Welcome to the 'County of Kings'

Now is a good time for Lemon Andersen.

The Brooklyn native is the subject of a New York Times profile, as well as a documentary currently underway, and his live memoir, "County of Kings," is on stage at the Public Theater.

Things weren't always this good. Growing up in a housing project, he lost his parents to drugs and, eventually, AIDS. He almost lost himself too, as he was in and out of jail as a teenager.

Andersen was able to land on his feet in large part of poetry; he found his voice in hip-hop, and came to fame through Russell Simmons Def Poetry jam.

Those skills are on display as the gifted performer recounts his recent past, and shares a Brooklyn, much changed from when he was growing up in the 1980s, you may be seeing for the first time.

"County of Kings" is running now through November 8. For more information, go to www.countyofkingstheplay.com.