E Lloyd K. the #WritingElk, is an author, poet and now, a bone fide artist in his own rights. After releasing several singles on music streaming platforms over the past year, today we saw the release of his first "WORD UP" album, and it's a whopper.  14 formidable tracks, ranging in length from just under three minutes to a whopping 6:50, which is conforming more to the norm for this project than the exception. WritingElk is first an author and poet, so don't expect the normal singing voice over a rhythm. This is all about the spoken word, (backed by a few rhythmic tracks. Something more in the vein of a Mutabaruka, Linton Kwesi Johnson, or Lasana Bandele. The message he brings in these tracks are unmistakably, topical, to-the-point and riveting. The project was published on BandLab and should be populated on most streaming platforms over the next few days. WORD UP is pleasing not only to the eye and ear, but the mind also. It speaks to the heart and soul of the human condition in the current age.  The cover is easy on the eyes. Note: WritingEljk has a unique way of telling stories, so it is important to pay close attention to the lyrics of each track which is (quite conveniently) included and will be displayed (on some platforms) while the track is being played. Or better yet, buy a copy of E Lloyd Kelly's books, such as "Collect Call. In which you will find the lyrics for most of these and other poetry pieces.  The books are available wherever books are sold, if you don't see it, ask for it. They'll get it for you; Google it up and ask away. 

Continuing the "Backsliding story." So... 

This is part #1a of Chapter 3 in the "Backsliding" story, an excerpt from the "Backsliding," book, as we continue.

As for the rest of us, as a whole, we didn't seem to know what we all needed to know, to get to the next level, on the go, where we could become more than just the perpetual servant class you know. At the time, too, we were glorying in it, seemingly. "Yes, it's true." 

This is Chapter 2a in the "Backsliding" story, an excerpt from the book of the same name, Backsliding.

Mere days after the fallout with the church leadership because of that and this. The attitudes, rhetoric, and behavioral patterns of many among them there to sit, suddenly began to change. Some words, statements, and terms in their arguments that were never used in the past. (Not in our hearing, at least, since you'd asked.) These all started rolling off people's tongues. Even coming from the pulpit back home, and fast, to go and sit on somebody's old-boned as... I mean, back to the task.

The wash-day clothesline grew longer by the day, laden heavy under the load. Stretching out behind the church building too, but not far enough out of sight of curious passers-by and parishioners alike.Parishioners were mad as well, at the whole debacle. But what we wanted was churches, more than anything else. So, church it was, until...This is the "Backsliding" story, an excerpt from Chapter 1, told from a Carib-Jamericanadian perspective, in a richly blended language mix of, nonsense talk, double entendre, and sensational spelling, poetry, and Jamaican patois inserted wherever it was found fitting. Yes, wordplay is the order of the day around here.  

The wash-day clothesline grew longer by the day, laden heavy under the load. Stretching out behind the church building too, but not far enough out of sight of curious passers-by and parishioners alike.Parishioners were mad as well, at the whole debacle. But what we wanted was churches, more than anything else. So, church it was, until...