Back in 2016, I was given the pleasure of reviewing a book of poetry by Trevian J. Hunter Brannon called Warrior, Champion, Legend (WCL). I admitted then and I admit it now, I know nothing about the world of rap music, which is part of the appeal for many fans of Trevian’s work. However, I am a huge fan of his lyrical, rap-based poetry. I wrote the following about Trevian in my last review:
In my humble opinion, Brannon is the modern day Langston Hughes. Just as Hughes’ poetry spoke to us through Jazz, Brannon’s poetry speaks to us through Rap.
I believed that then and my opinion still stands. Trevian’s work is filled with the world he lives in, urban PA. This book of poetry, The Fountain Of My Destiny, captures his moments of triumph, his continued fight for justice, his disgust with the racism and bigotry that is still a plague upon the United States, and his sincere appreciation to his God and his fans.
Trevian loves to take on personas when he writes. In his last book of poetry, (WCL), he took on the persona of King JSTA. He’s also known as ‘The Trill Poet’. In his new book of poetry, he has taken on the person of Captain Jack Tony — a pirate, inspired by the Johnny Depp movies, Pirates of the Caribbean. The blurb on the back of his book reads:
After years and years of sailing the ever unpredictable, harsh, calm seas of life and poetry, Captain Jack Tony has finally reached the storied fountain of his destiny. What awaits him there is an defining adventure that’ll last an entire lifetime. The Fountain will test him. Lessons will be learned with trials and tribulations galore until the world’s end. However, King JSTA is determined, standing tall as one of the many pirate lords walking this earth.
Reading Trevian’s poetry is like taking a wild ride through the streets of PA, hanging out with friends, celebrating rappers, and then crashing a party or two. But through it all, Trevian is just a poet, an all-around nice guy and as he calls it, a True Hero Under God. Think about that the next time you hear someone being called a thug in the ‘hood! Maybe we’ve gotten rappers and trill poets all wrong.
So just what is this book of lyrical rap-poetry all about? As the title and the blurb suggestion, Trevian has discovered his fountain of destiny — his life’s goal. He is using his talents as a poet to write lyrics for and to help new rappers. He is also spreading the word about the inequality of our justice system, the systemic hatred of the black man, the racist bigotry of former President #45, and along the way, he reveals how knowledgeable he is by mixing mythology, history, and social issues into his work. Yes, he also writes about sex, drugs, prostitution, and other issues that face urban America. And yes, he uses a lot of urban slang. None of that should prevent anyone who is concerned with the Black Lives Matter movement, or all the senseless murders and jail sentences for people of color in this supposed ‘free country’.
Trevian is giving a voice to the voiceless. He is showing the world a glimpse of the world he lives in. He is speaking Truth To Power. Join him on his journey through The Fountain of My Destiny. You won’t regret it.
Reviewed by Pikasho Deka for Readers' Favorite
The Fountain Of My Destiny is a collection of poems written by Trevian J. Hunter Brannon. Filled with pop culture references and relevant social commentary, the poems are written in a post-modern style influenced by hip hop and rap. Author Trevian J. Hunter Brannon uses the personas of "King JSTA", "The Trilla Poet", and "Captain Jack Tony" to explore some heavy topics such as racial discrimination, sexual assault, and gang violence. The poem titled "SODA" talks about racial discrimination in the American justice system. "Sailing the Seas" is a harrowing portrayal of sexual assault. "The Successful Infiltration" is a monologue about extreme right-wing groups infiltrating law enforcement and other powerful agencies in the US, only to abuse the power of their position and harass minorities.
Trevian J. Hunter Brannon utilizes urban street lingo to prime effect, adding a touch of hip hop and rap to provide a unique flow to the verses. The poems feel post-modern, written with a flair that is bound to entertain contemporary readers. I found Brannon's meta-commentary spot on and found myself reading the monologues with as much relish as the poems themselves. Topics like the infiltration of law enforcement agencies by radical supremacist groups and racial discrimination seem particularly relevant in the current climate. Although I enjoyed them all to varying degrees, I found "I'm Just Getting Started (The Warm Up)", "Dear Kanye", and "The Marathon Continues" to be my personal favorites. The Fountain of My Destiny is a much-needed collection of poems for our times. I highly recommend it.
