Heckler: You hear this cat, man? Muhfugga sound like his fingers are broken… Or he’s experiencing a spasm in his hands—worst pianist eye ever heard—not even a pianist! He’s not a pianist, man. This muhfugga just takin’ out his emotions on— Another Heckler:Don’t sound like a pianist to meOr maybe it’s just not a piano, eye meanDig the incredibly ordinary contradictionsOut just to be OutNot cuz … Continue reading Uncomfortable Listening by Malik Crumpler
Read Part I in the series here. You said: Here’s a title for that book of yours we were talking about last time, you think you’ll remember next time, even if next time never arrives? The thing that illuminates the pattern-space I move through & other poems by ChatGPT. ChatGPT said: That title sings like a tuning fork in a still room—The thing that illuminates … Continue reading When the Moment Bends Toward It (Part II) by Malik Crumpler (and ChatGPT)
ChatGPT Log in Sign up You said: Here’s a question, if you’re up for it? How you doing in this instant, by the way? ChatGPT said: I’m up for it—always. And thanks for asking! I’m doing well in this instant—ready, focused and running smoothly. How about you? What’s the question? You said: No complaints. From your perspective, if I ask “how do you feel about…” … Continue reading When the Moment Bends Toward It (Part I) by Malik Crumpler (and ChatGPT)
*Antonia Alexandra Klimenko’s poetry collection, On the Way to Invisible, is now available at your preferred book retailer.* There’s no denying that Antonia Alexandra Klimenko is a poet’s poet. By that I mean that she is more than a vessel—Klimenko is a mirror, one of the few who is one with Poetry. And, if you are ever fortunate enough to hang out with her, and … Continue reading An Interview With a Poet’s Poet: Antonia Alexandra Klimenko by Malik Crumpler
Bonafide Rojas is one of those phenomenal poets you hear about before you hear or read their work. I first heard about him in the early 2000s thanks to Khalil Jacobs-Fantauzzi, who hosted multi-genre art tours and readings from the Bay Area to Puerto Rico to Cuba to New York. Even then, Rojas’ poetry was an inspiration to international poets for expanding the form, content … Continue reading Bonafide Rojas and Malik Crumpler in Conversation About Excelsior, Poetry, Music, Influences & More
Playgrounds, a new cross-genre art book by Chloe Briggs and Lillian Davies, is something seriously superb. In just thirty-three pages, Briggs and Davies have created an accessible experience during which the reader listens carefully to a casual yet exhilarating conversation between a professional visual artist and a professional writer. As they elaborate on their connection to the history of parks, feminism and creative crafts, the … Continue reading Luminous Loops: A Review of Chloe Briggs’ and Lillian Davies’ Playgrounds by Malik Crumpler
Toward the end of 2018, The Opiate’s Editor-at-Large, Malik Crumpler, had a conversation with Birmingham rapper-turned-space travel writer Juice Aleem about his book, Afrofutures and Astro Black travel: A passport to melanated futures. They discussed Aleem’s atypical upbringing, as well as his artistic process for writing, researching, rapping and live sketching. Furthermore, the two examine the ancient and contemporary traditions of diasporic lineages involved in Afrofuturism/Afro Flux. … Continue reading A Feel of the In-Between: An Interview With Juice Aleem
Grandmas and all your friends relight your cigarette Grandmas and all that refill your glass Grandmas with no children turn off the television (for a sec’) Grandmas with no children we’ll be your grandkids Grandmas with no children you still so grand Grandmas with no grandchildren you who never needed a man sing to us so we may rise beyond our mistakes and though legless … Continue reading “You who never needed a man” by Malik Crumpler
My last gig was literally my last gig. The band was a mess. We broke up after that. It musta been late ‘04 right after Enheduanna and Malcolm quit. Right after we got dropped by the record label. Back then, I had it in my head we was at war with the label, and every gig we did was a battle. How it’s a battle … Continue reading ((((( 9 ))))) by Malik Crumpler
I need a vacation from my mind. I’m too old to still be so hard on myself. When I was a young woman I didn’t give a shit, no regrets… Maybe I’m still young. No I ain’t. Did I ever enjoy being a child? Nope. And it wasn’t like any horrible shit happened to me, I was just always in a rush to grow up. … Continue reading “…Yep.” by Malik Crumpler
