VOICE1
...is the silent child, until he hits the mic. He unobtrusively handles much of the hand-to-hand promotion of Sub-Way Stiles, keeping the other obnoxious artists away from the body politic.
But his impact is felt greater in words, images and lessons. As he puts it: "Voice -- that’s what it all comes down to for me. Being heard after being silenced for many years, being respected after shedding shameful tears."
For Voice1, hip hop was a fan thing, until he met awkword and signed on as the first member of Sub-Way Stiles in 1999. He has since performed at open mics and spoken word showcases throughout the Northeast. And, he usually rocks an acapella at the Whatzisface and awkword shows, when he isn't shooting still photography of the performance. His photography and poetry both reflect a dedication to and understanding of hip hop and urban culture. And he has used his intellect to design workshops to educate youngsters about the socio-political powers of self-expression. He runs spoken word, poetry, hip hop and politics workshops at schools and conferences throughout the Northeast.
"Sub-Way Stiles is about refusing to see through the traditional lens, and reaching deep to find the roots — the truth," he says. "However we get there — rap, graffiti, poetry, photography — we take the path less traveled and remain untangled by the mainstream’s tentacles."