Dover's Amillion the Poet to represent Delaware at Firefly Music Festival

Ryan Cormier
The News Journal
Dover's Amillion the Poet will perform at Firefly Music Festival in his hometown this summer.

Nearly all of the past Delaware performers at Dover's Firefly Music Festival have been young acts that have come up performing in clubs, bars and basements across the state.

This time it's different.

The First State's representative this year is eyeing his mid-30s -- a guy you're just as likely to find giving an inspirational morning talk to a group of high school kids or prisoners as you would prowling the stage in a club until the wee hours.

For Amillion the Poet -- a Dover based hip-hop act, motivational speaker, author and poet -- his selection as one of 95 performers alongside headlining rappers Eminem and Kendrick Lamar is a pay-off after a decade of hustle.

His career began with spoken word performances, hence his stage name.

Then came books, such as 2011's "P.I.M.P. (Poetry In Motion Proceeds)" and 2015's "Beauty Full," co-written by his daughter Aaliyah Adams-Mayfield, now 11. He also added speeches at schools, prisons and churches in between the five-hour trips to Virginia every other weekend to pick up his daughter, of whom he and Aalyiyah's mother have shared custody. 

Eventually, he began to use music to transmit his same messages of inspiration and motivation.

Dover's Amillion the Poet, who will perform at Firefly Music Festival this summer, performs and speaks to students at at Caesar Rodney High School.

Even though he'll be rockin' a slot traditionally kept open for a Delaware act, Amillion says this isn't a pity party.

"I want to be clear. We belong here, too," says the Firefly-bound performer, who was born Lucas Amillion Mayfield in Washington, D.C., and raised in Delaware. "This isn't charity. I've been working very hard to get this spot in my home state."

While Firefly's crowds are getting younger, the festival's lone Delaware act just might be oldest First State performer in Firefly's history at the age of 33.

The 2002 Caesar Rodney High School graduate will be the ninth Delaware act to share the same stages with national acts ranging from superstars to up-and-comers.

He'll join fellow Dover hip-hop acts Trio, who performed last year, and Cypher Clique who was there in 2015. Other acts have included upstate acts such as Teen Men, Fiance, Mean Lady, New Sweden and The Spinto Band. Rehoboth Beach-based blues trio Lower Case Blues performed at the inaugural Firefly in 2012.

After a decade of spoken word and hip hop performances, Amillion the Poet has found a big break in his own backyard.

It was about four years ago that Amillion made performing at Firefly a goal of his after a suggestion made by his producer Tyorzel Gaston, who passed away in 2015. Over the years, Amillion has watched other Delaware acts rock the festival as he hustled in the crowd, giving away his music to fans for free.

This time around, he's actually invited to share his music.

"A few years ago, I didn't think I deserved it because I was just getting into music," says Amillion, who has since toured both the United States and Europe with his hip-hop/soul hybrid, even performing at New Orleans' Essence Festival. "But I knew I would get there someday."

Amillion points to two events that he believes got him the gig: a plug from the Dover's mayor office to Firefly's organizers and connections made with Firefly co-organizer Goldenvoice during an overseas tour in England last year.

Even though he'll be performing his songs with a live band at Firefly -- complete with a possible cameo from his daughter -- the message will be the same as it has been from his earliest days on a stage as a poet.

Lower Case Blues of Rehoboth Beach perform at Firefly Music Festival in 2012. Dover's Amillion the Poet will be the ninth Delaware act to perform at Firefly during the fest's seven-year run in Dover.

"I look at myself as a hope dealer instead of a dope dealer. These are different products with the same message -- they are just packaged differently," he says of his positive messaging in both poetry and music. "Music is more like liquor. It's easy going and it doesn't take a lot to get you moving. I can play a beat, pull you in and have some inspiration in there. With books, it's harder to access, but it's a direct stream into your brain and your heart.

"I'm not the rapper talking about the cars, the clothes and the jewels." 

Amillion may be the only Delaware-based act performing at Firefly this summer, but he won't be the only one with Dover ties swaying in the sun.

SZA, the 27-year-old R&B singer who broke last year thanks to her critically-acclaimed debut album "Ctrl," is also on the bill and counts herself as a former Delaware State University student.

Born Solána Rowe and raised in New Jersey, SZA was the most nominated female artist at the Grammy Awards earlier this year, although she was shut out of all five awards. She will tour amphitheaters with hip-hop's current king and 2018 Firefly headliner Kendrick Lamar.

Fellow 2018 Firefly bill-toppers include rap royalty Eminem, slick British rockers Arctic Monkeys and three-time Firefly headliners The Killers. Other performers coming to Dover this summer include electronic acts Odesza and Martin Garrix, rappers Lil Wayne and Logic and English indie rock band Alt-J.

Firefly Music Festival act Amillion the Poet with his daughter Aaliyah in 2014.

Four-day passes cost $329-$2,499 at fireflyfestival.com. Single-day passes have not yet been announced.

While Amillion is focused on his music career and already planning out his big Firefly set, he is still dedicated to the written word.

He continues traveling the state teaching his "Poetry in Motion" poetry workshops everywhere from libraries to detention centers. He is also preparing to give three new $2,000 writing-themed college scholarships this year after debuting the program last year with Harrington harness racing owner George Teague Jr. 

As Firefly nears, he will also launch an online #Road2Firefly series next month tracking his path to The Woodlands at amillionthepoet.com.

With countless Delaware concerts, workshops and readings of all sizes behind him, it makes sense that Amillion's biggest-ever show will be in his own hometown where it all began.

"It's definitely a validation moment and a testament to hard work," he says. "But when I step out there on that stage, I'm not thinking this is my shining moment. I want them to be booking me for next year before the show is even over. I'm not going there to play around."

Contact Ryan Cormier of The News Journal at rcormier@delawareonline.com or (302) 324-2863. Follow him on Facebook (@ryancormier), Twitter (@ryancormier) and Instagram (@ryancormier).

FIRST STATE FIREFLY ACTS THROUGH THE YEARS

2012 -- Rehoboth Beach-based blues band Lower Case Blues

2013 -- Wilmington pop act The Spinto Band

2014 -- Wilmington Americana band New Sweden and Wilmington pop duo Mean Lady

2015 -- Newark shoegaze rockers Fiance and Dover hip hop trio Cypher Clique

2016 -- Wilmington pop/rock four-piece Teen Men

2017 -- Dover hip hop act Trio

2018 -- Dover rapper, motivational speaker and author Amillion the Poet

IF YOU GO

What: Firefly Music Festival

When: June 14 -18

Where: The Woodlands near Dover International Speedway

Cost: Four-day passes cost $329-$2,499. Single-day passes have not yet been announced.

Tickets: fireflyfestival.com