FROM POETRY TO HIP-HOP

New Age Poet: Eddie Labbad’s poetry is popular with hip-hop artists, who will perform at the launch of his first book. Picture: Luke Fuda

By Alexandra Beech

EDDIE Labbad started writing poetry when he was a teenager as a way to express his emotions. Now 29, Labbad has just had his first book published. His poems are performed by hip-hop artists and the launch of Emotions of a New Age Poet next month will have a hip-hop theme. Labbad said poetry helped him grow as a person.

He hopes his book will help others to open up emotionally. He says it may sound extreme, but that he feels people are now ‘‘emotionally ill’’. ‘‘We are no longer in touch with ourselves and we don’t have the emotional intelligence to read or feel others,’’ Labbad said. ‘‘We are too busy going at a million miles an hour.’’ Labbad says women are usually positive when he says he’s a poet, but that men often don’t know how to react. ‘‘I think people have the impression that poetry’s just about writing about love and that’s it – but you’re writing about a lot of different things,’’ he said. ‘‘I write about anything and everything – from wars to the way I’m feeling.’’

Hip-hop groups are interested in recording Eddie Labbad’s poems, and DJs Qriuous, Who, Thicker Than Blood and Gotty will perform at the launch on Saturday, November 14. There will also be a graffiti art performance and break-dancers.

The launch will start at 10pm at the Bligh Hotel in Blight Street, Sydney. Tickets are $20. Call Eddie Labbad on  0416 069 842 or email newagepoet@hotmail.com.