barber chair confessions, episode .003

On this episode of Barber Chair Confessions...

On this episode of Barber Chair Confessions, i’d like to introduce an exceptional individual who published a lot of work at a very young age, name Khali Raymond. Khali is a nineteen year old reclusive genius whose serious and realistic writing style puts out riveting and mind capturing work that arouses a lot of people’s interest, from Newark, New Jersey.

there’s a community out there, and i want to be apart of that community.

Khali’s love for his city and community is extremely strong. that alone is a primary influence for his work. his continued humbleness, and strong work ethic will carry him to places that the average person can only dream of. a lot of mystery shrouds this genius author, but he is so much more. when you do happen to read Khali’s work, the themes and vocabulary he uses are extremely strong and provocative.

“It has been very rewarding, but at the same time challenging. It required me to step out of my comfort zone to do things that I normally wouldn’t do. ”

— khali raymond

Khali wrote a collaborative poem with his teammate Kwadjo called haircuts.

Khali Raymond wrote a collaborative poem with his teammate Kwadjo called haircuts, that they performed at the Brave New Voices International Youth Poetry Slam in Houston, Texas. You will be able to see that performance on barber chair confessions, episode .005, so stay tuned. If you want to find out more about Khali, you can follow him on Instagram @__trpyshvt_ .

I believe that children are our future, teach them well and let them lead the way.

Whitney Houston said It best “I believe that children are our future, teach them well and let them lead the way.” these next few episodes of barber chair confessions will feature three students from the Newark Poetry Institute Slam Team, who I had the privilege to support, mentor, and lead in some way, shape, or form. these students have taught me so much about love, patience, bravery, and passion, and I am ecstatic to have had the opportunity to have them not only accompany me to my barbershop, but to trust me enough to sit in my barbers chair, and get a haircut. it is my honor to welcome them to this space to share their thoughts, knowledge gained, feelings, and experiences in life, as well as their experience prepping for the brave new voices international youth poetry slam competition in Houston, Texas.

“I went through a lot growing up, but I found writing. i found art and performance, and that helped me get over most of the stuff that I was going through. everything I went through, all the problems that I was facing, none of that mattered once i picked up a pen or got on a stage.”

— khali raymond

I felt like all the hard work that went into memorizing and perfecting the poems that I was on, was finally paying off.

Sitting in the barbershop the day before leaving to go to the Brave New Voices International Youth Poetry Slam, gave me some time to reflect on the journey that was bringing me to Houston that weekend. I felt like all the hard work that went into memorizing and perfecting the poems that I was on, was finally paying off. The barber who cut my hair, also made me right, too. It’s been a while since I had my hair last cut. all in all, earning the opportunity to go to Houston to do what I love really gave me a lot of purpose, and prepared me for future endeavors that are soon to come.

after conversing with Khali during his barber chair confession, I had some time to think alone. here are my thoughts during this haircut.

therein lies a tendency to create meaning where only living exists & to create suffering where only feeling exists - remember, you chose this life long before you came in to the ebb & flow of it all.

you are aware of the All