30 Under 30 30/30: Grand Finale

We've decided to remove the write up about Danez Smith. He didn't want any confusion about his inclusion on the list compromising the integrity of the rest of the list. Danez is, clearly, a writer of note. Feel free to read the original write up about him here. And check out his website here.

*Editor's Note*
It was been a pleasure to edit, read, and experience this 30 Under 30 series. Thanks to Danez for your remarkable work all month long. Thanks to Stevie Edwards and Muzzle for the platform. Thank you to all our readers, be you great or few. I hope you found something new to love in these last 30 days. 

Muzzle is also proud to announce that Danez Smith will be joining our team permanently as a Poetry Reader for the literary magazine. Glad to have you aboard brother :)

Nate
-Nate Marshall
Asst. Poetry Editor, 
Muzzle Magazine

NATE MARSHALL

‘them mama tell them
it wild over there
she say over there buses quit
running like utilities
or resources
or dead boys’
-from god made the hundreds, man made it wild

The Black Boy’s song is one of the toughest things to sing. it is a ballad of funk, sorrow, love, violence, pride, sweat, teeth, summer, joy, and spirit. Some folks sing it off key, not able to get the right balance of night & day in the song. I trust Nate Marshall to sing that song. I trust Nate to sing for me. Often set up against the backdrop of Chicago, Nate’s work belts with a scratched, angelic voice to tell the tails of youth, sexuality, family, sports, blackness, masculinity, and all the things wrapped up in being one of the sun’s darker sons. His work is for the boys, for those who see themselves portrayed as beast in the media, those who have seen too many of their friends fade into ghost, whose neighborhoods have been labeled dangerous & wild. Beyond that landscape of the block, Nate’s work concerning other areas of black masculinity sing those lesser songs of desire and our body, too often denied of their human need. Nate also muses of the necessity of Hip-Hop, the 808 pulsing through his work, his lines filled with meter and verse improving upon everyone from Terrance Hayes to Nas. This dance of lyricism and poetics makes perfect sense: When Nate isn’t busy being a poet, he is an MC of formidable skill, a Paul Lawrence Dunbar of the 16, rocking with the crew Daily Lyrical Product. Their music, just as powerful and funky as Nate’s work on the page, is the after party of Nate’s work. If his poetry is the ballad of the Black Boy, then DLP is his favorite juke song he plays right after. Folks, get into Nate Marshall. I demand it. Your spirit demands it. You won’t be mad I told you so.

-Danez Smith

***Writer’s Note***

Thank you to Stevie Edwards and the entire Muzzle Magazine Staff for this opportunity to highlight 30 wonderful writer’s with full, bright careers ahead of them this last month. To the readers: this list is only a sampling. There could have been a list of 30 other writers that would have been just as vibrant, talented and promising. I encourage you to dive into Muzzle and other literary leaders that are promoting our world current class of young, emerging, damn stellar writers! Peace, Love, and Twerk!

Danez 

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