Can't tell you how many times "Never Let Me Down" by Kanye made my eyes sweat, especially @J_Ivy spoken word piece. Glad to see him perform it love at a Def Poetry date years ago.
December 18, I welcomed Grammy (@RecordingAcad)-winning poet J. Ivy (@J_Ivy) and singer/songwriter Tarrey Torae (@TarreyTorae) to my Evanston home.
Three-time Grammy winner J. Ivy won The Poet Who Sat by the Door in 2023, contributed to the Grammy-winning The Urban Hymnal in 2023, and won again in 2024 for The Light Inside. From being featured on @kanyewest’s The College Dropout to multiple appearances on HBO’s Def Poetry Jam, he continues to promote poetry across music, television, and live performance.
Tarrey Torae is a soulful R&B singer/songwriter and 6× Showtime at the Apollo champ. She won two Grammys for her work on J. Ivy’s albums The Poet Who Sat By The Door (2023) and The Light Inside (2024), and has also contributed vocals on other Grammy-winning albums with Kanye West and John Legend (@johnlegend), as well as on the Grammy-nominated J. Ivy project Catching Dreams. She has toured with Talib Kweli, Common (@common), Slick Rick, J. Ivy, and The Roots (@theroots), released albums like Catching Feelings and the Freedom Ride EP, and appears in Netflix’s Jeen-Yuhs.
We talked about how J. Ivy became a poet, their collaboration, and shared projects. A key milestone: at fifteen, his poem was praised by his high school teacher, Ms. Paula Argue, in February 1993; exactly thirty years later, in February 2023, he won his first Grammy Award. He expressed a striking sense of gratitude toward his parents, Ms. Argue, Tarrey, and all who have supported him throughout his journey.
J. Ivy continues to broaden his creative influence through new poetry, music, and live performances, mentoring emerging artists and shaping the spoken word landscape. As Co-Chair of the Recording Academy’s Black Music Collective with Tarrey Torae, he champions initiatives that support Black creators and bring poetry to wider audiences.
As dinner ended, Tarrey surprised us with a stunning a cappella performance. Her voice floated across the crisp night air and still dances in my mind — an unforgettable evening.
🚨 BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!
3x GRAMMY Award winner @J_Ivy will be our Special Guest Performer at the Hoods to Woods 15-Year Anniversary Celebration in NYC! 🏔️🎤
🎟️ Get tickets: https://t.co/oqAOWu3LHF
#HoodsToWoods#Jivy#15YearsStrong
D’Angelo was one of a kind. As a pioneer in neo-soul, he inspired a generation of singers, and helped shape music today. Michelle and I are thinking of his family, and all those who loved and admired him. https://t.co/Y97bD9O0E2
T3, @J_Ivy, D-Nice, @Yahzarah, Amber Navran, @uhmeer__, and @Goapele on what beverage they would pair with their music 🥂
Watch the full #SoundAdvice on YouTube: https://t.co/CzNEmexyT5
"We got to dig into the crates and listen." - @J_Ivy on the music industry being built on relationships 👏
Watch the full #SoundAdvice out now on YouTube:
https://t.co/8U4lkXNWHQ