National Poetry Month Celebration
Gene "20Bello" Cobb is the founder of the widely used moniker “DMV” (which describes the DC, MD, VA music movement). He is also the producer of over 13 albums and the director of over 70 music videos.
Born and raised in Washington, DC, Gene "20Bello" Cobb began his poetic musical journey as a teenager. In 1991, a teacher urged him to audition for admittance into Duke Ellington School of the Arts where he was accepted. Though he was multi-talented, 20Bello was a misguided youth without parental support, which led him into many run-ins with the law and ultimately shot by the police and serving time in prison.
While recovering from gun shot wounds in prison, 20Bello made the decision to leave street life. After being granted an early parole in 1998, he set out to share his life experiences through music, film and poetry
He continues to pursue the arts with every stride as a rapper, poet, director and visual artist. Currently, he is working on tapping into the generation coming up---providing them with the story of his past to inspire them to lead a positive path.
Born and raised in Washington, DC, Gene "20Bello" Cobb began his poetic musical journey as a teenager. In 1991, a teacher urged him to audition for admittance into Duke Ellington School of the Arts where he was accepted. Though he was multi-talented, 20Bello was a misguided youth without parental support, which led him into many run-ins with the law and ultimately shot by the police and serving time in prison.
While recovering from gun shot wounds in prison, 20Bello made the decision to leave street life. After being granted an early parole in 1998, he set out to share his life experiences through music, film and poetry
He continues to pursue the arts with every stride as a rapper, poet, director and visual artist. Currently, he is working on tapping into the generation coming up---providing them with the story of his past to inspire them to lead a positive path.
The Interview
Where do you draw your inspiration from to write poetry?
I draw inspiration from the things I have faced in my life. The good and the bad.
What advice do you have for someone that is threatened by poetry?
If you are threatened by poetry then you are threatened by life itself. Life is poetry. Everything works in unison and flows like the ink across the paper.
What is an interesting fact about you?
I can only eat white rice with Ketchup and butter. My grandfather was from the south and cooked rice everyday. I got so tired of it that I experimented with ketchup and butter. It stuck every since.
Where are you from/Where do you live?
I am from Washington, DC and still reside in Washington, DC.
Who is your favorite poet?
My favorite poet is David. Psalms is a great book of poetry
I draw inspiration from the things I have faced in my life. The good and the bad.
What advice do you have for someone that is threatened by poetry?
If you are threatened by poetry then you are threatened by life itself. Life is poetry. Everything works in unison and flows like the ink across the paper.
What is an interesting fact about you?
I can only eat white rice with Ketchup and butter. My grandfather was from the south and cooked rice everyday. I got so tired of it that I experimented with ketchup and butter. It stuck every since.
Where are you from/Where do you live?
I am from Washington, DC and still reside in Washington, DC.
Who is your favorite poet?
My favorite poet is David. Psalms is a great book of poetry
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