PROPHET, is a multi-tiered study and portraiture of the Emcee/Lyricist. Through the coming-of-age story of Everett Asis as ‘Mental’ the Emcee, audiences are invited to enter a world of mind power, courage, self-determination, triumph, and bottomless inquiry.
Who is the Emcee/Lyricist, and why must we know?
Fruit from the Griot’s Tree
Hatched in our neighborhoods
Bastardized by “Rap”
And wielded by the (S)wordsman
We define the “Emcee/Lyricist” as the quintessential storyteller, translator, and modern-day philosopher- a minister of sorts. Craftsfolk of this order, like any purpose-driven Artist, like any writer whose been “called”, like any servant or leader, have a journey to fulfill. And should they triumph, our lives are enriched, our assumptions shattered, and our consciousness made greater- simply because we’ve received their gift of prose.
Photography by Whitney Browne
Photography by Mars Garcia
"When Saunders speaks, it is with the inherited legacies of a collective past; he has both the commanding voice of a preacher at his pulpit and the natural, rhythmic cadence of a trained emcee.”
- Amanda Chen, The Brooklyn Rail
THE FILM
7NMS + SiriusShapeShifters + M62Photography, a collective of 5 multidisciplinary artists, invite you to witness an early filmic capture of the life journey of an Emcee. A visual collage. A collective visioning process. A window into the radical currents of an Emcee's formative pilgrimage as a Lyricist and Composer exemplified through praxis, clanhood, spirit, familyhood and ancestors. Witness flows of culture, creativity, spirituality, ceremony and play as the film calls back/calls in the Asé of multidimensional beings. This short experimental film is a sister/cousin to the multi-tiered project and performance work PROPHET, and also a culmination of 7NMS (3) Fall 2020 #SatelliteResidencies, supported by Brooklyn Academy of Music, Abrons Arts Center, and Kelly Strayhorn Theatre.
Daniel Chein- Videographer
Marjani Forté-Saunders/7NMS- Choreographer/dancer
Meena Murugesan/SiriusShapeShifters Co-Director/Editor/Media Designer, Co-Visionary
Marc Winston Photographer, Videographer
Chris Williams - Co-Composer
Chris Baylor- Co-Writer, Co-Visionary
Everett Saunders/7NMS- Composer, Sound Designer, Lyricist, Writer, Illustrator, Co-Visionary
d. Sabela grimes/SiriusShapeShifters Co-Director, Co-Visionary
THE BOOK
With the dramaturgical and writing coaching of Sharon Bridgforth and Omi Osun L. Jones, PROPHET’s Ethnographic Memoir will echo and deepen the reveal of Everett’s 26-year practice- a captivating collection of stories on pivotal and compelling hallmarks of a Lyricist’s life. Marjani will also contribute written reflections on the choreographic and directorial shaping of the performance work. Additionally, the Memoir will be threaded with photographers Marc Winston and Jasmine Murrell’s imagery (our Satellite Photographers-in-residence), functioning as a memoir and look book. Sample
Prints/manuscripts will be available to preview this text. We are seeking a publisher to support the publication of this literary project.
THE ALBUM
Stemming from the film and performance score, PROPHET’s music album will be available digitally and as a Limited Edition 10” vinyl records (for purchase). Funding for the Prophet Score will support commissioning fees for composer Everett Saunders, violinist Juliette Jones, her string ensemble Rootstock Republic and Chris Williams, an experimental jazz trumpeter. Over the next year, the ensemble will meet 6-8 times at 7NMS’ Asis Studio (in California). This music project will be produced and distributed independently, adjacent to the performance work.
PROPHET AT KELLY STRAYHORN THEATRE
PROPHET AT EMPAC
PROPHET AT ABRONS ART CENTER