When he was 6 years old, Yunus Quddus began his journey of creative expression,
writing short stories and narrative poems.
His father took him to jazz poetry clubs to further expose him to poets and the world of art.
Bored with conventional storytelling and books he read in grade school, he
would skim through, take the sentences, and try to make them rhyme. His ability to take words
and write completely different stories, showed his vast literary talents.
At the age of 19, Yunus went public with his poetry, for the first time, at Brave New World in Philadelphia.
He has set a lifelong goal to be heard globally. While at Johnson & Wales he founded The
Underground Poetry Club, which brought together artistic minds to share their
ideas. Yunus has appeared on Brown University Radio and WDAJ A.M., The Drive with Angelo
Marinoch. Overtime, he set another goal to create music that can bring all ethnic cultures and background
under one umbrella without disrespecting oneself or belittling women. "Pick up a dictionary like
Malcolm X and tell your story. Write clean, pure music and words that still tells true experiences
of love, spirituality, and poetic testimonies on life".
In 2005, he opened for Philadelphia's legendary poet Ursula Rucker
and HBO Def Jam Iyeoka Ivie Okoawo at Sound Session. He also had the honor of opening for Slick Rick.
Yunus has been a finalist in poetry slams at the Lizard Lounge, Boston and AS220 in Providence. He has also taught poetry and acting at the Met Technical Center, Johnson & Wales Poetry Club and CCRI.
Reknowned as the "hardest working and well-loved poet in Providence". Yunus has been invited to and performed at every
college and university in Rhode Island and surrounding areas, such as, Rhode Island College, University of Rhode Island,
Brown University, Salve Regina University, and Bryant College.
Yunus is working on publishing a children's book, as well as, completing a brand new CD project.
He has a self-published chapbook entitled Lost Poets consisting of pieces he has memorized
over the past 15 years.
Currently, Yunus is producing workshops for Providence Community Libraries.
He also conducts poetry workshops in schools including Qualters Middle School and Community Preparatory School.
He challenges the student to create limitless possibilities using words as a means of self-expression.
Additionally, he is embarking on the new venture of storytelling and reading stories to children.
Yunus hosts open mic nights and poetry slams at The Spot Underground and Got Poetry Live.
He is, also, the residential poet at Roots Cafe.
He performs his own poetic compositions, as well as, classical poetry such as
Robert Frost, Alfred Lord Tennyson, and Sylvia Plath.
