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His Moniker

T.I.G. is my moniker. It stands for Trust in God. T.I.G. is my true self. It's the name I use when I lay my hands (on) anything (poems, painting, etc.). I'll keep it until God re-invents me.

Pursuing Art

I'm originally from Skippers, Va. I moved away from home when I was 16 so I could go in search of myself.

I've always been a very visual person. I see pictures even in my dreams. When I paint I'm actually pulling my dreams into reality. In these dreams, I take frozen moments, the moments that I'm the happiest, and use them to help create my art. In my dreams, I try to become what I think God created me to be: free, free to express self.

His Passion For Poetry

I've been writing poetry since I was 10, but I have been conscious of it (poetry) ever since I can remember. I was born speaking life and poetry. It was my mom, though, who really got me started with poetry. She influenced the drive in me to never give up. She taught me that even if no one else understood me or my writing, at least God did.

I believe all of my poetry is inspired by God. … Truth cannot be disputed once someone knows their true self. You discover this true self by seeking it, by gaining knowledge and understanding, by having faith and enduring all the obstacles in your way. That's the idea behind (the record label) KUFE, which I started in 2007.

Building A record label

It was by coincidence that we (rapper Krook Beats and Hill) met each other. The two of us came together for one cause, one movement: the rebirth of hip-hop. I don't think hip-hop is dead; it's just unconscious.

The other artists, such as Feir, Quick and Gutter (on the label) came onto the project for the same reasons. KUFE is a musical play, an ensemble. It's a collaboration of poetry and conscious hip-hop … hip-hop that brings awareness to self. I like to describe it as separate ideas cooked in one pot. I think it's kind of like spiritual gumbo or soul food.

The State of Hip-Hop

Hip-hop has taken a turn for the worse because we forgot about the children. I believe that music drives a culture. If a culture is being fed falsehood, then it will start to live in falsehood. It's the music that in some cases our children try to mimic.

A Valuable Lesson

I met Russell Simmons once. Russell came down to Greensboro for an autograph signing. I came to the signing with my material (recordings) on me. Simmons said something to me that changed my life: "There's nothing I can do for you, but you should keep pursuing your dreams." I learned a valuable lesson that night: Nobody can do anything for you but you.

Upcoming Projects

I will be releasing my CD titled "Mic Check 33" in April. The CD is a collaboration of true hip-hop and poetry. The name (of the CD) comes from the fact Jesus died when he was 33 years old. I am now 33. I'm at a point now in my life where I can't accept nothing but the truth.

I also hold an event at my studio every Friday titled "Fish Fry Friday." During the event, the studio is treated as an open mike where people eat fish, share their work and have fellowship with one another.

–– Charles Wood, charles.wood@news-record.com

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