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Darryl recently completed his first screenplay (a film of which he is a featured actor in) for a featured length film titled “Sorry Ain’t Enough”, A story about Slavery Reparations in America. To be tentatively released in the fall of 2008. Darryl co-produced this film in association with their film/music company (Mental Food Production) of which he is a partner with his childhood friend of over twenty years Ken Harris Jr. It is with his mixture of creative social consciousness of the arts mixed with his background in science and technology that Darryl draws from for his artistic inspiration. During his years at CCNY, Darryl had the distinct privilege of studying under the lectures of Black Studies Chairman/Activist Dr. Leonard Jeffries at CCNY who framed a lot of the principals Darryl lives by today. Darryl a spoken word performance artist, has been writing poetry for over 12 years with hundreds of completed works. Darryl's work has been featured and performed at the Prudential Black Professionals Conference in the spring of 1994. He has performed in numerous venues in the New York City area, in addition at the famed venue, Nuyorican Poets Café. He was a slam contest semi finalist in 2002. Darryl has performed nationally in New Jersey, Florida, Atlanta, Tennessee, Chicago, Houston, Pennsylvania, Louisiana and Canada. Darryl in 2001, in association with Colgate Palmolive and the Mayors office of the City of East Orange, lead a summer youth program initiative which is apart of their motivational speaking organization. In an endeavor to continue the efforts of other independent artist such as themselves, the idea to create a spoken word and poetry production studio was kicked off. During the winter of 1998, Darryl Lee, along with his business partner Ken Harris Jr., formed a spoken word production company named "Mental Food". Now they have 4 CD albums to their credits. They have produced various other artists and are in the process of expanding to the film arena with a whole host of new services for 2009.
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As a film producer, Ken seeks to be the facilitator of creative vision. With a collaborative working style he pushes clarity, without imposing will upon those he works with. A creative financier, the value of the dollar spent, without compromising creative quality and effectiveness of the production team is the focus. To allow the director a space within which to express themselves while keeping sight on what is important; getting it in the can. As a Poet / Spoken Word Artist Ken has enjoyed considerable acclaim for the fun he brings to his work. His performances are characterized by high energy with an ever-escalating passion that at once seduces and befriends the audience. This energy is not at the expense of intellect in his pieces, which he uses to challenge the audience to hear what is being communicated above and beyond the performance of the work. As a Music Producer, vibes that nod your head for you and drama characterize Ken’s creations. With musical influences ranging from John Coltrane to Eric – B to Wyclef Jean, Ken is definitely a man of eclectic musical taste, with limitless creativity. As a Youth Motivational Speaker, Ken brings humor to his message. As a participant in National speaking tours, including the Colgate Palmolive Company’s P.O.W.E.R Program in 2001, Ken, along with Mental Food Co-founder Darryl Lee, embraces all opportunities to give the youth their serving of Mental Food. He speaks to his audience, not at them. He engages the youth, delivers his message and avoids the preaching which characterizes the traditional “motivation” that young people must endure.
*************************************************************************** Mental Food has a proud history as performance spoken word artist during the late 1990's and early 2000's. In addition to their accolades listed above the duo has had the honor to perform at the famed Nuyorican Poets Cafe in New York City as featured artist. They have performed nationally in Florida, New Jersey, Louisiana, Atlanta, Memphis, Chicago, Houston, New York, Ottawa, Montreal and Toronto. Mental Food in their efforts to collaborate with other artist have produced 4 spoken word CD's of their own and 2 others for their peers. It is with this skill set of music production along with the creative vision of the spoken word that has been the spring board for so many other ventures for the group. Shoshanna Smith is one of the performance artist produced by Mental Food. Smith titles her music “Jazzfunksoultry” a unique blend of jazz, funk, R&B, and poetry. Born in Brooklyn raised in Queens, New York Shoshana does not just give you spoken word, but creatively meshes her soulful singing style with sassy lyrics and live musicians. Smith explains, “working with live musicians is wonderful, it gives me a chance to recreate my songs from its original structure which I feel enhances and gives new feeling to the CD and makes the show more personal.” Visit her work at http://www.sassylady.net/
To check out some of the work created by the Mental Food Productions see the links below From House to humor to passion to politics, Mental Food poetry touches it all
See the reviews and previews
http://cdbaby.com/cd/mentalfood2 http://cdbaby.com/cd/mentalfood3 http://cdbaby.com/cd/mentalfood ***************************************************************************************************************** Listen to the spoken word of Mental Food Productions Some tracks contain adult language so by listening you consent that you are over the age of 18
CLICK ON THE LINKS BELOW TO HEAR Best of Mental Food CD (All tracks Windows Audio)
Do You (Romance) Judge Me (Political) Pen in Hand (Social Commentary) Tuskegee Syphilis Remembered (History) Using Love (Relationship) So Feeling U (Passion) Corporate Games (Social Commentary) Clear Man (Clear Man) Sad Poetry (Thought) Freedom Reign (Thought) Play me (Sensuality) Black Wall Street (History) |
Darryl
Lee – Born in Brooklyn New York, Darryl holds the talent of film
producer, music producer, composer, motivational speaker,
screenwriter, actor, poet, spoken word recording artist, football
coach and technology professional. Darryl born and raised in the
Clinton Hill section of Brooklyn, New York is a multi-faceted artist
whose education and creative artistic background is rooted in the
public school system of New York City where he attended the City
College of New York where he majored in Computer Science and
Engineering. 
Kenneth
Harris, Jr. was born in Brooklyn, NY. A graduate of Morehouse
College, Ken is a professional stage actor, Corporate Technology
Trainer and Senior Associate, former Youth Counselor/Program
Director and Motivational Speaker along with his newest title of
Film Producer. He is also a former football player as well as former
Assistant High School Basketball coach. It is from this broad
experience that Ken draws his creative inspiration.