Slam

You know that Def Poetry Jam has made a cultural impact when your Daddy-- who hasn't been in the loop with anything pop-culture since The Beatles broke up-- sends you an email blast praising a poet!

Def Poetry Jam premiered on HBO in 2002, brought to the air waves thanks in part to hip-hop-media-mogul Russell Simmons. Hosted by Mos Def, the weekly series played a huge role in bringing the phenomena of spoken word poetry out of the small urban clubs (such as The Nuyorican) and to the main stage. National Slam champion poets such as Beau Sia, Mayda del Valle, Oveous Maximus, and Rafael Casal have all appeared on the show, as well as a slew of conscious celebs such as Lauryn Hill, Common, Jill Scott, and Saul Williams.

If ya don't know slam... now ya know... Peep some of my favorite, brilliant, hysterically funny, emotionally stirring poets below (and one my Pops liked!).









... and the one that Pops dug...

Lavar Burton Would be Proud!

Shout out to the Nuyorican Poets Cafe!

The Nuyorican is a legendary New York arts and culture salon founded in 1973 by Miguel Algarin. Started as a place for artists and cultural movers-and-shakers of color to share ideas and work, the Nuyorican focused in large part on poetry and its significance in the urban community. Fostering a positive atmospehre, the Nuyorican Poets Cafe has nurtured the careers of many promising poets and played a major role in the development of the spoken word culture that came to national prominence in the 1990s. Hosting weekly poetry slams, the venue is able to bridge the gap between all cultures, ages, and walks of life who come out to enjoy the arts and get an artist's interpretation on the culture we face daily in America's urban centers.

A recent Friday night trip to the Nuyo after a lengthy absence reminded me of why I loved going there in the first place. The poets were all talented and fresh, despite their youthful faces, and host Mahogany Brown held it down! Integrating live music to bump up the audience, she lifted our spirits each time the poets' honesty and integrity brought us close to tears. Never, in my older years, have I seen such a brilliant usage of the above theme song. Growing up, I could never imagine that I'd be on my feet while holding a beer and singing along with 100 other people who all believed that "I. Can. Be. Anyyyyy-Thing!"

The Nuyorican Poets Cafe is located at 236 E. 3rd St (between Aves B & C) and hosts weekly poetry slams every Friday night at 10 pm.