Before he even hit double digits, Shyheim Banks, professionally known as Treble NLS, discovered the power and impact of music. After falling in love with poetry and rap as a young boy, by middle school he was writing a copious amount, honing his craft as a poet and lyricist. He found that penning his thoughts and experiences was therapeutic and was the ideal way to express his feelings.
Treble’s hard work paid off and by the time he reached high school, he became a member of the Krunk Movement. It was the first time that he would be compensated for his musical acumen and performances. Through Krunk, the music was meant to inspire, so he became adept at weaving messages into his poetry. This led to him becoming an Artivist – someone who seamlessly combines the worlds of art and activism. By fifteen, Treble was teaching other youth, guiding them in song writing and the ins and outs of music. Through this, he began to truly understand the importance of education and the positive effects of strong educators. He found his “Why” and it drives him to this very day.
As the Head Teaching Artist at 1Hood Media, Treble imparts his wisdom in the areas of acting, audio engineering, emceeing, producing, and songwriting . He is able to not only continue to grow in his craft, but also bring relatability and wisdom to those he encounters. He shares his love of storytelling musically, through performances, and through poetry.
In 2021, Treble received recognition from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Emmy® Awards in the ARTS/ENTERTAINMENT-NEWS (SINGLE STORY) category. The winning entry, entitled “Don’t Clip Our Tails,’ A Pittsburgh Poet’s Reflection on Racial Justice,” was a collaborative effort with Ryan Loew, a Videographer/Editor at Public Source. Initially, Treble was asked to recite a poem at the first Pittsburgh protest in response to the police killing of George Floyd. At the time, Treble did not have a piece that he believed would truly capture the dark moment in history. So he did what he felt was needed; he sat down and wrote one. A conversation with his best friend’s mother inspired the poem when he advised, “don’t clip our tails.” The statement later became the title.
Having found his life’s work, Treble relishes guiding others toward their power through artful expression. He intends to continue to lead them to their “Why” and to help them process what is happening along their journey, which lead to him becoming a level 1 certified reiki practitioner in 2023. He has since become reiki level 2 certified, and aims to introduce more of his community to the powerful healing benefits of reiki as an additional therapeutic service with which to delve into.
Understanding the importance of liberation and freedom, Treble endeavors to have the resources to implement immediate change based off of his creativity.