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, whose birth name is Darel Hancock, is an American singer and poet. He is also known by his nicknames D'mite or Not a Rapper. He became famous for his song "Read a Book" released in 2007.

About Bomani Armah

Armah grew up in Mitchellville, Maryland. He decided to leave the University of Maryland, College Park to become a musician. He is a father of twins. He is also a member of a social group called Iota Phi Theta fraternity.

Early Career and Recognition

In 2005, Bomani Armah first appeared in the music video "Cool Witchu" by Mello-D and the Rados. This video was shown on BET. By 2006, The Washington Post newspaper called him "one of the more entertaining voices" in the local spoken word scene. They also noted that his song "Read a Book" was very popular. This song was a funny take on a type of music called crunk.

"Read a Book" Song

In 2007, Bomani Armah became widely known because of his song "Read a Book." He released this song on MySpace, which was a popular social media site at the time. The song tells listeners to do many good things. It advises them to "read a book," "raise your kids," "wear deodorant," and "brush your teeth." It also tells them that "your body needs water, so drink that water."

The song is a funny imitation of crunk-style songs. These songs often encourage a tough or rebellious lifestyle. "Read a Book" uses a part of Beethoven's famous Symphony No. 5 as its music. A version of the song without any strong language was also made.

Animated Video and Popularity

The song's success grew even more when it was used in a short animated film. This video was shown on Black Entertainment Television's show The 5ive. Six Point Harness Studios created the animation. The video shows cartoon characters who are made to follow the advice from the song's lyrics. In June 2007, the song was also included on a music album called Unthugged Vol. 2. This album was put together by Dan Greenpeace and DJ Yoda.

Later Performances

In the fall of 2007, Armah performed at the CMJ Music Marathon. He also returned to the Washington National Cathedral in January 2008. There, he led the event for Martin Luther King Day.

Images for kids

• 

  Bomani Armah