CUBAN

Matthew "Cuban" Hernandez Cuban, a native of Jacksonville, FL, is a writer, a poet, a performing spokenword artist, and a youth mentor. While blazing the mic with withunforgettable pieces like; "Forgive them Father," and "Crazy" andundeniablly stamping his signature across the United States, in slams, openmic venues, charities, and television. Cuban is turning underground poetry,sidewalks, visions, and dreams into new spotlights, and giving true meaningto the word diversity, not only in his poetry, but also as a hip hop junkie,folk, country, spanish, and instrumental music lover.This young man’s love for the art is beyond empicable; he breaths, eats,drinks, and sleeps poetry. Cubans voice is personal and public, and he’sinspired by so many; to overwhelm so many inspired by him. , with astriking presence. cuban had no choice but to bless Jacksonville, becomingCEO and President of Shattered Thoughts, which he organized in 2003.Cuban bares his freedom of speech through his poetry, his safe ground.He’s an enduring inspiration to a new generation of poets, showing he writesfor himself to express himself, while letting others bare his soul. In living hislife he’s learned so much, in doing so, ~Cuban plain layout powered by HOT FreeLayouts.com / MyHotCommentsDuval’s Little Havana by Tonya M. Smart By: Tonya Smart, www.FemmeHorizon.com Last Modified: 4/16/2007 1:41:18 PM When I speak with other local poets who frequently travel, we tend to agree that Duval has a wealth of talent that is just as good, if not better than most poets in D.C., NYC, Atlanta and so on and so forth. I had already foreseen the many folded foreheads as I finished that sentence. I already heard the question ask before my statement was completed. The question, what’s lacking then? Why haven’t so many local poets been featured on Def Poetry or been in the Folio or other "artistic" publications? My answer is out-of-town grind. Many of our local talented artists cannot travel consistently because they have to pay rent, daycare or a house note. Those select poets who can, do. The continue to travel and spread the word about DUVAL! So, in essence, this article is me doing my part.It was a Sunday morning in June 2006 when I received a phone call from a friend. The conversation went this way:Tonya: Hello Friend: Hey what’s up Tonya: Nothing, what’s up with you? Friend: I won.I won Tonya: Who is this? Friend: It’s Cuban. Tonya: You won what? Friend: I won the Southern Fried! Tonya: Oh my god!For those who are unfamiliar with what The Southern Fried Slam Championship is, allow me to bring you up to speed. The Southern Fried Slam Championship is a yearly slam that takes place in a different southern city every year. It takes place over the course of 3 days with over 80 poets from across the country competing for the individual and team championship. On the final night of the slam- a Saturday night- a team and individual champion is crowned therefore claiming the slam crown of the South. In 2006 Duval’s own Matthew "Cuban" Hernandez won the individual championship. Can you say DUVALLLLLLLLLLL?Tonya: How do you feel about the Jacksonville Poetry Scene? Cuban: I feel it isn’t coming together. Not enough poets are helping out. A lot of people are out to get rich.Tonya: Ok here’s a hypothetical. Its 2007, what have you accomplished? (Interview took place in the summer of 2006) Cuban: I hope to have my hip hop album outTonya: Who are you looking to work with? Cuban: Tough Junkie.Tonya: Who are a couple of your favorite hip hop artists? Cuban: Tough Junkies, Mos DefTonya: Who are your favorite poets? Cuban: Buddy Wakefield, 13th of Nazerath, Maze, Truth, jard PaulTonya: What is your favorite hip hop album? Cuban: HuhTonya: Ok.If you were running out of your burning house, which albums would you take with you? Cuban: Capital Punishment by Big Pun, Black on Both Sides by Mos Def, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill"Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken winged bird that cannot fly." -Langston HughesTonya Smart