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Rashan Brown

@_russian

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LLJD 🕊 | RIP Kobe
AΦΑ | Poet | Product 👨🏽‍💻
Founder @poetrymeplease
Forbes 30 Under 30
moth to a flame 🕯

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didn’t even mean to piece it up like this, we just been here before ✌🏽 — #PMPRoadToTheApollo .. 🏁

@poetrymeplease and please say the please 🗣️

#GODDID #PMP #poetrymeplease
#BirdFaceGotIt #HateThatForMe

📸 | 🎥 : @irafac et al. (2023) by @_russian

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2 years ago

It’s hard to capture planning, prayers and preparation in an image. Which is probably why I never realize how much I’ve been living in my blessings until I sit with the pictures.

Usually the first thought isn’t about the pain or hard work put in, but rather the smiles and all those feel good moments.

That’s probably a lesson in itself or at least a few. Priceless captures.

📸: @irafac 🐐
📍: @whitehouse
🎙️: @poetrymeplease

#RushTheMic #RushTheHouse taken in White House by @_russian

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3 years ago

both feet flat, the game is done
they think I lost, I know I won.
(Harlem Hopscotch - Maya A.) 🕊️

📃: @_superstartob
📸: @irafac

- believe in yo’ people 🤝🏽 taken in Apollo Theater, Harlem by @_russian

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3 years ago

Award winning cinema comes to Columbia!

Join us for a special screening of THREE COLORS: PAN-AFRICAN (@threecolorsfilm), winner of the Grand Jury Prize for Best Narrative Feature at the American Black Film Festival and the Audience Award for Best Feature at the Slamdance Film Festival.

Inspired by the original French trilogy, THREE COLORS: PAN-AFRICAN weaves three interconnected stories exploring the diverse experiences, struggles, and possibilities of Black life.

The film is co-directed by Columbia alum and Eta Chapter member Tyler Ocasio Holmes (@bytyholmes), alongside Allison A. Waite (@tothosewhowaite) and Elijah Davis (@elijah8122).

Presented in collaboration with the Eta Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. (@sonsofeta) and @poetrymeplease, followed by a Q&A with Tyler Ocasio Holmes and Elijah Davis moderated by Rashan Brown (@_russian).

Sunday, October 11 at 1:45 PM
Lerner Roone Arledge Cinema, Columbia University

🎟️ RSVP by Friday, October 9 via the QR code and the link in bio. taken in Columbia University by @_russian

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17 hours ago

you’d have to know my history w/ Damien to understand how cool this is to me .. I mean we go wayyyyyyy back

I used to be on one 🤣 #oldestcoldestboldest #GodDid by @_russian

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3 days ago

@_russian using his money to make his life easier. 🙂‍↕️

Always invest in the things that help you feel good, stay balanced, and keep showing up. 🌟

In My Growth Era, presented by @Chase Ink 🌱

#CultureCon #InMyGrowthEra #ChaseInkPartner by @_russian

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6 days ago

Rashan Brown (@_russian) started with a pen and a side hustle. Now he’s a poet, a founder, and the person behind some of the culture’s biggest rooms. ✍🏾

Creative Director: @alyssaheartbreak
Producer: @ivanarenee_
Videographer: @1abishai
Photographer: @thedenisestephanie
Set Design: @doseofdots @abike.studio
Production Assistant: @topimpalion @bunmi_oao
Social BTS: @kyla.aandrea

He’s the #TeamBuilder of In My Growth Era presented by @Chase Ink — because real growth is never a solo act. 🌱

#CultureCon #InMyGrowthEra #ChaseInkPartner by @_russian

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7 days ago

no issues on stage but asking random strangers to take my picture? … B.I.R.D. 🗣️

🇵🇹, me and a few🪞’s — enjoy these by @_russian

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9 days ago

my favorite productivity hack that helps me tackle procrastination, mental fatigue and sharpen my attention which is called ‘Time Boxing’ and the name I was actually looking for was ‘Pomodoro Technique’ which is a slightly more restrictive version.

It’s a short bit but I found some joy in dissecting this video. Posting this is content of course but I wanted to highlight some things I’m working on changing. So pree it

Sometimes I can over-articulate, I call this my “teacher bag 🎒”

It looks like an increase in energy/movement and distinct pronunciation without actually saying much. I told you enough about the hack for you to walk away and put the pieces together but what I actually wanted say was the why.

When you have large tasks, it can be daunting to even get started. That’s how procrastination builds, you mentally exhaust yourself just thinking about it. Which is why shifting to a time bound goal is so beneficial. You get to tackle as much as you want in a given frame and not have to feel as guilty. This is especially important for people like me who take ‘finishing tasks’ so seriously.

Which leads me to my next flag. I’m fairly intense with little things or rather everything.

I apologized and kinda laughed it off but I didn’t think that was funny. I was disappointed that in the live moment I couldn’t name it. That registers as failure, simple.

In the video, I used words like “duty”, “crucial” and “promise to myself” with tasks that could be as simple as making a post, setting a reservation, responding to an email or remembering to go for a walk.

Finding the balance essentially makes the difference between a healthy, high functioning entrepreneur and someone who is just working themselves to death. Thin line 😭

Curious though for all my go getters, what’s your productivity hack and why is it important to you? by @_russian

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22 days ago

PMP LIVE at @lehmancenter 🎟️

after five years of building from the ground up, poetry me, please is coming home. our 5 year anniversary special lands in the Bronx, where it all started, for the biggest homecoming spoken word has ever seen.

join us at the historic Lehman Center for the Performing Arts for a night that celebrates everything this community has built, five years in the making.

new year. new stage.🎙️

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 28TH

🎨: @designdon

#poetrymeplease #pmp #spokenword #lehmantheater #poetrycommunity taken in Lehman Center for the Performing Arts by @_russian

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a month ago

earlier this year in April, I was interviewed at the @forbesunder30 Summit and we spoke about all things @poetrymeplease and entrepreneurship.

This question about a gut punch was top of mind as I look to host PMP’s large scale end of year showcase in November.

While accessibility is the focal point, the real lesson is about scaling responsibly and measuring risk along with other variables. Finding the balance between inner passion, arrogance, humility and calculated risks. That’s a big ask for Elmo.

So boom, peep

In year 1, I went from a 80 person bar to a theatre that could hold 500 and failed. Year 2, I sold out the Apollo with over 1,600 and again in Year 3. Year 4 we moved to Kings that held 3,200 and did a little under 2,000 in attendance. That was a big boy “L” but it was important for the journey.

Year 5, come November 2026 we’ll be in a venue that holds over 2,200 so if the data does what the data needs to do mixed with the ambition.. this time next year, I’ll be talking about how we sold out another venue, how we made history, how PMP is in fact the Largest Spoken-Word Poetry Showcase in the World 🌍 [fact check me, please]

PMP 5 Year Anniversary — Showcase #60 🎤 — tickets go live tomorrow 🔥 by @_russian

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a month ago

📍chicago, rough draft ✍🏽

see (C) for Colours 📕 — Nov 2026 taken in Chicago by @_russian

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2 months ago