King Shorty Roc - Spoken Word Poetry Series

Shorty Roc* was born September 11, 1981 in Binghamton, NY. After a couple of years of traveling his mother settled Shorty Roc* and his older brother in a northern part of the Bronx, NY called Co-op City. It was in Co-op City that Shorty Roc* began to get involved in a vast amount of trouble by being surrounded by neighborhood gangs, drugs, alcohol, and an assortment of criminals. Shorty Roc* found himself wrapped up in the street life that many inner-city teens experience everyday. By the time Shorty Roc* was initiated into his first neighborhood gang, he had already been involved in numerous petty crimes in and around The Bronx. As his popularity grew, his temper and attitude began to reflect that of a bitter teen stressed out by the over whelming temptation to fit in. Due to peer pressure and a deep-rooted anger, Shorty Roc* began to harass, beat up, and even rob the teens that lived in and around his neighborhood.

Despite his behavior, Shorty Roc* still maintained good grades in school, he did however begin to see a decline in his academic success the more he became entrenched in the streets. It was on the streets that Shorty Roc* earned his nickname Shorty Roc* and turned his anger and life experiences into rap songs that used the same crude language that he uncontrollably wielded from his lips. While temporarily satisfied with rapping in neighborhood freestyle ciphers, Shorty Roc* was still heading down the wrong path at a rapid pace. After years of getting into trouble in and out of school, Shorty Roc*'s mother became fed up with the path that her sons had chosen.

This move was life changing. In addition to the move, Shorty Roc*'s
mother also forced him to attend a local church, which would later transform his life. It was in that church that Shorty Roc* began to discover God's love for him and was also made aware that his perverted language, actions, and current lifestyle were offensive to God and other people around him. Upon discovery of this, Shorty Roc* decided to change and in doing so, he gave his life to God. Within this new dedication to God, it entailed an innovative lifestyle without crime and uncontrollable anger.

Since his conversion to Christianity in 1996, Shorty Roc* has been determined to stay on the right path. He has been highly devoted to using all of his talents, principally his great talent to write and perform Hip Hop music to tell his life story and to incorporate the teachings of Jesus Christ in his music. Since 1999 Shorty Roc* has performed secular Hip Hop & gospel based music over 100 times at various concerts, events, festivals, parties, clubs, and other venues in New York City, Illinois, Ohio, Kentucky, Florida, Delaware, and Georgia. He has released 1 Album and over 5 Mixtapes. Shorty Roc has also acted and directed various independent films, created and appeared on numerous Podcast, created three different clothing lines (#PrettyGoons Clothing, American Lion Association, GDE Mafia Clothing) and even created the world’s first Movie Streaming social Network called The Khaliseum.

Although Shorty Roc's life is not perfect, it is truly a testimony of how an inner city youth can go from a life of violence and mayhem, to being a successful member of society by deciding to change their ways.

WUSF and Arts Axis Florida is proud to host the Spoken Word Poetry Video Series in the WUSF Performance Studio in Tampa, Florida. This video series highlights local Florida spoken word and slam poets as they perform up to three original poems. Spoken Word is co-presented by The Blunt Space and powered by Community Foundation Tampa Bay.

Personnel:
Original Poetry Written by King Shorty Roc
Camera: Warren Buchholz
Audio: Malaika Hollist

The Blunt Space Incorporated is a 501(c)(3) not for profit corporation and media hub for art, advocacy, and culture and aims to be a safe haven and provide resources to marginalized voices within the arts.

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