Ise Lyfe is a Hip-Hop Artist with a vast body of work that spills over into the realms of Spoken Word, Theater, Business, and even Authorship.
Recently appointed Commissioner of Arts and Cultural Affairs in his hometown of Oakland, CA, Ise Lyfe is one of the nation’s premier Spoken Word Artist and Emcee’s. His 2006 debut album, ”spreadtheWord” allowed him to mettle with a national audience, and the release of his second LP in 2008, “Prince Cometh” received rave reviews from critics and fans alike. Unaffected by the sophomore jinx theory, it’s safe to say the response across the board was nearly 100% positive…
“…He might someday take over Mos Def’s mantle as Hip-Hop’s activist poet laureate…”- Seattle Weekly
“Four Stars!”, “If revolution had a movie, Ise Lyfe just might be theme music.” - AllHipHop.com
Ise first gained national recognition competing in national poetry slam competitions in his late teens. In 2001 he won the National Poetry Slam Competition, skyrocketing his popularity amongst the ever growing Spoken Word/Hip-Hop Theatre audience. He has been featured on Russell Simmons' Def Poetry Jam on HBO. He has also shared the stage with Gil Scott-Heron, Dave Chappelle, Lauryn Hill, Talib Kweli, Dead Prez, E-40, Harry Belafonte, Mos Def, Malcolm Jamaal Werner, KRS-One, Martin Luther, Saul Williams, Ben Harper, Erykah Badu, Zion I, and The Coup to name a few.
Ise took a short break from recording after that write a book, “Pistols and Prayers”- a collection of prayers, poems, rhymes and anectdotes, released in 2010.
Rising from the streets of Oakland, California, Ise’s writing and delivery is charged by the same set of circumstances that most art spawned from the inner-city: Struggle, Resilience, Survival and Vision…
However, Ise Lyfe is simply different than anyone else in his genre or league of peers. Period.
Just in his twenties with nearly ten years of national and international stage performing and recording experience, he transcends the common narrative on and off stage. An award winning poet, emcee, performer, and educator, this young man is sure to be the impact we all speak of wanting, but rarely see realized…
"Our communities are full of beautiful people who can’t see their own beauty. People look outside of themselves for anything to make them feel good about themselves, or just good period. Before all of this is over, I'd like to play a role in influencing people to see the answer within." -Ise Lyfe
Over the past few years Ise Lyfe has used his amazing talent to fuel a fledging career in both music and education:
2003
Ise began teaching social history and Spoken Word at one of nation's most innovative charter high schools, The School for Social Justice and Community Development in Oakland, CA. He led the youth component at Leadership Excellence in Oakland, CA – A NON-PROFIT organization committed to educating black youth in the areas of social justice and cultural awareness. From 2004 to 2006 he served as Senior Arts-in-Education Associate at Youth Speaks (San Francisco, CA), the leading literary arts agency in the US. There, Lyfe continued his successful approach to blending literacy and performance arts.
2004
• Ise co-wrote and performed in "CAUSE", a Hip-Hop theater piece that fused spoken word with modern dance to address the legacy of hate in the world. This piece was mounted at the famed Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco, CA, and choreographed by world renowned choreographer Robert Moses.
2005
• His first LP, “spreadtheWORD” was released nationally and received ‘Four Stars!” from ALLHIPHOP.COM – the most respected review site in the industry.
2006
• Ise Lyfe was featured in Season 5 of Russell Simmons’ HBO DEF POETRY JAM, receiving
the majority of viewer votes on the shows interactive website.
2007
• Ise Lyfe traveled to Ghana, West Africa in December of 2007. Upon his return to the United States he began fusing the photographs he’d taken on this magnificent journey with the journal entries and poems that were inspired by his trip. Eventually this work was curetted by the Joyce Gordon Art Gallery in Oakland, CA in an elaborate exciting exhibit titled, “GHANA BRIGHT” in March of 2008. This event raised money and awareness for the West African AIDS Foundation (WAAF)
• “Who’s Krazy?,” a one-man theater piece he penned himself was curetted by Cultural Odyssey of San Francisco and debuted at the 2007 National Black Theater Festival in North Carolina to a sold-out crowd and received rave reviews.
2008
• In July 2008 the play gained even more recognition when it was featured at the 2008 NAACP Theatre Awards in Los Angeles, CA and made its Southern California debut at the Stella Adler Theatre in Hollywood, CA. Most recently “Who’s Krazy?” was featured at the LaMAMA Theatre in New York City in February 2009.
• Also in July of 08, Ise Lyfe released his second LP, “Prince Cometh” (7even89ine Music). The album picks up where the first left off as Ise continues to make thought provoking music, but also gives listeners a more personal perspective.
2009
At 26 years old, Ise Lyfe was appointed as Commissioner of Arts and Cultural Affairs for the City of Oakland, CA. His appointment was granted by the Mayor of Oakland and former Congressman, Ron Dellums.
Also, in the same year, Ise Lyfe was a recipient of the John George Social Justice Award
2010
“Pistols and Prayers”, the first book published by Ise Lyfe is released. Lyfe wrote and directed a theater piece based on the book by the same title, and it sold out the Tony Award winning Berkeley Repertory Theater in Berkeley, CA that it was housed in, cementing his place as a leading voice in Hip-Hop Theater.
Regardless of where his career stands now, Ise is rooted and speaks from the childhood handed to him by Oakland, CA, relating to people and places that exist within this common experience. He continues to push boundaries and take his message to the next level.
In addition to Hip-Hop and Spoken Word, Ise Lyfe is an innovative businessman-The Owner, Founder, and Executive Director of Lyfe Productives. Lyfe Productives is an Educational/Social Marketing firm creating a popular culture of consciousness by finding ways to make both standard and alternative education provocative for young people growing up in the inner-city. Lyfe Productives facilitates teaching residencies in 8 Bay Area schools and continues spreading his word at universities, high schools, middle schools, and various agencies not only throughout the United States, but his work has also crossed domestic boarders having worked in both the United Kingdom and in Ghana, West Africa. He charges forward towards a global platform. In the company’s latest endeavor, Lyfe Productives has taken a stake in social marketing, connecting the information and services of corporations and organizations with a core audience while commanding humane integrity in consumer buyer relationships.
The accolades keep pouring in for this young man:
• City Flight Magazine’s Top 25 under 35
• Honored at the 12th Annual African American Excellence in Business Awards in Northern California as one of the top “101 Black men in California making a Difference,” (Ise stood proud as the youngest honoree)
• 2009 recipient of the John George Award for Social Justice
Find video clips, photos, and articles on Ise Lyfe at www.iselyfe.com
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