“If you don’t deal with your emotions, one day your emotions are going to deal with you.” —J. Ivy
J. Ivy, a a three-time HBO Def Poet, writer, and voice-over artist, is a leader and trendsetter in the art of hip-hop poetry, taking his poetry into today’s mainstream music and television arenas. His motivational motto, “Dreams Don’t Come True, They Are True,” has guided him from his native hometown of Chicago to becoming a Grammy Award-Winning artist.
As a seasoned performer, J. Ivy’s accomplishments have ranged from working with Kanye West and Jay-Z to MCing and performing at events for Deepak Chopra. He has voiced commercials for Benjamin Moore Paint and Nissan, as well as openings for sporting events such as the NFL’s Sunday Night Football on NBC and ESPN’s US Open. He also received a Gold Clio Award for his National AD Campaign with Verizon.
J. Ivy’s first book, HERE I AM: Then & Now, is a follow up to his album, HERE I AM. His most recent book is Dear Father: Breaking the Cycle of Pain.
Beyond his involvement in music, television, and the touring circuit, J. Ivy continues to support community arts through his Write To Live Academy Workshop and The Dear Father Initiative, which encourages young people to explore the arts.
A modern-day Renaissance man, J. Ivy believes in merging art and leaving a beautiful mark on the world for those in the future to embrace.