Otis Mensah | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Sheffield, England |
| Genres | Alternative hip hop, spoken word |
| Occupation(s) | Rapper, poet, spoken word artist |
| Years active | 2015–present |
| Labels | Independent |
| Website | www |
Otis Mensah is a British alternative hip-hop and spoken word artist. Mensah was the inaugural Poet Laureate of Sheffield. [1]
Mensah has described 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]