Earlier this year, someone said to me, “Your window is closing.” I paused, felt the weight of their words, and wondered—what window? The window of opportunity, success, love, or creativity? The assumption that a woman’s worth, ability, and visibility have an expiration date has always lingered like a shadow. And apparently, for some, the moment we start to grey, that window begins to close.

But this idea—that women have a limited window to be relevant, attractive, and successful—is rooted in a society that refuses to let us grey in public. Men age and gain wisdom, power, and respect. They grey and are called distinguished. Women, however, are told to conceal their grey hairs, cover their wrinkles, and fight the natural process of aging as if it’s something to be ashamed of. But why?

I am not ashamed. I’ve lived, I’ve grown, I’ve loved, and I’ve created. And that’s precisely why my album, CIVIL WRITES, is so important to me. It’s not just a collection of poems or stories—it’s a reflection of the many lives I’ve lived, the battles I’ve fought, and the lessons I’ve learned. This album is about survival, resilience, and the right to take up space, no matter our age, our scars, or our grey hairs.

Civil Writes tells stories of transcending boundaries, of a Black girl becoming a woman, finding her voice, and refusing to be silenced. In the same way, I refuse to be erased simply because I am getting older. If my window is closing, it’s only because I’m building a new house with as many windows as I want. There is no expiration on creativity, on growth, or on making a difference. We, as women, continue to evolve, to learn, and to impact the world in ways that matter.

The idea that women are only valuable within a certain timeframe is archaic. My life’s work, my art, and my journey didn’t peak at 25, 35, or even 45. I am more than a number, and my worth is not tied to a “window.” My album CIVIL WRITES is a declaration that I am still here, still creating, still relevant. I’m not just surviving—I’m thriving, and I’ll keep doing so long after society’s supposed window has closed.

So, to every woman reading this who has been told she’s running out of time, that her beauty or value is diminishing, I want you to know: You are still in your prime. Your worth is not defined by your age, your wrinkles, or your greying hair. Your window is not closing—it’s transforming into something far more powerful than anyone could have predicted. We are not meant to shrink; we are meant to expand.

Let the world see your wisdom, your resilience, and your growth. Let your grey shine as a testament to the life you’ve lived and the life you’re still living. We deserve to grey in public, to show the world that we are still here, still rising, still making our mark.

The truth is, there is no window. There is only you and the world you are continuously creating, one powerful moment at a time.

Keep creating, keep living, and keep rising.

Your best days are ahead of you.

Love, Bethsheba

🍁 Welcome to October. As I sit here reflecting on this year’s Music Advocacy Day, one thought keeps racing through my mind: *No fakes.* That’s what I want for our art—authenticity, rawness, and truth. Yet, I can’t help but feel the pressure mounting as AI slowly creeps into the integrity of music, threatening to distort not only what we hear but how we create. For those of us in the Spoken Word Poetry community, this is deeply unsettling.

I understand the culture of ghostwriting in music. It's a long-standing practice in songwriting, especially in pop and hip-hop. Some of our favorite anthems were penned by someone behind the scenes. Hip-hop, with its collaborative roots, sometimes embraces ghostwriters too. But Spoken Word Poetry? That has never been a thing. In poetry, every line we write, every breath between stanzas, is a piece of *us.* A reflection of our soul and experiences. It is our truth, and there is no room for fakes.

And this couldn’t be more relevant now that it’s FYC Grammy Voting Season for Round-1 (Oct 4-15). Who’s to say who is who, or what? Where is the line between authenticity and imitation when AI infiltrates everything from production to performance?

Listen to QUEEN SHEBA CIVIL WRITES:The South Got Something To Say on Spotify (*Available on all streaming platforms)

What concerns me is that we haven’t even fully established our presence in spaces like the Grammys or broader media, and now we’re facing the looming threat of artificial intelligence. AI could completely alter the landscape before we've had the chance to solidify our place. Spoken word isn’t just about clever wordplay—it's about the poet’s voice, their lived experience, and their unique perspective. How can a machine capture the essence of our lived truth?

And we must also remember, there is an imperative in poetry to quote another poet. We honor each other by giving credit where it’s due. I remember performing a group piece I had co-written with one of my poetry slam team members. Later, I performed the same piece at a feature without mentioning her name. I was hammered by two women in the audience for not giving her proper credit. They asked me directly about the original writer, and I felt their disapproval sting. Lesson learned - Eeeee.

But that’s the issue, right? AI doesn’t *learn* from experience the way we do. And it doesn’t value giving credit or understanding the impact of misattribution. It takes our voices and synthesizes them into something that sounds similar, but the spirit is gone. The acknowledgment, the shared humanity, is lost.

AI is already changing how students approach academia. Universities are lifting heavy AI restrictions because they realize it’s here to stay. Students are writing papers with AI tools, and we can’t stop it. But the real question is: how do we manage this influx of AI without it turning our world fake?

Please support this bill to safeguard artists! Support the NO FAKES Act https://www.congressweb.com/GRAMMY/91/

Spoken word artists, poets, musicians—we are the protectors of authenticity. Our words have moved generations, sparked revolutions, and changed lives. There’s something sacred in that. So, we have to ask ourselves: how do we guard this sacredness in a world of technology that may not respect it?

The answer may not be clear yet, but one thing is certain: we can’t afford to fake it. Our art deserves better. Our voices deserve to be heard in their truest form, not diluted or imitated by machines.

For us, for the future of our craft—let’s keep it real. No fakes.

Write on!

PURCHASE TICKETS TO POETRY vs. HIP-HOP ALL-STAR SHOW - THIS SUNDAY OCT 6TH 6P\7:30P

featuring 2024 Grammy Nominated Poet Prentice Powell
Live Music by Erica Dawson & Dreek Jones!
Hosted by 2024 Grammy Nominated Poet Queen Sheba
& Jamellow The Vibe Master!

Hey, independent artists! Let’s talk for-real for-real, for a minute—don’t count your ducks, chickens, or whatever farm animals you fancy until that contract is signed *and* the deposit hits your bank account! Trust me, I know how tempting it is to daydream about that big paycheck coming through, but let’s pump the brakes and keep things grounded.

Listen, I’ve blown through tons of money trying to keep up with my own expectations. After my ex and I split, I was determined to maintain the comfortable lifestyle we had built. And let me tell you—I’m proud of how far I’ve come as an independent artist, with no massive movie deals or big-brand sponsorships to fall back on. I managed to save over $$$$ in cold hard cash, all while keeping multiple credit cards in good standing. That’s no small feat, especially when you’re doing it in the name of *art*!

PURCHASE TICKETS TO POETRY VS HIP-HOP 9 YEAR ANNIVERSARY x ALL-STAR SHOW HERE!

There’s something really satisfying about being able to buy a house, no matter the size, purely through your passion for your craft. But the biggest lesson I learned along the way? Don’t lie to yourself. Sure…there were times I thought I was living the rockstar life—big shows, big spending. But here’s the thing: those delusions of grandeur are expensive, and they can cost …. you if you’re not careful. 

I’m not saying it’s all doom and gloom, though. I paid for a political campaign album, dropped a new album for three summers in a row, and even started a Turo business with a Jaguar, Range Rover, and Jeep Wrangler. All this without a huge financial backer. But here’s the kicker: it’s all a balancing act. Debit cards aren’t endless, and credit cards aren’t free money—they’re *credit*. So if you’re an artist out here counting money before the ink is dry on that contract, do yourself a favor and …. take a step back.

READ THIS ABOUT MINDSET

We live in a cash-driven entertainment industry, and it’s easy to get swept up in the hype. But let’s be real—everyone needs a coach, and there’s zero shame in getting a financial coach. Especially in this business, where one minute you’re swimming in deposits, and the next, you’re wondering why you spent so much on promo for a show that hasn’t even been confirmed yet! 

And speaking of promo—don’t start blasting your show dates or hyping up a project before you’ve got that contract signed. I wear both hats, so trust me when I say, it’s a very *interesting* game. But the bottom line? You are enough. Your bank account is enough, even if it’s holding on to a modest five bucks right now. Don’t pretend you’ve got ten. You’ll save yourself a lot of stress (and interest payments) by keeping it real.

Stay grounded, stay smart, and when that deposit *does* hit, celebrate like the rockstar you know you are—but only then.

Love, Bethsheba

PURCHASE TICKETS TO POETRY VS HIP-HOP 9 YEAR ANNIVERSARY x ALL-STAR SHOW HERE!

SUN OCT 6th - 7P City Winery ATL Presents: Poetry vs. Hip-Hop 9-Year Anniversary All-Star Show! 10% OFF ALL TICKETS UNTIL 9/30 at midnight! THE ALL STAR BATTLE Team Poetry: @shebarz_ - ATL/CHI @mayawrite - BMORE/PITT @chevtoomuch - ATL/NYC @ephraimnehemiah B’MORE vs. Team Hip-Hop @eccoecleezy - CLT @brandieblaze - BOS @siptee - Jax, MS YOU decide which team will win $1,000 cash! Featuring soulful live music by Erica Dawson —Voted Atlanta’s top soul singer! @EricaDawsonExclusive JUST ADDED Grammy Nominated Poet PRENTICE POWELL @prenticepowell1906 from The Bay! Hosted by Grammy-Nominated Poet @theQueenSheba & @Jamellow + @DJCrowns on crowd control @citywineryatl 6P|7P (650 North Ave ATL - inside Ponce City Market)

It’s the limbo that stings the most.

That space between breaking up and staying together, where you hang suspended between hope and despair. The slow unraveling of a love that once seemed so solid, now held together by threads of uncertainty. It’s a space where words like commitment and forever used to dwell, but now, the silence is deafening.

I’ve been there. It’s worse when you don’t know if you’re there.

It’s a kind of purgatory where one person refuses to close the door, yet can’t bring themselves to step fully through it. They don’t want to leave you, but they don’t want to stay either. And there you are, hoping for them to choose you—to stay, to love, to fight. Instead, you get mixed signals. A text here, a phone call there, a warm touch one day followed by cold distance the next.

You tell yourself, '“This isn’t real. We can get back to the love we had.” Which is the first sign you’re being abused by a narcissist.

But maybe you’ve already tried. Maybe you've had the late-night conversations, the tears, the promises to do better, to be better (whatever that means), to make it work. Nothing changes. The words are like smoke, intangible, curling in the air before they disappear. You want so badly for them to be real, but deep down, you know.

They don’t want to be with you. Not fully. But they don’t want to lose you either. Or see you with the upgraded version of who they should have been to you. For you.

It’s confusing and cruel, even though they might not mean for it to be. And sometimes, they don’t know it’s innate. In their veins. Guilty by blood. Literally. Maybe they’re afraid—of being alone, of acknowledging they are hurting you, of facing the unknown. Maybe they’re caught in their own uncertainty, scared of what it would mean to truly commit or to truly let go.

Here’s the thing: You are worth more than someone’s maybe 👈🏽 This link is clickable. Listen to the story.

You deserve to be full.y chosen. You deserve someone who doesn’t just keep you around out of convenience; you can be counted on to do the dishes, feed the dogs and keep the sheet corners on the bed hospital tight - but who encourages you to stay because they love your ambition and see your worth. Someone who looks at you and doesn’t just see comfort or familiarity, but sees an adventurous future they can’t imagine without you.

If they’re not willing to step into that future with you, then it’s time to close the door.

It’s not easy. It’s gut-wrenching. Walking away from someone who won’t fully commit is like tearing out a part of your soul. But staying - ugh. Staying in a place where you’re never completely chosen is a slow death. A death of self-worth, of hope, of the belief that you’re worthy of the kind of love that doesn’t flinch in the face of uncertainty.

Because that love exists. It starts with you choosing yourself first.

I know. I know because I was there. In the weeks to come you will find out how I finally threw myself out the window and landed broken … and alive.

This is my safe space. You are welcome here. And you are safe here. Reply with your version of how you found self love to see your sound bites in the next newsletter with an IG shoutout!

Until next Sunday - LOL.

Love, Bethsheba

FROM VULNERABILITY to VICTORY: My journey back to storytelling.

"Our first kiss was horizontal ..." (Blackberry Molasses f/ 13 of Nazareth)

Sooo have your heard my new album CIVIL

WRITES? Here's the link just in case you missed the huge release >> https://open.spotify.com/album/1RCsJbQZGAwO7rmNWNAZlN?si=npTYV5bjQNGlIQXsZXfuGQ


Though Queen Sheba is Grammy Nominated, as of earlier this year, for her previous spoken word album, she's back with a powerful new project, CIVIL WRITES: The South Got Something to Say, a raw, emotional journey through the experiences of a mixed-black, LGBT, adopted, homeless, multiple youth-homes, girl from Detroit transcending into womanhood where she, ultimately, finds her voice through vivid poetry, it explores the powerful journey of learning her heritage, each experience shaping her identity as she escapes to the South.

The album captures the soul of her transformation—rich in history, culture, and

self-discovery—creating a bridge between past and present that resonates on a

personal and collective level. 

(... aaaand I mixed in a little Hip-Hop and alternative rock for the people in the back!)

I used to pour my heart out on Yahoogroups, a million years ago. Back then, I shared the raw, vulnerable pieces of my life with a small, trusted circle. It was before the days of social media, where every post didn’t feel like a shout into the void of the internet. But one day, I stopped. I felt too exposed, like I had opened a door that I wasn’t ready to

walk through. I watched a YouTube video, the other day, where Saucy Santana interviewed his bestie Young MIAMI and she talked about why she stopped going LIVE all the time. She said the comments were so cruel she just couldn’t take it anymore. And I felt seen. I think I might’ve “amen-ed” outloud.

As I’ve watched the world shift around me—AI growing more sophisticated, life speeding up—I’ve realized that human connection is still the most important thing in my life. My mother always said, "Leave the campground better than when you found it," and ain't that the truth? So, I’m back, stepping into the world of storytelling once more.

This time, I’m hoping that the stories of my life make you a little braver each

week.

Now, I know everyone has adult ADD these days, so I promise to keep it short. Gone are the days of 5-8 pages of deep dives into my life; instead, I’ll bring you the meat of things, plus the tea of my weird (and I love being weird - Poetry life)

This blog will also serve as my official FYC (For Your Grammy Consideration) updates. And just so we’re clear—if you ever want to step back from my little corner of the world, no hard feelings.

Thank you for reading. I’ll be here Sundays-ish to share what’s happening in my world.

Here’s what’s up first:
Do you know anyone with a podcast or media

outlet?

My new album, CIVIL WRITES: The South Got

Something to Say, is up
For Your Grammy Consideration in the Spoken

Word-Poetry Category! YAY!
First Round Voting: Oct 4-15, 2024

Press & Booking:
SVB Management
bookingqueensheba@gmail.com
919-422-5166
404-697-9734

Going Live on IG! - Makes me want to

throw up! LOL
Going live honestly makes me so nervous—it's like standing on a stage in front of a thousand invisible people. I’ve received some great tips, so every Tuesday and Thursday, I’ll be going live on Instagram to unofficially talk about the Grammy submission process for poets. This info can benefit everyone, so join my growing IG & TikTok communities!
@thequeensheba

Join my membership-based writer's community.
Text 404-697-9734 to join. The annual fee is $50 until Dec 31st, then it’s
going up to $75. Membership includes free tickets to City Winery shows,
weekly writing and business prompts, links to grants, jobs, gigs, and
unlimited access to ask me questions within the group. We give feedback
on each other's writing, too. All writing genres welcome!
I mean really… cut back on 3 Starbucks trips and you’re in there!


Love, Bethsheba

Thank you for being part of this journey with me.


Write on!
Love, Queen Sheba 💛

Tour Life
Purchase tickets to all shows here!

📍FRI 9/13 7P Poetry vs. Hip-Hop Charlotte-4!
With RadioOne Charlotte - @1053rnb
Skyline Nightz Nightclub & Lounge
5237 Albemarle rd Charlotte, NC
@bluzbluzbluz @flyypoet
@thequeensheba

📍SUN 9/15 Poetry vs. Hip-Hop Philly-4
@citywineryphil 6P Doors | 7:30P Showtime!
Featuring @killawordsmith @stephox @lexx_unapologetically

📍FRI 9/20 Augusta, GA Arts in the Heart Festival 6P: 2024 Grammy Nominated Poet Queen Sheba’s “CIVIL WRITES: The South Got Something to Say” Augusta Album Release Celebration x Grammy Consideration Party!

💻 WORLD WIDE GRAMMY VOTING ROUND ONE:
OCT 4th - 15th 2024
Click the flyer to listen to the album!

📍ATL Sun October 6 - PvHH x The Race Weekend
9-Year Anniversary Show All-Star Show! @CityWineryATL
Featuring Live Music by @ericadawson @citywineryatl
@therace_uc