Monstah Black

"Monstah Black" {{Cite news|url=http://www.dailypress.com/entertainment/dp-fea-monstah-black-0130-20150129-story.html|title=Monstah's ball: Kimball Theatre performance is homecoming for artist known as Monstah Black|last=Holtzclaw|first=Mike|work=dailypress.com|access-date=2018-07-09|language=en-US}} (was born in Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia) is an American recording artist, choreographer, dancer, and performance artist based in Bedford-Stuyvesant, New York.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2016/07/13/t-magazine/a-tour-of-bed-stuy-with-monstah-black-and-manchildblack/s/13tmag-monstahblack-slide-PH21.html|title=A Tour of Bed-Stuy with Monstah Black and Manchildblack|work=The New York Times |date=13 July 2016 |access-date=2018-07-09|language=en}} In 2015, he received the Tom Murrin Performance Award.{{Cite news|url=http://dixonplace.org/thetommy/|title=Tom Murrin Performance Award - Dixon Place|work=Dixon Place|access-date=2018-07-09|language=en-US}}

Early life

BLACK started performing at the age of five.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2016/07/13/t-magazine/a-tour-of-bed-stuy-with-monstah-black-and-manchildblack/s/13tmag-monstahblack-slide-NVYC.html|title=A Tour of Bed-Stuy with Monstah Black and Manchildblack|work=The New York Times |date=13 July 2016 |access-date=2018-07-09|language=en}} 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.{{Cite news|url=http://www.dailypress.com/entertainment/dp-fea-monstah-black-0130-20150129-story.html|title=Monstah's ball: Kimball Theatre performance is homecoming for artist known as Monstah Black|last=Holtzclaw|first=Mike|work=dailypress.com|access-date=2018-07-09|language=en-US}}

Career

BLACK 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."{{Cite web|url=http://newyorktheatrereview.blogspot.com/2016/07/eric-marlin-on-monstah-blacks.html|title=Eric Marlin on Monstah Black's HYPERBOLIC! (the last spectacle) at Dixon Place|language=en|access-date=2018-07-10}} Black creates funk, electro/pop/soul, disco infused punk music.{{Cite web |title=Monstah Black |url=https://www.christopherkmorgan.com/monstah-black |access-date=2022-10-14 |website=ckmawebsite |language=en}}

Personal life

Black 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”.{{Cite web|url=http://gaycitynews.nyc/illustrious-blacks-return-joes-pub/|title=The Illustrious Blacks Return to Joe's Pub - Gay City News {{!}} Gay City News|website=gaycitynews.nyc|access-date=2018-07-09}} Monstah Black's birth name is Reginald Ellis Crump. {{Cite web |title=Monstah Black {{!}} Gibney Resident Artist |url=https://gibneydance.org/people/monstah-black/ |access-date=2022-10-14 |website=Gibney |language=en-US}} Black attended Long Island University and received a degree in New Media Art and Performance Master of Fine Art Degree Program.{{Cite web |title=Monstah Black |url=https://www.christopherkmorgan.com/monstah-black |access-date=2022-10-14 |website=ckmawebsite |language=en}}

Awards

  • 2015 Tom Murrin Performance Award.{{Cite news|url=http://dixonplace.org/thetommy/|title=Tom Murrin Performance Award - Dixon Place|work=Dixon Place|access-date=2018-07-09|language=en-US}}

References