Today we’d like to introduce you to Kiana Renee.
Hi Kiana, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My name is Kiana Renee also known as CraziiKi, I got started in poetry as a way to understand myself and the world around me. Writing became a space where emotions, philosophy, and lived experience could meet honestly. What began as personal expression slowly turned into performance, and eventually into purpose. Over time, I stepped onto open mics, built my voice, and learned how to hold space for others through words.
Today, I’m a spoken word artist, author, and curator who has performed nationally, published multiple books, and created platforms like CraziiPoets and A Walk With Poetry to amplify diverse voices. My work blends emotional depth with reflection and intention using poetry not just as art, but as connection, healing, and community-building.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Not at all, and I don’t think it was meant to be.
There were a lot of moments where the path felt unclear, slow, or heavier than I expected. One of the biggest struggles was learning how to hold my identity as an artist while also building platforms and opportunities for others. I poured so much energy into creating space, community, and structure that I sometimes had to fight to not disappear inside the work.
There were also practical challenges; balancing a full-time job with creative labor, funding my own projects, learning how to advocate for my worth, and staying consistent even when recognition or momentum felt uneven. Growth didn’t always look like applause; sometimes it looked like quiet discipline, rejection emails, or continuing to show up without certainty.
What carried me through was the understanding that this work isn’t just about visibility, but about integrity. The struggles taught me how to move with intention, protect my voice, and trust that progress doesn’t always announce itself loudly.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My work lives at the intersection of poetry, philosophy, and emotional truth. I’m a spoken word artist, author, and curator who uses language as a tool for reflection, healing, and connection. I specialize in poetry that explores maturity, how we grow through love, loss, accountability, and self-awareness. I’m known for blending emotional depth with intention rather than performance for performance’s sake.
I’m most proud of building something that extends beyond myself. Through my books, my performances, and platforms like CraziiPoets and A Walk With Poetry, I’ve created spaces where poetry is accessible, communal, and rooted in lived experience. Collaborating with artists, communities, and city arts organizations to amplify diverse voices has been deeply meaningful to me.
What sets me apart is that I don’t just perform poetry; I curate experiences around it. My work is thoughtful, reflective, and purpose-driven. Whether on stage or behind the scenes, I’m intentional about how poetry moves through people’s lives.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
What I love most about the city is its culture and sense of community. There’s a genuine care for people here; the artists, small businesses, and neighborhoods feel connected rather than isolated. The city is growing, but it still holds space for collaboration, creativity, and grassroots initiatives. That community-centered energy makes it a place where ideas can take root, especially in the arts, and where people are willing to show up for one another.
What I like least is that the city can feel slow-paced when it comes to expanding opportunities within the community itself. While growth is happening, it doesn’t always translate into sustainable business development or long-term support for local creatives and entrepreneurs. There’s potential for more intentional investment especially in creating pathways that help community-led projects scale, thrive, and remain rooted here rather than having to look elsewhere for momentum.
I see the city as a place with strong bones and even stronger people. With more focus on nurturing homegrown talent and expanding business infrastructure at the community level, it has the capacity to grow without losing the culture that makes it special.
Pricing:
- Mature Emotions $23.99
- Mature Actions $25.99
- Spoken Word Appearance $100
- Event Host $75/hr
Contact Info:
- Website: https://theekianarenee.net/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/craziiki/
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/craziipoets/
