OUR HISTORY
Though The Mecca Lounge was officially available to the masses as a .com destination 2/1/06, our
writing Community actually was born 11/12/05. Originally relied upon as a refuge for a few writers
who were seeking a place to post their work and get constant feedback from friends who also were
also writers, the sites popularity grew after more and more poets and short story writers heard about
it's benefits in helping promote, encourage, and challenge it's Community Members to become better.
Over 80 writers/expressionists now call TheMeccaLounge.com home and more than 13,000 unique
pieces are available to view and comment on. The most common word used by our Community
Members to describe one another is 'family', and 'home' is consistently used to describe our writing
Community and our vibe.
Registering is free, the feedback from other writers from around the world is free, and being part of
more than just another "writing website", is free.
SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY
If you are a member of MySpace, HI5, or BlackPlanet (Username: TheMeccaLounge), add us to your
friends list and help spread the word about our Community.
Though The Mecca Lounge was officially available to the masses as a .com destination 2/1/06, our
writing Community actually was born 11/12/05. Originally relied upon as a refuge for a few writers
who were seeking a place to post their work and get constant feedback from friends who also were
also writers, the sites popularity grew after more and more poets and short story writers heard about
it's benefits in helping promote, encourage, and challenge it's Community Members to become better.
Over 80 writers/expressionists now call TheMeccaLounge.com home and more than 13,000 unique
pieces are available to view and comment on. The most common word used by our Community
Members to describe one another is 'family', and 'home' is consistently used to describe our writing
Community and our vibe.
Registering is free, the feedback from other writers from around the world is free, and being part of
more than just another "writing website", is free.
SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY
If you are a member of MySpace, HI5, or BlackPlanet (Username: TheMeccaLounge), add us to your
friends list and help spread the word about our Community.
Our Staff
Our staff is made up of registered Community Members that actively participate within our
writing Community, so you may read and comment on their work as well. These individuals are
also currently working hard to make your experience within our writing home the most pleasant
as possible. Please take time to read and get to know our staff a little more.
Mike Payne (Founder) TheRBM@TheMeccaLounge.com
Mike Payne, known within our community as "The RBM", was born and currently lives in Milwaukee, WI
where he graduated from Pulaski High School in 1996. Mike has been writing since the age of 17, seriously since
the age of 24. He lists Carter Woodson as his favorite author with "The Mis-Education Of The Negro" being his
favorite book. He credits is Spiritual base being his motivation for writing because "it allows me to fully express
myself in ways I cannot verbally". Outside of TheMeccaLounge.com, Mike is working on a book of his poetry
and short stories that he hopes to complete by the beginning of 2007. Mike is 28 years old.
Anthony Delmar Murff Murfftown@TheMeccaLounge.com
Anthony Delmar Murff, known as "Murfftown" by our Community Members, is a 24 year old Architecture
major, and a Chicago native. He has been wring since the 12th grade and says about writing: "internal expression
has been a difficult journey for me, but I quickly found an outlet through poetry. I've been focusing on self-
reflection and my environment. Poetry and writing in general, is a form of communication for me. You want to
really know how I feel? Then read my words." Anthony is currently seeking graduate school, and is part of
Mecca's marketing/promotional team.
Jason Bradshaw SincereKnowledge@TheMeccaLounge.com
Jason, better known as "SincereKnowledge@Truth.Real", was born in Los Angeles California in 1983 and moved
to Birmingham Alabama by way of Selma, AL. J is currently attending college for computer networking and
began writing at the age of 14. He says his favorite quote is "Even though we are miles apart our words brings us
closer". Jason is part of Mecca's marketing/promotional team.
Justin Morris
Justin C. Morris, known as “RhymeCypha” to our Community Members, was born in Detroit, MI. This 23 year
old is currently self-employed and says his favorite quote about writing is “God gave me these words, and I
choose to communicate”. He says he honestly can’t remember when he started writing, but he thinks he found a
pen in the womb. Currently Rhyme is writing a compilation of poetry for his first book “Let My Work Speak
For Me.” Justin lives in the Washington D.C./Maryland area and is part of Mecca's marketing/promotional team.
Shala Goolsby Shala@TheMeccaLounge.com
Simply known as Shala to The Mecca Lounge Community, Shala Goolsby lives in the heart of Washington, DC.
She says that she found her love for writing at age 15, and tapped into her creative writing skills at 17. Now 22,
she attends the University of the District of Columbia, and plans to open her own publishing company one day.
Originally from Lawrence, KS., Shala moved to DC in 2002 to attend UDC and hone her writing as a journalism
major, and eventually make a career out of what she loves. Shala says of her writing: "God blesses everyone with
a talent or gift, and my gift is through my pen." Shala is part of Mecca's marketing/promotional staff.
Kimberly Thompson Bahiya@TheMeccaLounge.com
Kimberly Thompson, known as Bahiya within the Mecca Community, is originally from Melbourne Florida but
recently moved to Columbia, South Carolina from North Myrtle Beach. She says that she has been writing since
the age of 12 and seriously since 16. Now 17, Bahiya attends Midlands Technical College and mentions that she
recently became interested in reading about the struggles of African-Americans throughout history, with "The
Struggle Of Blackness" by Lerone Bennett Jr being one of her favorite books. She says "Writing offers me a way
to analyze our world and I believe through it, I have matured. It is a way of telling others about your struggles
and a way of inviting them to rejoice with yo in the blessings you are granted". Bahiya is currently gathering
together her personal poetry that she will have published by the end of 2007. Bahiya is part of Mecca's
marketing/promotional staff.
THEMECCALOUNGE.COM INTERNET RADIO PROGRAM CREW
Chi@TheMeccaLounge.com
Lady Chi
Chi is a vivacious woman that's on the move. No stranger to literary entertainment, she often turns
reality into the metaphoric in her poetry and spoken word showcasing versatility and rawness with style and
grace. She's also saavy in writing romance/erotica short stories. An advocate for Sickle Cell Disease, she features
support at her message board www.theredlane.com. You can email your thoughts, questions or comments to
her at chi@themeccalounge.com.
The RBM
See profile above
Murfftown
See profile above
THEMECCALOUNGE.COM WRITING CONTRIBUTORS (COMING SOON!!)
SoulTalk@TheMeccaLounge.com
I am a writer/poet and author and have been writing poetry for a long time. I started when I was about 13yrs old
but did not share any of my poetry until my early 20’s. I then started reading more in-depth poetry books and
getting to know writers like, Maya Angelou, Langston Hughes and Gil Scott Heron. The more I read the more
intrigued I became and wanted to know more. I also was interested in poetry readings and spoken word spots, I
began attending whenever I could. The vibe was beautiful and I decided I wanted to be a part of that world. Over
the past couple of years I have evolved as a writer and decided to publish a book. The book is called Soultalking
Volume I "Expression Is Universal" This book will be available within the next few months. I try to be very
diverse with my writing, trying various styles and writing on many different subjects. I also have a varied
background, coming from two different Caribbean cultures as well as British. I was always exposed to music and
history which cultivated my interest in writing music as well; I play piano and will be working on putting music
to my poetry at a later date. I always look for ways to advance my writing and be more
proficient.
writing Community, so you may read and comment on their work as well. These individuals are
also currently working hard to make your experience within our writing home the most pleasant
as possible. Please take time to read and get to know our staff a little more.
Mike Payne (Founder) TheRBM@TheMeccaLounge.com
Mike Payne, known within our community as "The RBM", was born and currently lives in Milwaukee, WI
where he graduated from Pulaski High School in 1996. Mike has been writing since the age of 17, seriously since
the age of 24. He lists Carter Woodson as his favorite author with "The Mis-Education Of The Negro" being his
favorite book. He credits is Spiritual base being his motivation for writing because "it allows me to fully express
myself in ways I cannot verbally". Outside of TheMeccaLounge.com, Mike is working on a book of his poetry
and short stories that he hopes to complete by the beginning of 2007. Mike is 28 years old.
Anthony Delmar Murff Murfftown@TheMeccaLounge.com
Anthony Delmar Murff, known as "Murfftown" by our Community Members, is a 24 year old Architecture
major, and a Chicago native. He has been wring since the 12th grade and says about writing: "internal expression
has been a difficult journey for me, but I quickly found an outlet through poetry. I've been focusing on self-
reflection and my environment. Poetry and writing in general, is a form of communication for me. You want to
really know how I feel? Then read my words." Anthony is currently seeking graduate school, and is part of
Mecca's marketing/promotional team.
Jason Bradshaw SincereKnowledge@TheMeccaLounge.com
Jason, better known as "SincereKnowledge@Truth.Real", was born in Los Angeles California in 1983 and moved
to Birmingham Alabama by way of Selma, AL. J is currently attending college for computer networking and
began writing at the age of 14. He says his favorite quote is "Even though we are miles apart our words brings us
closer". Jason is part of Mecca's marketing/promotional team.
Justin Morris
Justin C. Morris, known as “RhymeCypha” to our Community Members, was born in Detroit, MI. This 23 year
old is currently self-employed and says his favorite quote about writing is “God gave me these words, and I
choose to communicate”. He says he honestly can’t remember when he started writing, but he thinks he found a
pen in the womb. Currently Rhyme is writing a compilation of poetry for his first book “Let My Work Speak
For Me.” Justin lives in the Washington D.C./Maryland area and is part of Mecca's marketing/promotional team.
Shala Goolsby Shala@TheMeccaLounge.com
Simply known as Shala to The Mecca Lounge Community, Shala Goolsby lives in the heart of Washington, DC.
She says that she found her love for writing at age 15, and tapped into her creative writing skills at 17. Now 22,
she attends the University of the District of Columbia, and plans to open her own publishing company one day.
Originally from Lawrence, KS., Shala moved to DC in 2002 to attend UDC and hone her writing as a journalism
major, and eventually make a career out of what she loves. Shala says of her writing: "God blesses everyone with
a talent or gift, and my gift is through my pen." Shala is part of Mecca's marketing/promotional staff.
Kimberly Thompson Bahiya@TheMeccaLounge.com
Kimberly Thompson, known as Bahiya within the Mecca Community, is originally from Melbourne Florida but
recently moved to Columbia, South Carolina from North Myrtle Beach. She says that she has been writing since
the age of 12 and seriously since 16. Now 17, Bahiya attends Midlands Technical College and mentions that she
recently became interested in reading about the struggles of African-Americans throughout history, with "The
Struggle Of Blackness" by Lerone Bennett Jr being one of her favorite books. She says "Writing offers me a way
to analyze our world and I believe through it, I have matured. It is a way of telling others about your struggles
and a way of inviting them to rejoice with yo in the blessings you are granted". Bahiya is currently gathering
together her personal poetry that she will have published by the end of 2007. Bahiya is part of Mecca's
marketing/promotional staff.
THEMECCALOUNGE.COM INTERNET RADIO PROGRAM CREW
Chi@TheMeccaLounge.com
Lady Chi
Chi is a vivacious woman that's on the move. No stranger to literary entertainment, she often turns
reality into the metaphoric in her poetry and spoken word showcasing versatility and rawness with style and
grace. She's also saavy in writing romance/erotica short stories. An advocate for Sickle Cell Disease, she features
support at her message board www.theredlane.com. You can email your thoughts, questions or comments to
her at chi@themeccalounge.com.
The RBM
See profile above
Murfftown
See profile above
THEMECCALOUNGE.COM WRITING CONTRIBUTORS (COMING SOON!!)
SoulTalk@TheMeccaLounge.com
I am a writer/poet and author and have been writing poetry for a long time. I started when I was about 13yrs old
but did not share any of my poetry until my early 20’s. I then started reading more in-depth poetry books and
getting to know writers like, Maya Angelou, Langston Hughes and Gil Scott Heron. The more I read the more
intrigued I became and wanted to know more. I also was interested in poetry readings and spoken word spots, I
began attending whenever I could. The vibe was beautiful and I decided I wanted to be a part of that world. Over
the past couple of years I have evolved as a writer and decided to publish a book. The book is called Soultalking
Volume I "Expression Is Universal" This book will be available within the next few months. I try to be very
diverse with my writing, trying various styles and writing on many different subjects. I also have a varied
background, coming from two different Caribbean cultures as well as British. I was always exposed to music and
history which cultivated my interest in writing music as well; I play piano and will be working on putting music
to my poetry at a later date. I always look for ways to advance my writing and be more
proficient.
THEMECCALOUNGE.COM
The Community FOR Writers BY Writers
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