Forced to become a street performer by the age of four, Philadelphia native Poetica, a.k.a Natalie Natema, always knew how to please a crowd as she was coaxed to earn a living as a puppeteer on the streets of Philly. “We were so poor my father converted furniture into puppets and made us do voices,†she says, noting that it was probably the most devastating and painful situation she’s ever experienced but credits this as the reason why she is not afraid of anything.
Poetica, a name derived from haters’ at an open mic night, turned this belittlement into a “term of endearment.â€At 14, she was already a triple threat studying theater, music and visual arts at the local Creative and Performing Arts High School, but it was away from school grounds where she received an understanding of how art and entertainment fit within the lives of black people. As a spoken word linguist, she helped form the United Brown Poets, a group of teens that performed their own poetry pieces in various locations in Philly. “I’d always carry around a book of poetry I called "self,†she recalls, adding that it was this selfless expression that enabled her to cope with her traumatic experiences as a child. In no time, the streets began to buzz of her talents so much that she was asked to open up for “The Roots†label signing party, with MCA, held at the Trocadero in Philadelphia. “Someone was running late and they asked me to stall for time, the crowd went silent when I began talking and free-styling then I started to remember a poem and they loved it. That was the hottest moment ever,†she says about the opportunity to perform in front of established artists with an audience of over 600 people.She then recognized her extenuating talent and wanted to perform more. Although she went on to study Film and Photography at the University of the Arts she says she kept being pulled in the direction of live performance by hosting open mic nights at popular lounges in PA, lending her voice to drops on the radio and organizing a group called Sista which showcased females in the performing arts. She took the balance of her student loan money and rented a venue with equipment, lighting, and sound. Sista in Support of the Million Woman March had a large turnout, featuring poetry, a fashion show, an African dance troupe and a slew of R&B artists including Jill Scott prior to her record deal.An Excert from Black Star News "It's Poetic Music"
As reported by Yasmin Weaver July 19th 2006
"New Yorks Leading Investigative Newspaper"
