Paine the Poet doesn’t just perform—he commands a room, weaving his life story into verses that cut straight to the bone. Born Kristofer Sykes in Columbus, Ohio, he found his voice behind bars while serving an eight-year sentence that would shape his path as a spoken word artist, activist, and educator. Poetry became his way to process, resist, and ultimately reclaim his narrative. Since then, his work has reached audiences from grassroots open mics to the halls of Congress, tackling mass incarceration, systemic injustice, and the fight for redemption.

Most recently, he premiered the workshop of his show MONSTER with Madhura Studios—an immersive spoken word and music experience that explored transformation and resilience. But MONSTER was just one chapter in Paine’s ongoing story. His performances, whether on stage or on screen (American Skin, 2021), are a testament to the power of words to confront, heal, and inspire action. As a teaching artist and speaker, he continues to push boundaries, using storytelling to engage communities in vital conversations. His journey isn’t just about poetry—it’s about survival, resistance, breaking through, and the unwavering belief that voices like his need to be heard.