Spoken Word-Poet/Hip Hop Artist

     Sharon Lawrence, female Poet/Hip Hop Artist is known to the world as Spoken Word. She was born on October 7, 1978 in small town Suffolk, VA. She grew up in a low income neighborhood during the time drugs flooded poorer black communities throughout the nation. A recession was a normal thing for her household where she was the middle child of four in a single parent home. In the midst of it all, Spoken Word developed a gift that would change her life forever. In the late 1980’s, she learned how to rap. Rapping became the thing that kept young minds occupied in a suburban area where there was little to no transportation to participate in positive activities outside of her community. Spoken Word better known as Lady Vixen during that time did not have a hard time getting attention in the male dominated genre. By the time she was 12, she was performing in local schools. One of the highlights of her life was performing an educational rap over the loud speaker for her peers. Her first poem was published at the age of 13, and placed on the back of the schools programs for the school’s graduation that year. Literally, it was her passion that gave her inspiration to do positive things in rap. But that wouldn’t last long.

“When you grow up poor, it changes your way of thinking. It’s easy to get caught up in the traps of the streets especially when all you see is negativity around you. As a female growing up in a ruff area, you have to be tuff because there is always someone lurking around to try to pimp, manipulate or trap you.” Spoken Word

It was then that her lyrics became more hardcore. She joined up with an all male rap group along with her twin brother G Valley. The group was known as Southside Soldiers. After performing with them for a few years, the group called it quits. Instead of continuing to make music, she solely began writing poetry. To Sharon, spoken word was deep and it addressed the real things that were going on in poorer black neighborhoods.

“My way of thinking changed. I began to see things clearer than I had ever seen before. Maturing with age, I decided to let rap go. I became a mother, a wife, fulltime employee, and a fulltime student. There was no room for entertainment.” Spoken Word

At least that’s what she thought. By winter of 2008, she changed her name and started performing in poetry clubs as Spoken Word. She chose Spoken Word because it better defined the positive side of her. In May of 2009 along with her husband being the producer, she released her first album, “Hip Hop Will Never Die.” Although the album wasn’t successful on the billboard charts, it drew international attention. She received radio airplay in Houston, California, New Jersey, New York, Chicago, United Kingdom, Canada and Central Europe. She was featured in Lyrics Inc. Magazine, BTR with Shema Gurls, WDKK on “Conversations.” She was "In the Spot Light with TAMMIE", featured artist of the month in January with T.R.I.B.E. (to relate in beautiful energy) and the feature artist on “Mysterie Loves Company”. She started the year off with the performance of her lifetime at Nais 1st Poetry in Louisville, KY. Following that, she gave an inspiring performance in Oceanside, CA along with musical artists Kevin Sandbloom, Vanessa Fitz Ingram, and Poet “EMichele Paul.” She has also performed at Da Poetry Lounge in Los Angeles, CA. Spoken Word opened up for Comedian and Writer “D Militant” at the Malcolm X Library in San Diego, CA at the “Why We Laugh" panel Discussion. Later on that night she featured at “Train of Thoughts” at Queen Bee’s in San Diego, CA. She talked about her experience in California on Expressions Radio show with Bad Boy, “One Love”. She was also the feature artist of the month in April at Liberated Muse; home of the Capital (Hip Hop Soul Fest) According to Khadijah Ali-Coleman of Liberated Muse, Spoken Word rocked at the RWA (Readers with an Attitude) book expo in Richmond, VA. She performed at the Juneteenth celebration for Washington’s National Opera on June 20th and at a Rally to free the Scott Sisters on June 21th both held in Washington, DC. She will be performing at this year’s Capital Hip Hop Soul Fest on July 24, 2010 in our nation’s capital. Please be on the lookout for her upcoming CD, “After the Pain” which will be released to the public on July 24, 2010.

Artist Name:	Spoken Word     Album: After the Pain
Email address:	lawrencesharon357@gmail.com
Hometown:	, VA, USA
Website:	http://spokenword1.yolasite.com/
Style of music:	Hip Hop/Spoken Word

MySpace:	www.myspace.com/spokenword1
CDBaby:	www.cdbaby.com/cd/sword2