NeoSouljah's Page

"I would never diminish another’s’ accomplishments by comparing myself to them, limit my achievements by having them compared to me nor will I compromise or try to make you comfortable to be in the “in” crowd. I am quite controversial. I am who I am” ~ NeoSouljah,

Educator. Performance Poet. Singer. Songwriter. Vocal Coach. Host/FemCee. Actress. The level of diversity to NeoSouljah’s list of talents and abilities often make it hard to pigeonhole her into the category of anything other than Artist. Where does one start?

As both an Educator and Spoken Word Artist, NeoSouljah was the very first presenter of Spoken Word and host of an open mic/Slam competition at The National Society of Black Engineers conventions on the National level, and the first clinician to approach the topics of relationships and sexual/emotional responsibility in their workshop forum. NeoSouljah’s style was witnessed at the Stellar and Dove award winner Babbie Masons’ International Music Conference in 2002, earning her a standing ovation and the baptism of the name NeoSouljah from Babbie Mason herself. Since that time she has graced stages in the company of such noted HBO Def Poets as Peabody/Tony award winners Abyss and Georgia Me; and performed from the coffee house to the church house. While not on the regular competition scene, she has taken home top honors in local and multi-city Slam competitions when she does.

But as busy as she is with teaching, singing, counseling and just living, Neo still turns on the stove, fries the chicken and bakes mac and cheese for her Confessions Sessions, an invitation only intimate open mic at her home monthly that has housed poets from Georgia, Indiana, Minnesota, and New York. The RSVP is mandatory if you want to secure a seat on the couch, in the chair, or on the floor. Really. NO... really.

In a meeting on MySpace, Jazz artist Brian O’Neal [keyboardist/KEM] became impressed with her rhymeflow and invited Neo to Detroit for an interview. This led to a chance recording of some a capella poetry for future work. He began to play a melody out of which, 30 minutes later at around 3am, one of her now signature pieces “He Played Me” was born. The next afternoon it hit MySpace, and before nightfall had received nearly 1,000 hits. She was asked to return to Detroit and contribute to Brian's latest released CD, “Daisy”. She is featured on the 3-part vocals on “Let Me Do It Again”[yeah, she's all 3!], and poetically on “Because” which she co-penned to compliment his tribute to his grandmother Daisy. 2 months later, NeoSouljah was the special featured guest and host of his CD release party where Grammy award winning Jazz artist KEM called her work “amazing”. It was noted that her sound check prior to the beginning of the show caused everyone to stop working, and just listen.

To see “Neo” stand on a stage at a full-figured, statuesque 6’1” in stiletto heels and Afro spittin' is one thing. To hear the beauty of her voice is another. She is the real deal - with a 3 octave range that has been saturated in over 35yrs of music from Country & Western, Jazz, R&B, and Gospel to Classical, the power and smoke of her voice carries you away. Her ability to arrange and sing all vocals needed for have caused Neo to be sought out and flow in to lend her vocals to everything from voiceovers to demo tracks.

NeoSouljah is now working on her debut CD, "Privately Social". With producers Brian O’Neal/BCO Media [KEM], Threefourteen/Megabeat International [East Side Boys], Rob Hardt/The Candy Factory in Europe [Frank McCombs] and Mike Loyd/MLee Productions [ Malcolm Jamal Warner/Miles Long] her CD is much anticipated. With titles like “Green Kool-Aid”, “Grown Folks Business”, and “Panties on the Stage (and Other Family Matters”), one can only guess what's on her mind.. But one will never be disappointed.