We were lucky to catch up with Kyle Sutherland recently and have shared our conversation below.

Kyle, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you tell us about a time that your work has been misunderstood? Why do you think it happened and did any interesting insights emerge from the experience?

Being a multidisciplinary artist is, in itself, confusing for people. We love to put people in boxes labeled “painter” or “writer”. But when the painter writes and the writer paints it becomes more difficult to define.

I do what my heart tells me. So I write poems. And make songs. And paint paintings.

It always bothers me when I’m at a hiphop event and people call me a poet not an Emcee, or when I’m among poets and they call me an Emcee. Can I not be both?

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I started writing poetry in third grade and took to it naturally.

When I was 18 I was on HBO for slam poetry representing the Mercury Cafe Minor Disturbance Youth Slam.
Following that I became president of the Denver Hip Hop Congress on the metro campus and went on to run and host a handful of events in Denver art scene. One such thing was co-founding Project More Than Metaphors alongside Syrian poet Amal Kassir with the aim of helping Refugee camps in Turkey and Jordan – which we accomplished in a major way.

Just before the pandemic I put out two self published books and a mixtape. During the pandemic I lost all my files.

Currently finishing a studio album, which I will release alongside two new self published books this upcoming spring / summer season.

I go by 2B noquestion and have since middle school. It’s an obvious play on Shakespeare (or perhaps not so obvious). My work is all about eclipsing the difference between poetry and reality, music and life.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

I take a view from the great poet Kenneth Patchen here, that until society cares to pay its artists, the world will lack compassion.

More than anything, society can do two things. First, get out of the way. Second, embrace the odd.

By get out of the way, I mean, quite literally, stop interfering with artistry by assigning value or lack of value based on foolish metrics like number of followers on social media. Get out of the way! Either help artists gain more following and exposure, or step aside.

To embrace the odd. To allow even the lowliest artist a chance. To set no false value on what makes “good” or “bad” art.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The craft itself.

I’m old-school.

I care more about the craft itself than any amount of money or following. That will come. Until then, the only real reward should be the art itself.

It seeks its own comfort.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @2b.noquestion
• Facebook: Kyle Sutherland
• Youtube: 2b noquestion

Image Credits
– Tyrrell Moores