B. Dolan 's first performances took place at New York City 's Nuyorican Poets Cafe , where he gained respect as part of HBO 's '' Def Poetry '' in 2002 and won numerous slam titles . He has since distanced himself from and criticized slam poetry . In 2011 , he told the '' Boston Phoenix '' : Doing spoken word was the first time I ever tried to present my writing on a stage , and that 's what it was good for . It taught me some basic stage tricks that I still use — like how to change my voice and talk to a crowd . But once you 've picked up those chops , you need to get the hell out before you become some asshole who wins the poetry slam for the 10th year in a row . After performing at a Def Jam industry party at the Rush Arts Gallery , B. Dolan realized he would n't be able to work within the major label structure . Within months , he dropped out of college , bought a drum machine , and began recording the first album '' The Failure '' . During this time , he slept on " park benches and subway trains " while working as a doorman at a building in close proximity to the Twin Towers . It was at this time that the September 11 attacks happened , leaving B. Dolan in a " paranoid mental state " which caused him to move back to Rhode Island
September 11 attacks
September 11 attacks
B. Dolan