agenda
