Bomani Armah facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bomani Armah
Born	Darel Hancock
Nationality	American
Education	University of Maryland, College Park
Genre	Poetry

Bomani Armah is an American singer and spoken word artist. He is also known by his stage names D'mite and Not a Rapper. Many people know him for his popular song from 2007, "Read a Book."

About Bomani Armah

Bomani Armah grew up in Mitchellville, Maryland. He decided to leave the University of Maryland, College Park to follow his dream of becoming a musician. He has two children, who are twins.

Early Career and Recognition

In 2005, Bomani Armah first appeared on TV. He was in a music video called "Cool Witchu" on BET. By 2006, a newspaper called The Washington Post praised him. They said he was a very entertaining voice in the local spoken word scene. They also mentioned his song "Read a Book." This song was a funny take on popular music styles.

Performing for Martin Luther King Day

In January 2007, Bomani Armah participated in events for Martin Luther King Day. These events took place at the Washington National Cathedral. He performed alongside others, including a choir.

The Hit Song "Read a Book"

Bomani Armah became famous because of his song "Read a Book." He released this song on MySpace in 2007.

What the Song is About

The song "Read a Book" tells listeners to do many good things. It advises them to "read a book" and "raise yo kids." It also suggests wearing deodorant, buying land, and brushing their teeth. The song even reminds people that "your body needs water, so drink that." It makes fun of certain music styles that encourage a tougher lifestyle. The song uses a loop from Beethoven's Symphony No. 5. There is also a clean version of the song where any strong language is removed.

"Read a Book" Animated Video

The song became even more popular when it was used for a short animated film. This video aired on Black Entertainment Television's show The 5ive. The video shows cartoon characters who are told (sometimes by force) to follow the advice in the song.

Song's Release on Albums

In June 2007, the song "Read a Book" was included on an album. It was on Unthugged Vol. 2 by Dan Greenpeace and DJ Yoda. Bomani Armah introduced himself as D'Mite on this album.

Other Performances and Writings

In the fall of 2007, Bomani Armah released a song about the Jena Six case. This was a legal case in Louisiana. He also performed at the CMJ Music Marathon.

Returning to the National Cathedral

Bomani Armah returned to the Washington National Cathedral in January 2008. He led their Martin Luther King Day event again.

Commentary in The Washington Post

In March 2008, The Washington Post published an article written by Bomani Armah. In his commentary, he shared his thoughts on current events.

Images for kids

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  Bomani Armah