Also available as audio-only on iTunes, Spotify & wherever else you get podcasts.
Brian “Super B” Oliva breaks down the Christian poetry scene to the Clique as they discuss how to effectively express your faith through poetry. The ‘2 Piece Combo’ poetry review gets deep into Pilipino bars as they fanboy over Bambu de Pistola before taking huge shots during the #poetry review. Lastly, Brian reveals a part of brown Asian profiling during the ‘5 For ya Eye’ prompted poem.
[EPISODE INDEX (VIDEO)]
- 00:37 – “Untitled” – Brian “Super B” Oliva
- 2:55 – “Threads and Lines”
- 12:03 – 2 Piece Combo | “Oakland Freestyle” – Bambu
- 28:06 – 2 Piece Combo | @one2love_poetry
- 35:26- 5 For Your Eye
The lessons I would learn from poetry open mics and art in general has helped me navigate most of my major adult decisions. I learned how to express myself through poetry and music and was constantly looking for people around me to learn from. A few of these unknowing idols would influence more than just my art, because of the way they held themselves off stage was equally impressive. Brian “Super B” Oliva always amazed me. After kicking dope poems with perfectly placed performance flare he would carry himself with a graceful love and humility by spreading a sense of love and God wherever he would go, and inspiring this poet to set out my own poetry journey.
Admiring his technique and his ability, I watched Brian from afar for years. He always lovingly captivated the room. In fact, it was this loving nature that led people like me into his work. He was one of the first poets that was kind to me by simply reaching out with a smile and hello without knowing anything about my work or plans for poetry. Both the admiration for Brian and a sense of embracement from him always helped keep me focused on showcasing the poetry community and the dope people they are. As artists we often aren’t always aware of how we’re influencing people with our art, and we can be even less aware of how we influence people with our mere presence. We as poets can set people on a track to better themselves and their lives just by spitting dope poems and then being kind people offstage — two things Brian always does well.
Brian arrived to Pen Clique to film on time and we were running late… really late. Our shoot that night would stretch into the wee hours of the night and Brian was infinitely patient and kind throughout the whole experience. He brought in work that was original and fresh as well as interesting and engaging. After seeing him perform many times, I was still pleasantly surprised to hear him stretching out and taking new risks with our platform. Having read his ‘Threads and Lines’ piece before the taping, I was still blown away by the transformation his presence would bring to the words. Brian can surprise and inspire in the same breath, and he came through in full effect for Pen Clique despite the long late hours.
Brian’s sweet nature has always been an influence, socially, but his ideas and work ethic have also always been exemplary. One of my favorite parts about the Pomona Poetry scene is we stay ready to work, and we are reaching to do new exciting things with poetry and art. Alongside MC prototype, a Pomona staple and legend, Brian has taken the poetry open mic scene and turned it into a fun new engaging showcase every last Tuesday of the month called “Intentions,” an aptly titled showcase. There’s music, poetry, as well as food and drinks and most importantly, an entirely new and entertaining way to show the world poetry; this is also something that is a huge part of our mission at Pen Clique.
Brian is someone I could go on for hours about; He is a kind man and a great example of a husband and community leader. All of these things and more make it’s easy to see why I was so eager to work with Brian on this project. I have a lot of poetry heroes, most of which I was lucky to grow up around and quietly admire, and I feel like Brian’s presence and influence has always been a gift from God. He’s a reminder that we can motivate and inspire people to better their lives with nothing more than love and some dope poems.
Write-up & Audio Podcast by Daniel Hees
Video Podcast & Social by Kuya David
Photos by Aubrey Rowe
Write-up Edited by Seraphina Lotkhamnga
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Pen Clique Presents: The Off Page IG Live Showcase
We’re bringing you Pen Clique’s inaugural Off Page IG Live experience. A whole new poetry and music showcase featuring heavy hitters all around!
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Episode 04 Ft. Shelley Bruce
Artist Shelley Bruce throws poetry THIRST TRAPS during “Threads and Lines”; The Clique drops a perfect slam score during the “2 Piece Combo” and Shelley humbles the whole block during the “Five for Ya Eye”.
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Episode 03 ft. Alex Alpharaoh
Take a journey through skid row with critically acclaimed poet Alex Alpharaoh as your guide during “Threads and Lines”. The Clique touch the heavens and the bottom of the barrel with the highest and lowest “2 Piece combo” scores yet! Alpharaoh closes us out by shutting ‘Merica down during the “Five For Ya Eye”.
