Ras Benzo

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Since 1997, Ras Benzo has been a dynamic presence in Atlanta’s Spoken Word community. As Creative Director of HELIOPOLIS MEDIA SYNDICATE, he has been instrumental in forging the “look” of the culture: providing print-media, and pro-audio solutions for some of Atlanta’s most memorable occasions and visionary performers. As Media Manager for FreeForum Xchange, Benzo has played a pivotal role in helping to make the Sunday Night Open Mic event the best in the city. The writer/performer, Ras Benzo easily stands out in Atlanta as one of the few artists able to fuse the genres of Rap, Jazz, and Spoken Word into an insightful, enjoyable, and empowering experience. With all the responsibility, and opportunity that surrounds him, Ras best describes himself as “A Moment in Love.”The child of social activists, Benzo is ever-mindful of creating messages of relevance, substance, and compassion. It is reflected in his words and music in his refusal to “preach,” but rather “dialogue” with audiences as he candidly shares experiences hoping that listeners will find inspiration through his words to realize that the ultimate battlefield of the revolution is within the solitary moments of our daily life. With this keen perspective, Ras has been acknowledged by the people as the recipient of the “Guaranteed Fresh, Or Not At All” award at the 2003 Atlanta Underground Awards.Raised by the then-emerging culture of Hip Hop, Ras is rooted in the fundamentals of community, as they were redefined in the 80’s. Realizing that the power is in the message, he took a vested interest in being part of the element that creates the images for the message. It was the decline in quality commitment, and leadership in the Hip Hop that motivated Ras to get involved in media production. As a graphic designer, he took the leadership initiative to show our community that we have more to offer one another than false images that reinforce the oppression of our communities.In Atlanta’s tight-knit Spoken Word community, Ras Benzo has come to be a reputable force, as well as a prominent figure. Since joining the FreeForum Xchange Crew in 2002, the Sunday Night Open Mic has gone on to win awards as The Best Place To Hear Spoken Word in The City of Atlanta [Creative Loafing “Best Of” 2000 – 2004], and Venue/Promoter of the Year [2003/2005 Atlanta Underground Awards].It is with voice and vision that Ras Benzo has built his reputation. Expect to see him in works of inspiration and Moments In Love.