"Monstah Black" [1] (was born in Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia) is an American recording artist, choreographer, dancer, and performance artist based in Bedford-Stuyvesant, New York.[2] In 2015, he received the Tom Murrin Performance Award.[3]
Early life
editBLACK started performing at the age of five.[4] He attended Bruton High School, Williamsburg, where he performed the song "International Lover" by Prince. He describes his adolescence as one of both struggles and "joyful moments", and describes his teen years as "progressive, alternative, androgynous". His fashion aesthetic was influenced by Prince, Boy George and the New York Dolls.[5]
Career
editBLACK 2016 show 'HYPBERLOIC! (the last spectacle)' was described by Eric Marlin, in the New York Theater Review, as "more visual than verbal, more collage than narrative", where "not every fragment must be in the service of a central thesis."[6] Black creates funk, electro/pop/soul, disco infused punk music.[7]
Personal life
editBlack is married to D.J./producer Manchildblack. As "The Illustrious Blacks", they have collaborated on music recordings, such as the EP "NeoAfro Futuristic Psychedelic Surrealistic Hippy” released on Concierge Records, and the 2016 live performance “Hyperbolic”.[8] Monstah Black's birth name is Reginald Ellis Crump. [9] Black attended Long Island University and received a degree in New Media Art and Performance Master of Fine Art Degree Program.[10]
Awards
edit- 2015 Tom Murrin Performance Award.[11]
References
edit- ^ Holtzclaw, Mike. "Monstah's ball: Kimball Theatre performance is homecoming for artist known as Monstah Black". dailypress.com. Retrieved 2018-07-09.
- ^ "A Tour of Bed-Stuy with Monstah Black and Manchildblack". The New York Times. 13 July 2016. Retrieved 2018-07-09.
- ^ "Tom Murrin Performance Award - Dixon Place". Dixon Place. Retrieved 2018-07-09.
- ^ "A Tour of Bed-Stuy with Monstah Black and Manchildblack". The New York Times. 13 July 2016. Retrieved 2018-07-09.
- ^ Holtzclaw, Mike. "Monstah's ball: Kimball Theatre performance is homecoming for artist known as Monstah Black". dailypress.com. Retrieved 2018-07-09.
- ^ "Eric Marlin on Monstah Black's HYPERBOLIC! (the last spectacle) at Dixon Place". Retrieved 2018-07-10.
- ^ "Monstah Black". ckmawebsite. Retrieved 2022-10-14.
- ^ "The Illustrious Blacks Return to Joe's Pub - Gay City News | Gay City News". gaycitynews.nyc. Retrieved 2018-07-09.
- ^ "Monstah Black | Gibney Resident Artist". Gibney. Retrieved 2022-10-14.
- ^ "Monstah Black". ckmawebsite. Retrieved 2022-10-14.
- ^ "Tom Murrin Performance Award - Dixon Place". Dixon Place. Retrieved 2018-07-09.
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