Khaiim the RapOet, also known as Self Suffice, grew up in Manhattan, but has lived in Hartford for the last 10 years.  Besides using his gift of word play and lyrical skills in his music, Suffice gives back to his community by organizing poetry/rap classes and workshops at Hartford schools, local libraries, and public parks. I caught up with Self Suffice and sparked up nostalgia in the rapper turned teacher, as he recalled what influenced him growing up, and the journey he went through to get him to the reputable position he’s in today.

Even though he didn’t realize it at the time, Suffice’s parent’s poetry had a heavy impact on his life.  “We were poor and getting government cheese, but I was culturally rich and didn’t even realize it.” “Culturally rich” is an understatement; his mother, a close friend of Alice Walker and his father, a close friend of Mumia Abu Jamal were heavy into politics and the Civil Rights movement in the 70’s and 80’s and their poetry expressed the racism and struggle African Americans were going through as well as advocating for equal rights.  It wasn’t until Suffice was about 13 years old that he understood what his parents were all about, and the importance of their efforts. 

Along with poetry, Suffice was introduced to jazz and reggae and was encouraged to be a diligent student and focus on his studies. “I was a hood nerd,” Suffice states as he recalls being academically gifted as he attended school with “the rich kids.” Being from the projects and attending Stuyvesant High School because of his high test scores, Suffice recalls being exposed to the “ignorance and brilliance from both sides of the fence.” Having that “nerdy” appearance that he compared to Steve Urkel, Suffice was used to getting made fun of by his peers until he turned their ridicule around on them when he was pulled into a cypher where he free style rapped about his life as a nerdy kid.  He gained high praise and respect from the onlookers, as well as an “awakened consciousness” that gave him a boost of confidence.

Although Self Suffice was always into poetry; writing poems and rhymes since elementary school, it wasn’t until he was in high school that he really plunged into it. He also came to the realization that society didn’t accept hip hop as a form of poetry.  The negative views of the art form never stopped him from expressing his life stories and his community through genuine lyrics. He never conformed to the “gangsta” rap that has always had a heavy presence in the hip hop world and staying true to himself gained him respect and support from his fans when others doubted him. 

While Self Suffice attended Trinity College he was heavy in the music scene and was influenced by the likes of articulate rappers such as Common and Hieroglyphics after heading to the west coast. “I came back on a mission; no one could tell me how to rap.” This attitude got him noticed by rapper Talib Kweli which set the wheels in motion for his rap career. This along with an emotional track he wrote about his father’s death on his album, “So Close” got him a lot of attention and he appeared on many compilations after that.  His most recent album Manhattan Night is filled with conscious, eye-opening lyrics sure to revive spirits of struggling youth trying to move forward in down trodden city streets.  Taking his love for hip hop, talent, intelligence and an inborn gift of helping others, Suffice started teaching rap and poetry classes to the youth of Hartford; giving back to a community plagued with the same struggles he grew up with.

You can learn more about Self Suffice the Rapoet’s work with youth organizations as well as listen to his music on his website: http://www.rapoets.com/.  This is just one of the positive artists from Connecticut that take their talent and drive to give back to the community. Support hip hop and youth programs in the state by checking out rapper/ poet Self Suffice.

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CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT SELF SUFFICE RAPPING AS WELL AS HIS INTERVIEW