Grubbies

About Durane

Durane West, spoken word artist, and educator is born and raised in Boston. He channels intense imagery, and intuitive emotional exploration to showcase transparency in his writing. Through versatile form usage and raw introspective diction West offers his readers a sneak peek into his adventure filled mind. West has several years of experience working in the non-profit sector for organizations that aim to improve literacy skills for inner city youth throughout Boston. West was nominated in 2022 and 2024 for Spoken Word Artist of the Year at the Boston Music Awards. His poem “617”, centering the experience of a black Boston resident was featured and published for the City of Boston in 2021. As an educator, West not only challenges his students, but himself to ask questions and chase the metaphysical in life and on the page. West was a lead instructor working directly with youth artists and author Desmond Hall for 826 Boston's first anthology "Lift Ev'ry Voice" showcasing stories, narratives, and poems written by young boys and men of color in partnership with the Becoming A Man foundation.