Julian Curry "Niggers Niggas & Niggaz"

This is a real hard hitting poem that will leave you feeling it's impact long after you've watched it.

Julian Curry started writing poetry in 1999.  Besides receiving the 2003 crown at the Nuyorican, he was also the 2003 Bowery Poetry Club Co-Grand Slam Champion.  His poetry is a glimpse into the inner city, Wall Street, family, and a regular guy’s everyday life.  Originally from the Bahamas, Julian now calls Harlem his home. He has been featured in "Forbes" Magazine & on BET’s Lyric Cafe.  He was also featured on HBO’s Def Poetry Jam.

 

New look to my Blog

Whether your a return visitor or it's your 1st time on my blog site I have taken the time to remove all the hyper links to the video performances of both the artists I am showcasing and of my own as well and have embedded the videos within the blog.

This will allow you to watch the videos right on my blog site from within the posting.  If you have been on my site before and are a return visitor please take the time to check out the new look and re-visit some prior blog posts.  If it is your first time on my site then enjoy the new look.  It has taken me endless hours but the new feel and look is worth it.  Hope you think so too.

Shihan "In Response"

You can find Shihan's bio in the Oct archives along with his video of his piece "Flashy Words."  This piece "In Response"  has always been a fan favorite but until coming across it today the video had been taken off the internet & youtube.  Obviously coming across it meant, it was time to post another performance by the one & only Shihan.

The Father of Poetry Slams

In 1985 a construction worker and poet named Marc Smith (slampapi) started a poetry reading series at a Chicago jazz club, the Get Me High Lounge, looking for a way to breathe life into the open mike poetry format. The series' emphasis on performance laid the groundwork for a style poetry and performance which would eventually be spread across the world. In 1986 Smith approached Dave Jemilo, the owner of the Green Mill (a Chicago jazz club and former haunt of Al Capone), with a plan to host a weekly poetry cabaret on the club's slow Sunday nights. Jemilo welcomed him, and on July 25, the Uptown Poetry Slam was born. Smith drew on baseball and bridge terminology for the name, and instituted the show’s basic structure of an open mike, guest performers, and a competition. The Green Mill evolved into the Mecca for performance poets, and the Uptown Poetry Slam still continues 18 years after its inception.

From The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Slam Poetry: “Slam poetry is the brainchild of Marc Smith (So What!) and the blue collar intellectual eccentrics who crammed into the Get Me High Lounge on Monday nights from November 1984 to September 1986 for a wide-open poetry experience. Finger-poppin’ hipster Butchie (James Dukaris) owned the place and allowed anything to happen, and it usually did. The experimenters in this new style of poetry presentation gyrated, rotated, spewed, and stepped their words along the bar top, dancing between the bottles, bellowing out the backdoor, standing on the street or on their stools, turning the west side of Chicago into a rainforest of dripping whispers or a blast furnace of fiery elongated syllables, phrases, snatches of scripts, and verse that electrified the night.”

Lost Count: A Love Story

Powerful would be a colossal understatement to describe this performance by 18 year old Nate Marshall & 17 year old Demetrius Amparan featured by Brave New Voices, which depicts the epidemic of teen violence that is crying out for national attention in Chicago.

Brave New Voices was created by Youth Speaks, Inc in 1998 after the inaugural Youth Speaks Teen Poetry Slam in San Francisco—the first poetry slam dedicated to youth in the nation’s history.  Brave new voices can be found at bravenewvoices.org.  See Nov archives for prior blog post on Youth Speaks.

 

Asia "The Waiting Hour"

Asia’s gripping words have never been less than an honest and genuine testimonial to his life.  His uncanny ability to combine humor and inspiration while provoking thought and self-reflection has won audiences all over.  Ranging from crowds as intimate as 40 to crowds as energetic as 1000, he delivers all of himself each time, making sure never to skim on what many have testified as one of the most jaw-dropping shows they’ve been fortunate enough to witness.. But it wasn’t always this way... In the early months of 2006, Asia faced a battle with cancer.  In the post-cancer years, Asia has been featured on Russell Simmons’ HBO Def Poetry, was named 2006 Performer of the Year by the Association of the Promotion of Campus Activities, took 1st Place at the 2008 Southern Fried Poetry Slam Championships with his team MinoriTEAM and many more.  Asia has had the privilege to perform with great musical artists such as Mos Def, Jill Scott & DMX.  You can find him currently hostsing at Mello Mondays.

My night at Black on Black Rhyme

It's been a major goal of mine to perform at Tampa's Black on Black Rhyme open mic night in Ybor City.  I've been intimidated to go & perform in front of a crowd that mostly belong to the beautiful culture that took poetry & turned it into the phenomenon that has become Spoken Word.  It is African Americans claim & rightfully so.  They have brought it into mainstream America with a force that could not be stopped or silenced.  As a result it has spread & reached a vast diversity of individuals now getting up & performing this prolific art.  I am currently taking acting classes in Ybor City the same night as their open mic so my excuses were getting slim.  I received a message yesterday that Jeaninne "Zaire" Kayembe, a featured artist in Russell Simmons HBO documentary "Brave New Voices" would be the featured poet.  She is a gifted Philadelphia resident who has found true and authentic "Spoken Word" while trying to save at least one person each & every time she performs with her words & spirituality.  As I sat alone shaking quietly in my seat waiting to hear when I would be called up I finally heard the host get on the mic & state the following: "Next were going to have Jeanine from Brave New Voices get up and drop one quick on you followed by Scott Compton."  My first thought was ohhh shit!  I'm going on after the featured artist, who Russell Simmons hand picked to be in his 2008 documentary.  Quickly with a smile that thought turned into, it couldn't be more perfect.  To be respected as the artist I want to be I have to get on stage & perform with the best.  Once it was my turn I just let loose & brought it with all the passion & fire I have.  The love & reception I received from the crowd was amazing.  The most beautiful thing about art is once you get up & bare your inner most core everyone stops seeing the image/race you represent but instead the gifted & beautiful artist that you are.  I was sitting alone like a quite out of place white boy, as I jokingly like to refer to myself, prior to performing & afterward people wanted to shake my hand, some embracing me with the one handed shake leaning into the hard felt slap on the back the way "Men" do & asking for my contact info.  Proud to say I rocked the mic at Tampa's longest running open mic night "Black on Black Rhyme" & have been asked to make sure I become a regular.

Link to Jeaninne "Zaire" Kayembe

Link to BlackonBlackRhyme.com

Time to Rise

As a nation do you feel these days our pride is showing, as people are we growing while our administration seems fine not knowing the direction we are going.

Leadership with a weak direction will and has become an infection affecting society into each and every single home.  

This isn't an anti government speech, I'm not here to preach but just looking for people to reach.  

We are becoming a nation wounded, which is a strong conclusion my psyche is having to face that I'm not willing to replace with these idealistic illusions my government keeps feeding me from an unrealistic podium in which they stand...  What became of One Nation for which I stand.

I see.. maybe we learned that to far back in elementary school when we would recite our pledge to the flag.  I felt incited empowered standing tall proud with voice aloud.. right hand firmly pressed against my chest.

This wasn't a test this was us as children at our best.  This was true American pride it seams we are slowly setting aside.  

We are still spending billions in Afghanistan & Iraq, while there are daily deadly attacks on soldiers our Nation will eventually turn their backs.  

Two wars at hand no one taking a stand, as we prepare our withdraws leaving behind our flaws.

Let me ask you.. do you truly believe we were fighting for freedom?

It's becoming far to easy, almost kinda sleazy to turn our eyes from the wars, the poor and the outstretched hands of the unemployed.

We are a Nation off track, leadership we lack and I'm just looking to rise up.. and take it the fuck back.

Copyright © Scott Compton 2010

Poetry Slam, Inc.

Ever hear of the "National Poetry Slam" (NPS) or "Individual World Poetry Slam" (IWPS).  Either way this is "The" site to go to and the one you will want to get acquainted with.

The mission of Poetry Slam Incorporated (PSI) is to promote the performance and creation of poetry while cultivating literary activities and spoken word events in order to build audience participation, stimulate creativity, awaken minds, foster education, inspire mentoring, encourage artistic statement and engage communities worldwide in the revelry of language.

Link to PoetrySlam.com

Poetry Slam; The book

The Competitive Art of Performance Poetry

Edited by the producer of the first National poetry slam this unique book documents ten years of these unprecedented events including tips for memorization, winning strategies, informative essays, details on hosting your own slam as well as 100 of the best slam winning poems ever.

Jason Carney "My Mother"

I previously posted a Bio on Jason Carney along with his performance of "Southern Heritage."  You can find it in the Oct archives.  I came across this piece and it has quickly become one of the best I have ever heard him do.  This is one of the most prolific spoken word poems you will ever see or hear of Jason paying honor to his mother.  His depth and use of sentences is beyond measure.  If this is a name you are not familiar with, then you are going to want to be.  Jason's life and poetry is on a level all artists should want to strive to be on.

 

"We Are Men" Shihan, Poetri & Black Ice

The triple threat perform on Def Poetry

 

Four Walls

A Spoken Word, Slam Poetry, Guerrilla Freestyle Documentary.

Four Walls began as a postmodern art documentary presenting performance poetry, more specifically, slam poetry. However, over the course of two years of filming, it transformed into something much greater.  The vision was fine-tuned and re-focused on four artists from the spoken word group known as BlackSunshine.  In getting to know these artists we formed friendships that stretched beyond the walls, both literal and figurative, of the documentary.  As a result, Four Walls grew beyond the presentation of slam poetry, transforming into a portrayal of the lives of these artists.  Four Walls is more than merely capturing slam poetry; it is also about the plight of the artists behind the words.

Sarah Kay "Hands"

Known for her spoken word poetry, Kay is the founder and co-director of Project V.O.I.C.E., a group dedicated to using spoken word as an inspirational tool.  Sarah began performing at the Bowery Poetry Club East Village at the age of 14, joining their Slam Team in 2006.  That year, she was the youngest person competing in the National Poetry Slam in Austin, Texas.  In 2007 Kay made her television debut, performing the poem "Hands" on HBO's Def Poetry Jam.  She has performed at events and venues like the Lincoln Center, the Tribeca Film Festival, and at the United Nations where she was a featured performer for the launch of the 2004 World Youth Report.

Youth Speaks

Youth Speaks places young people in control of their intellectual and artistic development.  They are urgently driven by the belief that literacy is a need, not a want, and that literacy comes in various forms.

Link to YouthSpeaks.org 

Poetry 180

Poetry 180 is designed to make it easy for students to hear or read a poem on each of the 180 days of the school year.  Listening to and or reading poetry can encourage students and other learners to become members of the circle of readers for whom poetry is a vital source of pleasure.

Link to Poetry 180 

Bum Rush the Page: A Def Poetry Jam

Bum Rush the Page is a groundbreaking collection, capturing the best new work from the poets who have brought fresh energy, life, and relevance to American poetry.

“Here is a democratic orchestration of voices and visions, poets of all ages, ethnicities, and geographic locations coming together to create a dialogue and to jam–not slam. This is our mouth on paper, our hearts on our sleeves, our refusal to shut up and swallow our silence. These poems are tough, honest, astute, perceptive, lyrical, blunt, sad, funny, heartbreaking, and true. They shout, they curse, they whisper, and sing. But most of all, they tell it like it is.”   –Tony Medina

Smokey Robinson "A Black American"

I previously had not planned on posting performances by well know celebrities that graced the stage of HBO's Def Poets, as it is my desire to profile the top artists of this generation, but this spoken word piece is profound beyond measure.  There is so much to take in and so much knowledge we can all walk away with.  Smokey lays it all out about race, attitudes and mindsets in America.   

"We are the only people who's name is always a trend"  "When is this shit going to end" "Look at all the different colors of our skin"  "Black is not our color it's our core"  "It's what we have been living, fighting and dying for"

GV7 Random Urban Static

A mesmerizing Spoken Word Poetry documentary film in which filmmaker Bob Bryan, in 2008, proudly unveiled his seventh powerful installment in his multi award-winning Documentary Series entitled GV7 RANDOM URBAN STATIC: The Iridescent Equations of SPOKEN WORD.
 

GV7 returns to the enigmatic world of Poetry.  This time around he retrieves the perspectives of fifteen (15) uniquely talented poets involved in the world of Spoken Word.  From Grand Slam Champions to Open-Mic Veterans, GV7 crosses all philosophical, racial, and social lines becoming the quintessential Spoken Word documentary.

“Your voice is your power; don’t ever let anyone take away your voice.”
— Two Time Grand Slam Champion

Bridget Gray

 

Scott Compton "Truth be Told"

On stage @ The Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center

After my first stage performance for RL Productions and the overwhelming reception I received from the audience I was asked by the founder/owner of RL to write a spoken word piece to open for a play they were already in production with called "Women Want Everything."  This was a monumental task as I have only ever been able to write through inspiration.  Further, this play was debuting at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center and I had just been on stage for my first time.  The piece I wrote is one of my best to date and the experience became my driving force to accomplish everything I am working towards today.

Please give a moment for the camera man to zoom in, apparently he was asleep when I began & quickly made the adjustments needed :)

 

Copyright © Scott Compton 2009

Mos Def

Mos Def was the host of the award winning HBO spoken word show "Def Poets" that ran for six seasons.  He is one of the few stars of today that flourished from the roots of Spoken Word.

Dante Terrell Smith (born December 11, 1973) is an American actor and MC known by the stage name Mos Def.  He was a major force in the late 1990s underground hip hopRawkus Records.  As a solo artist he has released the albums Black on Both Sides in 1999, The New Danger in 2004, True Magic in 2006, and The Ecstatic in 2009.  Initially recognized for his musical output, since the early 2000s, Mos Def's screen work has established him as one of only a handful of rappers who have garnered critical approval for their acting work. 

Mos Def won Best Actor, Independent Movie at the 2005 Black Reel Awards for his portrayal of Detective Sgt. Lucas in The Woodsman.  For his portrayal of Vivien Thomas in HBO's film Something the Lord Made, he was nominated for an Emmy Award, a Golden Globe, and won the Image Award.  He also played a bandleader in HBO's Lackawanna Blues.  He then landed the role of Ford Prefect in the 2005 movie adaptation of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

Mos Def freestyles to the audience with his song "Ghetto Rock" as host of HBO's Def Poets.

 

Gemini "Poetic Bloodline"

Gemini appeared on several seasons of HBO's Def Poets.  This incredible poem entwines an entire list of great writers & poets throughout the entire piece.

"When the writing gets tough hold on to your pen and don't drop this." "Always take time in your mind to reflect back on the fact that you are the next to step forth from a poetic bloodline."

 

The Spoken Word Revolution

Spoken Word encompasses many movements, yet all share a common credo – namely, that the poetry is meant to be performed in front of an audience.  While no one could claim to have the "definitive" collection of slam, hip hop, and other spoken word styles – the art form is still evolving – this recording aims to introduce you to the art with a diverse array of extraordinary talent.

Featuring poems/performances by Taylor Mali, Nuyorican Cafe Poetry Slam founder Bob Holman, poetry slam creator Marc Smith, U.S. Poet Laureate Billy Collins, New Line Cinema star from the feature film Love Jones Regie Gibson, Patricia Smith, Cin Salach, and star of Lord of the Rings Viggo Mortensen.  

Rives "Sign Language"

Rives is a performance poet, storyteller, and author.  He has appeared on multiple seasons of HBO's Def Poetry Jam and was a member of the Def Poetry international tour group.  His most well-known performance on Def Poetry Jam includes a story about poetry in the deaf community inspired by the work he does with the hearing impaired.

Truly one of the most original spoken word pieces I have ever come across as it defies all stereo types associated with Spoken Word.

 

Spoken Word New York

In my attempt to stay true to my word in bringing you some of the best websites on Spoken Word I bring you SWNY.

Spoken Word New York is THE hot-spot for your passion for spoken word and poetry. Enjoy!


Link to SpokenWordNewYork.com

"Sobriety Blind"

Never thought I would find myself where drinking has got me thinking I’m not finding a means to an end. 

Better yet I think I’m hitting nothing but dead ends. 

The liquor I’m ingesting is infesting and is quicker to delude me while my problems elude me.  Sobriety would not have me in trouble with society so why isn’t my anxiety understanding this.  The chaos I’ve created is becoming out dated and I wish I could erase it but I can only stand here now and face it.  I know there are better days and this does not define me but the pain I have left behind I cannot undo or uplift… so I’m left with no where to shift. 

Let alone the apprehension that’s bringing on the tension from what oversight is going to have my hands locked up behind me tight.  Cause I never thought my actions would be causing me infractions and all this distraction from whom… I thought to be. 

Three nights in time that has changed me rearranged me and has somehow brought me awareness but I have to question the unfairness for those who got caught up in my wake. 

From within all I here is to make this right as I reach out trying to absorb and attract the shimmer of lights coming at me in waves of insight.  I have the self worth so it’s time to implement my life’s rebirth as this is all so new to me cause to much time has past not being true to me. 

Matter of fact I think I’m flat out screwing me. 

Instead of slipping and tripping along this troublesome road it’s time to bring forth true vision and sight in order to see out from under… all that I have allowed to cloud me.

 Copyright © Scott Compton 2008 

Twin Poets "Dreams are not Illegal"

Michael and Matthew Dickman, twin brothers and poets.  Michael and Matthew Dickman often draw from a similar well of images and experiences.  Michael’s poems are interior, fragmentary, and austere, often stripped down to single-word lines; they seethe with incipient violence. 



 

Why Poetry is Essential

Of all human endeavors, poetry is unique. It is an adventurous exploration of the unknown that affects each of us in untold ways.  Poetry inspires wonderment as it adds to our perspective, knowledge/understanding of the world around us and how it functions.

Poetry is a process that explores every facet of our world in a way meant to uncover and test for verifiable truths.  The controlled creativity of poetic inquiry can take us in unexpected, often amazing, directions.  Dare to be creative and see what directions it may take you.

Performance Poetry

Some people think it’s about acting things out in some form of "Shakespeare poetry."  They don’t think it’s something highly creative or cool, but it’s more than that, even.  Performance poetry is a state of mind where artists don't just recite their words, they become them.  It is specifically composed to perform in front of an audience.  The word poetry in any reference tends to turn a deaf ear to the average individual but Spoken Word or Performance Poetry is changing what people once thought about it.  As soon as people can remove the negative connotation of people sitting in a room snapping their fingers or that it is just rap without the music then their minds begin to open to the powerful force that is Performance Poetry.  I personally have stood before audiences and have watched tears stream down faces when I perform my highly praised poem "Dear Dad."  The ability to act out raw emotion and infuse it with an incredibly written piece at the same time knowing where to place your breaks and pauses holding the audience in your hand is what defines Performance Poetry.  Further, this unique talent is grabbing the attention of people who ordinarily would never be interested in poetry and is why it is making its way back to the mainstream.

Scott Compton "This is Life not A Tryout"

Back Stage @ The Historic Polk Theatre

This video was recorded while performing in-between sets with a singer song writer friend of mine in 2008 at "It's A Grind" coffee house in Sarasota FL.  I thought I had accomplished what I set out to do, simply recite my poetry before crowds at coffee houses.  Little did I know my talent for spoken word was going to lead to several stage performances at premier venues with production companies in the Tampa Bay area and gain recognition with some of the best poets Tampa has to offer at places like Black On Black Rhyme.  Although, you will still find me at any open mic today honing my craft and networking with other fresh artists.

 

Copyright © Scott Compton 2008

Black Ice "Lone Soldier"

Before poetry was big business there was Lamar Manson, known throughout the spoken word community as Black Ice.  Black Ice is a prolific artist, whose stage performances bridge the gap between hip-hop and poetry.  Circa 1993, Black Ice's spellbinding presence, combined with writing that speaks to the common man, helped to bring poetry out of the coffee houses and into the mainstream, simultaneously creating a career as a dynamic performer whose talents proliferate television, radio and theater.  Because of his intense love for children and youth, his message can also be heard in classrooms and lecture halls across the country.  Black Ice, has lent his genius to the Live 8 concert in Philadelphia, and has made feature TV appearances on BET (Live 8 Concert Special, Rap City the Basement and 106th & Park) and NBC (Showtime at the Apollo), in addition to starring in six consecutive seasons of HBOs Def Poetry Jam.

 

Getting You Started; Part 2

You can have the most amazing poems but if no one gets to read them or hear them, they will never touch anyone's heart or change a life.

Here are some ways to get noticed in the Spoken Word community or at least work up the courage to start performing:

• Share your writings with some spoken word poets
This could be as simple as connecting with some poets that you met on facebook and tagging them in a note.  This is really scary in its own way because it opens up your soul to different people but most often they have nice things to say and are flattered by the gesture.
• Join a meetup group or other online group
I like the thought of joining poetry meetup groups (meetup.com) because you can actually meet people in person for drinks and discuss things you like.  Most often at a slam venue people tend to be very focused on their performance and many strategies but if you are just starting out on this journey it may be best to keep it informal and a virtual space may help with that as well.
• Befriend other poets and learn from them
Birds of a feather, as they say.  Go to a show, network and get to know the spoken word and slam poets you really admire.  If you befriend really popular slam poets you can pick up a lot about the tricks of the trade and learn different performance techniques, learn how to land a feature, book a venue etc - learning all this will help you gain recognition within the industry.
• Perform at an open mic
This may sound intimidating but it is the easiest way to get to meet other poets in your local community and to start getting recognition for your work.  Do a short piece to start off with and then keep doing longer and longer pieces as you become comfortable on stage.  Whatever you do, I really suggest performing at an open mic - the thought of it is scarier than the reality but you will be glad you did it
• Enter a slam poetry contest
It's scary to have people judge your poetry and to put yourself out there like that but at some point you are going to have to do it.  Most really good poets today started off as slam poets. Slam poetry has its bad points but it also has some good points - the competitive aspect can make you a better writer and performer.  Winning a slam can also gain you recognition within the community.

 

Gina Loring "Somewhere There is a Poem"

A breath of fresh air.  One of the most invigorating wordsmiths of our contemporary society.  Poetry in its sincerest form and a shining example of someone who does what she loves and loves what she does.  The top ranking female poet at the 2002 National Poetry Slam, she was featured on two seasons of HBO’s Russell Simmons’ Def Poetry.

 

"Truth Be Told"

Listen…  Listen to the words of a woman as if they are glistening from her tongue dripping drops of sound like the first words that ever touched your ears.

Pay attention…  Pay attention to her as if father time has rewound the clocks to the day of your first meeting. Time is fleeting. Keep the hearts of passion beating.

Nurture a woman by cultivating the seeds of her love and conviction to you so there may never be an eviction notice on her heart.

Make yourself vulnerable…  Let her see beyond the rough exterior walls you built brick by brick because she will find strength in your arms when you hold her.

If you are lucky enough to touch a woman's soul then let her tag yours like graffiti on the sides of subway trains and corner store brick walls that you’re tearing down one by one for her anyway.

Truth be told be bold and mean the words that you sold her. Your words are a gift..  and she’s been unwrapping pretty packages with empty meanings half her life so she will see through the lies and disguise you might try and hand her.

Peace of mind…  Give her peace of mind, assurance she was made for you and forge a blockade for her around your heart that no other soul could penetrate.  Form a crusade in her name in order to invade every fiber of her heart with ever lasting unconditional love.  She was handmade by God and brought down from heaven by delicate winged angels for a union of your souls.. so treat her as such.

Offer her compassion to the point she will never be left to ration out your empathy and remain mindful of the rainless droughts of emotions you allow to fall upon her.  It is painful when the reservoirs of your love go dry so apply tenderness with your words and actions.

Try…  Try and understand her to the point you are not only acting on the same stage but she can find you on the same page written into the same paragraph as one another.  Your sentences beginning where hers left off becoming a trade-off line after line after line.

Honesty and respect is what she expects.  So why offer anything less? 

She’s not an object to posses so leave out the distress of holding her to some idealistic standards for you to impress.  She can’t live up to them anyway. 

Strength, security and protection..  There can be no greater affection.  She wants to lie next to you at night knowing you would go toe to toe with the universe for her next birthright.

And women…  and women… forget about the money, the cars, the clothes, the jewelry and the fairy tale romance you think your life will enhance.  When a man truly offers you his heart… what more could you ask for?

Copyright © Scott Compton 2008

Spoken Word 101; Getting You Started

How do you know if you are a spoken word artist? The answer is pretty much: If you want to be, you can be.  The way people get their start in the field is as unique as their fingerprint.  The best way to begin is simply at home with a pen and pad; writing down words and lyrics; and committing them to memory.  To be considered a spoken word artist and not just a poet, the time will come to prepare for public performance.  Good spoken word artists convey thoughts not just through speech, but through timing and body language as well.  They don’t just say their words; they become them.

 

"Poets are the unacknowledged legislators of the world."
                           — Percy Bysshe Shelley

For more information & resources for beginners check out www.poets.org

Rafael Casal "First Week Of A Break-Up"

Rafael Casal is a 2-time (Inter)National BNV Poetry Slam Finalist Champion and 3-Time cast member of Russell Simmons' Def Poetry on HBO.  Also known as Mr.Getback, he is an American writer, slam poet, recording artist, educator, and founding member of The Getback.

Walt Whitman Once Wrote

"To have great poets," "there must be great audiences."  If "great" implies "large," he was wrong.  

We live in an age of poetry in which there is hardly any audience for it.  If it wasn't for the bold and courageous move by Russell Simmons to introduce Spoken Word Poetry on the wildly successful HBO series "Def Poetry Jam" one can only wonder where the demand would even be for anything poetry related today.  Few have risen to fame from this art form such as actor and rapper Mos Def.  Personally, I would not be writing and performing Spoken Word this very day if it wasn't for the "Def Poets" series that brought it back into the national limelight.  Even with the national attention it brought, as a whole, people are unaware that poetry at this level even exists.  It's hard to imagine the ability to intertwine and weave words on top of subject matter that crosses over race and gender the way an artist does today.  The lack of demand or size of any given crowd is mainly because in order to understand it, it must be experienced.  I had been writing for over a decade and still held the same opinions of poetry as most still do today.  Although I wrote it, I didn't read it, didn't want to hear anyone recite it but then I found out I had yet to experience it.  Now I am giving that experience back as I have often heard on several occasions after a performance: "I've heard poetry before, but never like that."  Spoken Word still remains underground, as great things do, but when a truly gifted artist steps to the mic they can shut the conversations and noise in a room off like a flip of a switch.  I have witnessed this first hand both while sitting in the audience and while standing before them spitting out my verse.  It's hard not to recognize that there isn't a sound in the room but your voice and it's at that moment you begin to realize you are transcending poetry and everyone's preconceived notion of it.  While it often takes little talent and simple lyrics for rappers and musicians to be played every hour on radio stations around the world, a good majority of them couldn't begin to dream to write with the aptitude that the top poets of this generation are writing at.  For now, most will continue to perform in small coffee houses and clubs making people take notice that the poets of today's generation are breathing life into the pieces they create right before your eyes.  And as long as artists, such as myself, carry a passion far greater than fame or wealth then there will always be poetry.

Jason Carney "Southern Heritage"

Jason Carney has been a mainstay on the national performance poetry scene for the past ten years. Hailing from Dallas, Texas this fiery performer brings unique insights on issues of race class and gender. Using the lessons of his past he weaves together images that transform the audience. Breaking down barriers and biases so that all can have an honest conversation involving some of our nation's critical issues. Jason has performed all across our country mesmerizing audiences with his wit and conviction. Whether telling an illuminating antidote about his children or stirring the ghost of our societies past present and future his effect is riveting.

Jason has appeared on several seasons of the HBO television show RUSSELL SIMMONS DEF POETS. He is a four time national poetry slam finalist. Honored as a legend of slam poetry in 2006 and 2007. Jason has done six NACA conferences including two national conventions. Been seen on national geographic channel as well as local television channels across the United States. He has spoken and done workshops at high schools juvenile detention centers corporate diversity engagements as well has colleges and universities extensively in the fifty states.