J. Ivy

J. Ivy
J. Ivy performing "HERE I AM" Book Concert in New York City in 2012
J. Ivy performing "HERE I AM" Book Concert in New York City in 2012
Background information
Birth nameJames Ivy Richardson II
Born (1976-03-03) March 3, 1976 (age 48)
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
EducationRich Central High School
Alma materIllinois State University (BA)
GenresSpoken word
Occupations
  • Poet
  • writer
  • author

James Ivy Richardson II (born March 3, 1976) is an American performance poet, spoken word artist, songwriter, and author. He won his first Grammy Award in 2023 with his sixth album, The Poet Who Sat by the Door.

Richardson is a three-time HBO Def Poet and is known for his performance on Kanye West's Grammy Award-winning debut album The College Dropout (2004), which featured him on the song "Never Let Me Down" along with Jay-Z.[1] He received an NAACP Image Award for his writing and on-camera narration of the BET documentary Muhammad Ali: The People's Champ.

  1. ^ "Kanye West's 'The College Dropout': An Oral History". Billboard. February 10, 2004. Retrieved August 10, 2014.