From Poetry to Popular Lame: The Evolution of Nelson Trimble

A visionary shaping narratives through storytelling and cultural expression  

BY DR. SHANESSA FENNER

Nelson Trimble is an entrepreneur, spoken word artist, playwright and founder of Popular Lame Clothing. The streetwear designer recently caught up with Sheen to share insight into his journey, the vision behind Popular Lame Clothing and the powerful messages that drive his spoken word artistry. 

Share a little about your journey and what led you to where you are today. 

I was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia by a single mother and I was an at-risk misguided male. I found myself in a lot of trouble early in life. By the time I was 19-years-old, I was locked up for armed robbery facing 120 years in prison. Throughout the process, I did not go to prison, but while fighting that charge, I discovered spoken word poetry and it changed my life’s direction. I started trying to be a rapper and then I found out that being a rapper was not in my lane. I did not have a melody, but I could write the words and say it without a beat. I gained a lot of notoriety from spoken word. I was the keynote speaker for the 2016 funeral of Atlanta rapper Shawty Lo (Carlos Rico Walker). People called on me to write personalized messages for their loved ones. I wrote a book called Prison, Prayer & Poetry. It tells the story that I am telling you now. I turned the book into a play. The play did not do well,so I bought a t-shirt machine and a camera. I started making personalized t-shirts and one day I put the phrase “Popular Lame” and a character on a t-shirt and from then on, I have been making clothes.

The name “Popular Lame” is certainly unique. What inspired it and how did it come about? ​

It comes from the girl that I was seeing at the time. We knew each other growing up and had a lot of misconceptions about each other. Growing up, we thought that the other person was a certain kind of way. We started dating and realized we were different from the people we initially believed each other to be.We were just popular lames. That is how the name came about.

What is your favorite Popular Lame item to produce?

I like to produce sweatshirts and jogging suits. I like to style people, play with colors and I especially like to match things. My goal is to make the outfit stand out. 

What messages do you like to convey through your spoken word performances?

My main message is about Black pride, coming together and sticking together. I started writing later in life and people would tell me that I was like an old man. I have one poem that I have been doing for over 15 years and it is still relevant. That’s the sadness of the situation. I try to convey a message of hope for us because in the Bible it says “the last will be first, and the first will be last, and the meek shall inherit the earth.” It gets no meeker than Black Americans. We are the only ones who don’t know our lineage. We can’t count 3 or 4 generations back and we don’t know what kind of blood runs through our veins. The French know they are French. They can track their stuff. The only people that are lost on this earth and are the most hated are Black Americans. I like to give the message that together we stand and divided we fall. 

Share the significance behind your quote “It’s a movement,not a movie.”

A lot of people just like to sit back and watch. A movement has motion so it is just a play with the words. A movement is when you get in motion and do something. Everything starts with the person in the mirror. We can sit back and point fingers, but we are doing nothing about it. It is much like Gil Scott- Heron proclaimed, “The revolution won’t be televised.” 

Any final thoughts?  

Be true to yourself and your vision, not the vision that anyone has for you. If you are true to yourself and true to the path that God sent you to do, all of the resources will fall in place for you.

Website:  https://popularlameclothing.com/

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