ThaWilsonBlock Magazine

  Follow "Sh8kes" on Instagram Hailing from the vibrant heart of Durham, North Carolina, Robin "Sh8kes" Williamson is a multifaceted creative whose impact transcends art. As a published author, motivational speaker, business owner, and spoken word poet, Sh8kes brings a raw, unfiltered authenticity to his work that resonates deeply with audiences across the Carolinas and beyond. A reformed gang member turned community advocate, Sh8kes channels his personal journey into every poem and performance. His writing is steeped in lived experience, and his delivery—marked by emotional intensity, clarity, and conviction—captures the soul of the streets and the spirit of healing. In the words of acclaimed poet and educator Dasan Ahanu, “Sh8kes’s poetry is the bass from a car speaker…the laughter from the barbershop…a piece of corner folklore. His poetry is full of honesty, emotion, and will. It reflects our lives… the struggle, the joys, and the resilience it takes to make it. ...