Logic Seven Allah Amen (born 1975), better known as Logic Amen, is a community activist and organizer from Seattle, Washington, as well as an educator, actor, and hip hop songwriter. He is the creator and organizer of the Griot Party Experience event series and known for his performance acting in the film Fantasy A Gets a Mattress.
Logic Amen | |
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| Born | 1975 Cincinnati, Ohio |
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Early life and education
editLogic Amen was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he was immersed in a rich musical environment from a young age. Influenced by artists like The Sugar Hill Gang and The O'Jays, he demonstrated interest in music early on.[1] Growing up as the eldest child in a family with a law enforcement background, Amen's upbringing was shaped by a blend of artistic expression and familial influence. Amen's family moved to Seattle when he was 12 years old.[1]
Despite facing early challenges within the education system, including being misdiagnosed in special education programs, Amen pursued academic studies at the University of Washington, where he earned a Bachelor's degree in English literature. He furthered his studies with a Master's degree in teaching.[1]
Career
editLogic Amen gained recognition in Seattle through the Griot Party Experience, an event series he launched.[2] It provides a platform for storytelling and dialogue, fostering healing and empowerment for Black Americans.[3] The event attracts diverse audiences, creating a space for marginalized voices and contributing to Amen's recognition as a cultural leader in Seattle's arts and activism scene.[4][5][6]
Logic Amen's career spans music, education, and community advocacy.[7][8] He's explored rap, beatmaking, and storytelling as a multifaceted artist.[1] In addition to his artistic pursuits, Amen serves as a high school assistant principal in Tacoma, Washington.[9][10][11][12] He actively supports marginalized communities and addresses systemic inequalities to promote equity and empowerment in education.[13][14]
In 2017 Amen starred in the short film Fantasy A Gets Jacked. In 2023 Amen starred in the feature film Fantasy A Gets a Mattress, a film based on sections of fellow Seattle rapper Fantasy A's memoir.[15] The film gained a cult following and won Best Narrative Feature at the Seattle Black Film Festival and the Northwest Film Forum's Local Sightings Film Festival and Best PNW Feature Film at the Tacoma Film Festival.[16]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Fantasy A Gets Jacked | Ramon | Short | |
| 2023 | Fantasy A Gets a Mattress | Ramon | [17] |
External links
edit- Logic Amen at IMDb
References
edit- ^ a b c d Bell, Carla (28 June 2018). "Logic Amen and the Power of Storytelling". City Arts Magazine. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
- ^ Holiday, Trae (10 February 2024). "Logic Amen Discusses the History of The Griot Party with Trae Holiday". Converge Media. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
- ^ SEAneighborhoods (19 December 2023). "Night of Storytelling in the Central District". Seattle.gov Front Porch. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
- ^ SEAneighborhoods (1 March 2024). "The Griot Party Experience Amplifies Black Storytelling in Seattle". Seattle.gov Front Porch. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
- ^ Besa Gordon (29 February 2024). Spoken-Word Magic: The Griot Party Experience. Converge Media. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
- ^ Besa Gordon (14 April 2024). "Healing Through Art: Inside the Griot Party Experience at the Tacoma Art Museum". Converge Media. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
- ^ Dave Jones (26 February 2021). "Black History Month Reflection: Should SROs Be in Schools? The Intersection of Education and Policing with Educator Logic Amen". AbodeLife Podcast. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
- ^ Herzog, Katie (11 May 2018). "Tacoma Educator Faces Complaints About His Music from Parents". The Stranger. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
- ^ Rowe, Claudia (11 May 2018). "Can anyone make explicit art? Tacoma educator's raps test the limits". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on 3 May 2024. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
- ^ Mikelionis, Lukas (10 May 2018). "School Officials: Lyrics About Gunfire Worry Parents but Get District's OK". Fox News. Archived from the original on 3 May 2024. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
- ^ Matt Driscoll (16 May 2018). "Race plays a leading role in the visceral reaction to Tacoma's rapping assistant principal". The News Tribune. Archived from the original on 3 May 2024. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
- ^ Jason Rantz (16 May 2018). "Tacoma educator explains his controversial hip hop lyrics". MyNorthwest. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
- ^ Joy Sparks (5 January 2024). "Griot Party Experience". KBCS. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
- ^ "Logic Amen coaches educators on being influential". The News Tribune. 9 May 2018. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
- ^ Kiley, Brendan (8 December 2023). "With 'Fantasy A Gets a Mattress,' a Seattle rapper is living his dream". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on 8 December 2023. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
- ^ Guarente, Gabe (4 December 2023). "Local film 'Fantasy A Gets a Mattress' is 2023's sleeper hit". SeaToday. Seattle, Washington. Archived from the original on 7 December 2023. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
- ^ Mudede, Charles (13 September 2023). "Fantasy A's Incoherent City". The Stranger. Seattle, Washington. Archived from the original on 19 October 2023. Retrieved 19 October 2023.