Hum the Bass Line

Bringin the Funk

     

Iyeoka Ivie Okoawo, for lack of a better word, is DOPE. Her poetry comes from an inspirational set of life experience and you can hear it in her voice that she believes every single word she says. This girl is deep.

The music is fantastic, and when she and her Tribe came to our show at Boston University she had us dancing in the aisles, it was so funky. After the show I came up to her and said, "Let me just say, thank you for bringin' the Funk back." The Rock By Funk Tribe's musicianship is flawless and you can hear it on their album, "Live @ Ktuh, Honolulu" that they know how to groove right on the spot, which is a key element in proper music making (Track 10, The Alley). There some members of the Tribe, Iyeoka included, ran into a man playing an Ukulele and beat-boxing, and they happened to have a portable digital recorder, and the entire track is like 3 minutes of pure golden improvisation.

Iyeoka is even so generous, I was three dollars short when I went to buy her CD, and she said she'd take my $7 "as long as you write a review!" So here I am, paying my debts. And speaking of paying my debts...

Iyeoka Okoawo, you helped me find the spirit in my writing and I thank you for that. I've had writer's block for a while and, shortly before the Speak For Yourself show (Comma Sutra), I quickly wrote a poem about being in love, but, you helped me continue that poetic flame. The world needs more inspired poets like you, infusing your audience with the energy of your wisdom and compassion. From a poet to another poet, thank you. And, by the way, the Word loves you too! :)