Otis Mensah is a British alternative hip-hop and spoken word artist. He was the inaugural Poet Laureate of Sheffield. [1]
Mensah has described his work as a means of challenging dominant models of masculinity, which he claims suppress the discussion of emotions, with negative consequences for mental health. [2]
As a hip-hop artist, Mensah has performed at the BBC Music Introducing Stage at Glastonbury Festival. [3] His lyrics combine playful imagery and unconventional symbolism, often accompanied by boom bap instrumentals. [4] [5]
In November 2018, Magid Magid, the Lord Mayor of Sheffield, appointed Mensah as Poet Laureate of Sheffield. [1] [6] Mensah stated that he wishes to use the position to "break down barriers" and change "elitism attached to poetry." [2]