The Poetess

The Poetess (born Felicia Morris) is an American rapper and radio personality.

Her first album, 1992’s "Simply Poetry" (Poetic Groove/Interscope) quickly established The Poetess as a fixture in the Los Angeles hip hop scene. Production contributions came from established names including Def Jef (Shaquille O'Neal, Tevin Campbell), The Baka Boyz (Cypress Hill, KPWR, KKBT), and the L.A. Posse (LL Cool J). “Love Hurts,” the album’s first single, broke the Top 10 on national college radio.

Having proven herself a successful artist, The Poetess took on greater challenges by launching her career in radio as co-host of Bailey Broadcasting’s nationally syndicated "Hip Hop Countdown and Report". Since 1989, her skills as a researcher and consummate authority on black music have been utilized on a weekly basis. Her reports spread up-to-the-minute news and entertainment to a core audience of 15 through 30 year olds in over 33 markets.

Eventually The Poetess brought her radio show to a larger market and joined the staff of L.A.’s KKBT/92.3 The Beat (now V100 KRBV) in 1994. Expanding from a 60 second news spot on the station’s first hip-hop mixshow "The Joint", to her own two-hour program "The Agenda", which included celebrity interviews and new music. Having a keen ear for hits, The Poetess helped in part to introduce the music of Erykah Badu, Lauryn Hill, Next, and Something For The People to her Southern California listeners. As one of few females representing Los Angeles’ male-dominated hip-hop radio scene, she created another original program "The G-Spot", an all-female mixshow which also aired on KKBT. This weekly program was produced, programmed and hosted by The Poetess, and co-hosted by The Lady of Rage, with mixes provided by female deejay E-Que. “I felt it necessary to have an all female show. It’s such a struggle for women in the business. Although the show was ran by sistas, we supported a wide variety of music and issues,” she explains. The veteran air-personality also served as community affairs director for 100.3 The Beat. “In all my years at The Beat, being community affairs director was the most rewarding.” Says The Poetess. In her former position, she organized voter registration drives, school supply give-a-ways to underserved children, community rallies, health awareness campaigns and is a strong advocate for the youth. Her 2-hour weekly show “Real Talk” kept listeners informed on issues that directly affected Southern California communities.

After 13 years on the air at KKBT-FM Los Angeles, Ms. Morris resigned to focus on her company Poetess Media that produces entertainment content for multi-media outlets such as mobile, Internet, TV and radio. In addition, she's a co-host on The Foxx Hole hosted by Academy Award winning actor Jamie Foxx on Sirius Satellite. Her current projects include “The Hip Hop Report” on Sprint TV, featured articles in Black America Web and a film on the history of West Coast Hip Hop. A “Jackie of All Trades,” Felicia Morris considers herself an “industry hustla,” and indeed she is.