A spoken word poet, hip-hop MC, and devout Muslim, Amir Sulaiman was first a freestyle rapper before becoming a poet when a young kid and not the other way around, as is the case for many developing rap artists. His writings were significantly influenced by the Black Arts Movement, the literary and artistic extension of the Black Power Movement of the '60s and '70s, and one of its cardinal figures, Amiri Baraka. While pursuing a B.A. in English at North Carolina A&T State University, he cut his teeth doing various spoken word forums on college campuses, coffeehouses, and bookstores. Many of his poems were derived from his own experiences, especially those from growing up as a Muslim. Some were abstract and delicate, touching on love and women, and others were scathing and thought-provoking commentary on racism in America. During his sophomore year at North Carolina A&T, he published these varied writings in his first book of poetry, Words of Love, Life, and Death.
