Otis Mensah is a British alternative hip-hop and spoken word artist. He was the inaugural Poet Laureate of Sheffield.[1]
Career
Mensah has described his work as a means of challenging dominant models of masculinity, which he claims suppress the discussion of emotions, with negative consequences for mental health.[2]
As a hip-hop artist, Mensah has performed at the BBC Music Introducing Stage at Glastonbury Festival.[3] His lyrics combine playful imagery and unconventional symbolism, often accompanied by boom bap instrumentals.[4][5]
In November 2018, Magid Magid, the Lord Mayor of Sheffield, appointed Mensah as Poet Laureate of Sheffield.[1][6] Mensah stated that he wishes to use the position to "break down barriers" and change "elitism attached to poetry."[2]
Discography
- Days Over Damson EP (2015)
- Blancmange Lounge Sessions (2017)
- Mum's House, Philosopher EP (2018)
References
- 1 2 "Hip-hop artist Otis Mensah to be Sheffield's first poet laureate", BBC News, 2 October 2018
- 1 2 "Sheffield's first hip-hop poet laureate: 'gone are the days of tradition'", The Guardian, 23 November 2018
- ↑ "Otis Mensah at Glastonbury 2017", BBC Music Introducing, 23 June 2017
- ↑ "Otis Mensah", The Academy of Contemporary Music
- ↑ "Otis Mensah", No Bounds Festival
- ↑ "Hip-hop artist to become Sheffield's first poet laureate", The Star, 3 October 2018