Spoken Word Artist “Drew Law” Performs At UPC’s Poetry Event

Spoken word artist Amin Andrew Law, affectionately and poetically known as “Drew Law” by friends, fans and family, spoke at UPC’s spoken word event held in The Lane Center last Thursday. His charismatic personality and wit drew a large crowd of students to listen to his poetry.

Drew Law was invited to FSU by NACA (National Association Of Campus Activities) through a showcase, where he performed his poetry and was chosen out of a group of other artists to perform.

“I guess they thought I was handsome, so they asked me to come to FSU and perform. Oh, and let me tell you all—I‘ve been to some pretty weird [freaking] colleges—but Frostburg is a really cool school,” Law stated.

The poet is a Maryland native who moved to Washington, D.C. in 2010. He is of Arabic and Caucasian decent. Having spent most of his life living in Maryland and Virginia, Law wanted to relocate to D.C. to embark on his poetic journey.

“You know, I was raised in the suburbs, but I moved to D.C. to become more involved in the poetry scene,” says Law. “I’m happy that I did.”

“Anybody here love Hip-Hop? I love Hip-Hop the most,” said Law. Prior to writing poetry he pursued a rap career, and through rapping, his passion for poetry and the arts developed.

“The first time I ever wrote a rap was for my third grade book report. There was a book series called Goose Bumps, and I [messed] with Goose Bumps. I was a battle rapper for eight years. I won a competition and got to open up for Biz Markie and Slick Rick. That was the illest [thing] I ever did. “

Law read a number of poems, one of them dedicated to his West Virginian mother, entitled “Country Mama,” along with “My Father’s Gun,” “Fried Memories,” “A Forever Alone Haiku,” and a host of other poems, each of them detailing different occurrences in his life.

“Has anybody ever been in a long-distance relationship with someone  who lives thirty minutes away? Don’t you guys hate when you first meet someone that you’re interested in and the conversation is just ‘blah,’” Law asked the crowd before performing a romance poem on forbidden love.

“You know love is funny.

It will have you gripping

nothing but the bottom of your palms.

Every morning I wake up thinking: fight for her!”

“I’ve lost loved ones and I’ve failed at many, but there’s nothing worse than getting your heart broken, so I hope you all enjoyed this poem—it took a lot of tears to write them,” said Law after reading one his intense poems, dedicated to a former girlfriend.

Law shared his coming-of-age years of being an overweight teen, not being able to play sports, the death of his father, and his obsolete love-life. Determined to alter his appearance, Law went on a strict diet, losing seventy pounds in six months, creating a new identity for himself.

“At first I was the fat kid who all the girls wanted to discuss their relationship issues with, then I became the guy all the ladies wanted to date. It’s amazing how much my life changed once I lost weight.”

“I grew up with a father. I know many people have not. Growing up he was a like a giant to me although he was very small. I didn’t realize how much I loved him until he died,” he stated before performing “My Father’s Gun.”

“My father wasn’t a violent man,

I wasn’t spanked often, but when I was

It was a spectacle.

I was twelve years old when he spanked me

for the last time.”

“Being a poet was the best thing that ever happened in my rap career. I’ve been writing poetry about five years and I believe that it has helped with my vocabulary and cadence. Poetry is great.”

Law hosts poetry showcases each Thursday at Busboys & Poets, a restaurant and poetry lounge located in Washington, D.C. He plans on writing a book about his life and continuing his rap career.