About VE
Tae Jones: How did VE get started?
Anthony "Amptified" Evans: It all started from me trying to get my book published like most author's wanted to be Published. I looked online and Found a couple of companies that would publish my book but at the rates they were charging and not pushing it the way I wanted. I was Unsatisfied. I then talked to a friend about it and he said "You know you can self-publish your own book." Following that statement I talked to my wife about it did some research took my income tax money and invested in my very own publishing Company. I came up with the Name and had my graphic designer make me a logo and Versified Expressions was established April, 2010. the best move I ever made was after my book signing was asking Courtney Trice, Better known as "Eboni Redsoul" and Marc "Scizas" Talley (with whom I had developed a great friendship on the poetry scene) to form a poetry group with me. Together, we had been making frequent trips to Cleveland and Columbus performing. Following that, I asked a few of the hottest poets in the city such as Sherbert " Reality" Campbell, Delante " Nova" Brady, Ashanti Feaster, Sherman "LS Royal" and J-Nasty to join VE. We traveled all over Ohio making a name for ourselves after hosting a few once-a-month events. I talked to Eboni Redsoul and Scizas about doing a weekly show and they said lets go for it. The only problem was picking a day to have it so I chose Tuesdays because I didn't want to compete and anything else going on in the city, to with LS Royals Wednesday spot in Cleveland. Once we got started in was on, and we haven't stopped. The only thing that has change is VE is no longer just a Poetry group or publishing company, its is now a Brand. Over the past four year we've had three different locations until we found a poetry venue we could call home in downtown Akron.