- Kadeem Kamal,
Sophomore psychology major
Kadeem Kamal has been writing poetry since he was a young boy. He never read any of his work out loud to others, but once he came to ISU, he was ready to share his talent with others.
The first time Kadeem performed in front of his peers was last year when he was a freshman. The expierece was nerve-racking, his hands and palms sweaty; he felt like his stomach was in knots, but he knew he wanted to get on stage. Once there, he froze, staring at the microphone. Then, after gazing at the audience, he closed his eyes.
“My words were coming out like word vomit, I didn’t know I was saying my piece until I opened my eyes and everyone in the audience was clapping for me,” Kamal recalls. “That is when I realized that this is my calling. I am meant to do poetry.”
It is a classic case of baptism by fire that other talented ISU students have undergone in recent years. Twice a month the Profound Pioneers Entertainment Group, better known as PPEG, stages Open Mic events in the Bone Student Center. Aspiring poets, rappers, singers, dancers, and those reciting monologues all take their turn in the limelight. Between performances, amid blaring music from the DJ’s booth, the audience chats and dances.
This semester, the event got off to a flying start. The first Open Mic was held in September and drew a crowd of more than a hundred. “This was the biggest open mic ever, we have never had an audience like this. This was epic,” Darius Bedford, president of the PPEG, said.
Kadeem, now a sophomore, has become a regular at the Open Mics, having practiced and written a lot over the summer. “I go on the stage every Open Mic,” he said. “When I’m up there, I escape to a place that makes me forget about everything that was troubling me.”
Not everyone who goes to the Open Mics yearns to perform, however. “I just like to watch the different artistry that each different performer displays. I could never do that, but I applaud the people who do.” Nichelle Howard, a frequent audience member for Open Mic Nights, said.
The Open Mic nights are staged in the Bone Center every other Thursday. All are welcome.