''Russell Simmons presents Def Poetry'', better known as simply ''Def Poetry Jam'' or ''Def Poetry'', is a

spoken word Spoken word refers to an oral poetic performance art that is based mainly on the poem as well as the performer's aesthetic qualities. It is a late 20th century continuation of an ancient oral artistic tradition that focuses on the aesthetics o ...

poetry Poetry (derived from the Greek '' poiesis'', "making"), also called verse, is a form of literature that uses aesthetic and often rhythmic qualities of language − such as phonaesthetics, sound symbolism, and metre − to evoke meanings ...

television series hosted by

Mos Def Yasiin Bey (; born Dante Terrell Smith, December 11, 1973), previously and more commonly known by his stage name Mos Def (), is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and actor. His hip hop career began in 1994, alongside his siblings in the s ...

and airing on HBO between 2002 and 2007. The series features performances by established and up-and-coming spoken word poets. Performances also include special appearances by well-known actors and musicians, as well as occasional performances by Mos Def himself. Co-created by Bruce George,

Danny Simmons Daniel "Danny" Simmons Jr. is a Neo-African abstract expressionist painter, a published author, poet and philanthropist. He is a leader in the art world with his philanthropic ventures, artistic talents and creative mind and drive. Danny Simmo ...

, Deborah Pointer, Stan Lathan, and

Russell Simmons Russell Wendell Simmons (born October 4, 1957) is an American entrepreneur, writer and record executive. He co-founded the hip-hop label Def Jam Recordings, and created the clothing fashion lines Phat Farm, Argyleculture, and Tantris. Simmons ...

, the show is a

spin-off Spin-off may refer to: *Spin-off (media), a media work derived from an existing work *Corporate spin-off, a type of corporate action that forms a new company or entity * Government spin-off, civilian goods which are the result of military or gove ...

of the popular '' Def Comedy Jam'' which began airing on HBO in the 1990s. As with ''Def Comedy'', Simmons appears at the end of every episode to thank the audience. The series included historical legendary poets such as, The Last Poets, Nikki Giovanni, Amiri Baraka and Sonya Sanchez. It also featured poets, Saul Williams, J. Ivy, Jessica Care-Moore and Lemon. Though technically not a poetry slam, ''Def Poetry'' has become heavily associated with the poetry slam movement, and utilizes many of poetry slam's best known poets, including National Poetry Slam champions such as

Beau Sia Beau Sia (, born 1976) is an American slam poet. Life and career Sia was born in Ohio. He is of Chinese-Filipino descent. Raised in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Sia discovered spoken word poetry on MTV as a teenager. When not participating in his ...

, Taylor Mali, Big Poppa E,

Mayda del Valle Mayda (variously known as Maida, Mayd, Mayde, Brazir, Mam, Asmaida, Asmayda, Bentusle, Las Maidas Bolunda and Vlaanderen) is a non-existent island in the North Atlantic that has been shown on several published maps at various points in history. ...

, Mike Mcgee, Alix Olson and

Rives Rive (plural: rives) is a French word meaning "bank" (of a river). It could also refer to the following people or places: Geography France Rives is the name of 2 communes in France: * Rives, Isère in the Isère ''département'' * Rives, Lot- ...

, among others. Even poets who are critical of the poetry slam, such as John S. Hall, have acknowledged slam's influence on the show. In a 2005 interview, Hall was quoted as saying: In a 2005 interview, Bob Holman, who founded the

Nuyorican Poets Cafe Nuyorican is a portmanteau of the terms "New York" and "Puerto Rican" and refers to the members or culture of the Puerto Ricans located in or around New York City, or of their descendants (especially those raised or currently living in the N ...

's poetry slam and appeared on Season 4 of the show, applauded ''Def Poetry'', noting: However, Marc Smith, the founder of the Poetry Slam movement, is more critical of the program. Smith decries the intense commercialization of the poetry slam, and refers to Def Poetry as "an exploitive entertainment rogram thatdiminished the value and aesthetic of performance poetry." In November 2002, a live stage production, ''Russell Simmons Def Poetry Jam'', opened on Broadway. Directed by Stan Lathan, the show featured poets

, Suheir Hammad, Staceyann Chin,

Lemon The lemon (''Citrus limon'') is a species of small evergreen trees in the flowering plant family Rutaceae, native to Asia, primarily Northeast India (Assam), Northern Myanmar or China. The tree's ellipsoidal yellow fruit is used for culin ...

, Georgia Me, Black Ice, Poetri Smith, and Steve Coleman. The show ran on Broadway until May 2003, and won a 2003

Tony Award The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Broadway Theatre, more commonly known as the Tony Award, recognizes excellence in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ce ...

for Best Special Theatrical Event. ''New York Times'' List of 2003 Tony Award Winners
The show subsequently toured both nationally and internationally. ''Def Poetry'' premiered on HBO in 2002 and the latest season to air (Season 6) premiered in February 2007. As of summer 2008, there has been no word about the possibility of a Season 7. Starting in 2008, producers of ''Def Poetry'' (including Simmons, Stan Lathan, and

Kamilah Forbes Kamilah Forbes is an American curator, producer, and director. She created and directed the Hip Hop Theater Festival from 2000 to 2016. She has held directing roles for television and theater productions such as ''Holler if Ya Hear Me'', ''The Wi ...

) developed and broadcast the HBO poetry show ''

Brave New Voices Brave New Voices was created by Youth Speaks Inc in 1998 (a non-profit organization from San Francisco promoting youth intellectual and artistic self-development) after the inaugural Youth Speaks Teen slam poetry in San Francisco – the first ...

'', which is stylistically similar to ''Def Poetry'', with teenage poets competing and backstage scenes.

Episode index

Season 1 (2002)

Episode 1

*Steve Colman – I Wanna Hear a Poem *Georgia Me – Full Figure Potential *Vanessa Hidary - Culture Bandit *Lemon – Shine *Nikki Giovanni – Talk to Me Poem, I Think I've Got the Blues *Black Ice – Bigger Than Mine? *Suheir Hammad – First Writing Since

Episode 2

*Taylor Mali – What Teachers Make *Yellow Rage – Listen Asshole * Jewel – Poem Song *Flow Mentalz – They Call Me Drama *Sonia Sanchez – Poem to Some Women *Shihan – This Type Love *Dawn Saylor – When I Was 14 *Kayo – Who Am I?

Episode 3

* Cedric the Entertainer – Untitled * Sarah Jones – Your Revolution *

– Give Me a Chance * Willie Perdomo – How Beautiful We Really Are *Abyss – God Gave Me Grey Skies * The Last Poets – Take Your Time *

IN-Q IN-Q or IN-Query, is the stage name of Adam Schmalholz, an American songwriter and National Poetry Slam champion from Los Angeles, California. Schmalholz describes his poetry as a reflection of his own experiences and life lessons. Recognized for ...

– When Hip-Hop Was Fun * J. Ivy – I Need To Write

Episode 4

* Mayda del Valle – Descendancy * Poetri – Money * Jessica Care Moore – Warriors Walk Alone * Dave Chappelle – The Corner Store * Amiri Baraka – from Why is We Americans? * Liza Jessie Peterson – Ice Cream Fiend * Kevin Coval – Family Feud

Season 2 (2003)

Episode 1

– Asian Invasion *Jason Carney – Southern Heritage *Thea Monyee – Woman to Woman * Sekou Sundiata – Come on and Bring on the Reparations *Marty McConnell – Give Me One Good Reason to Die *Twin Poets – Dreams are Illegal in the Ghetto *

Jamie Foxx Eric Marlon Bishop (born December 13, 1967), known professionally as Jamie Foxx, is an American actor, comedian, and singer. He became widely known for his portrayal of Ray Charles in the 2004 biographical film ''Ray'', for which he won the A ...

– Off the Hizzle for Shizzle

Episode 2

* Danny Hoch – Corner Talk, September * Patricia Smith – Skinhead * Dante Basco – Nikki *

Maggie Estep Margaret Ann "Maggie" Estep (March 20, 1963 – February 12, 2014) was an American writer and poet, best known for coming to prominence during the height of the spoken word and poetry slam performance rage. She published seven books and r ...

– Emotional Idiot * Black Ice – Truth Is * Kent Foreman – Epiphany * Roger Bonair-Agard – How the Ghetto Loves Us Back *

Erykah Badu Erica Abi Wright (born February 26, 1971), known professionally as Erykah Badu (), is an American singer-songwriter, record producer and actress. Influenced by R&B, soul, and hip hop, Badu rose to prominence in the late 1990s when her debut al ...

– Friends, fans, and artists must meet

Episode 3

* Lemon – Where I'm From and A Toast *

Bassey Ikpi Bassey Ikpi is a Nigerian-born American spoken-word artist, writer, and mental health advocate. She has appeared on HBO's Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry five times and her poetry has opened shows for Grammy Award-winning artists. She's al ...

– Sometimes silence is the loudest kind of noise * Taylor Mali – Totally like whatever, you know? * Regie Cabico – What kind of guys are attracted to me * Haki R. Madhubuti �
The B Network
* Rat Sack – I'm Losing You * Talib Kweli –

Episode 4

* Ishle Yi Park – All I have ever done is write you love poems * Shihan – Say What? * Suheir Hammad – Not Your Erotic, Not Your Exotic * Big Poppa E – Wussy Boy * La Bruja – WTC * Anthony Morales – Story Avenue Stuck * Amalia Ortiz – Some Days * Oscar Brown Jr. – I Apologize

Episode 5

* Felipe Luciano – Jibaro, My Pretty Nigger * MuMs – Ploylessness * Amanda Diva – Hot Shit * Malik Yusef – I Spit * Asha Bandele – Morning Was My Mentor *

Malcolm Jamal Warner Malcolm-Jamal Warner (born August 18, 1970) is an American actor. He rose to prominence for his role as Theodore Huxtable on the NBC sitcom ''The Cosby Show'', which earned him a nomination for Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Ac ...

– I Love My Woman

Episode 6

* Sekou the Misfit – I'm a Rapper * Steve Connell – Why Not Wine Coolers * Georgia Me – NigGods * Louis Reyes Rivera – Bullet Cry * Jessica Care Moore – I'm a Hip Hop Cheerleader * Keith Murray – Man Child.

Episode 7

* Denizen Kane – Lost and Found * Staceyann Chin – If Only Out of Vanity * Big Rube – Alphabet Acrobat *

Wood Harris Sherwin David "Wood" Harris (born October 17, 1969) is an American actor. He has portrayed the drug kingpin Avon Barksdale on the HBO crime drama ''The Wire'', cocaine dealer Ace in '' Paid in Full'' and high school football player Julius Camp ...

– Night Song * Goldie – No title * Regie Gibson – For James Marshall Hendrix * Joy Harjo – A Poem to Get Rid of Fear * Linton Kwesi Johnson – If I Was a Top-notch Poet

Season 3 (2004)

Episode 1

* Black Ice – Lone Soldier * Rives – Sign Language * Helena D. Lewis – Stank Breath * Poem-cees – Power *

Mutabaruka Allan Hope (born 1952), better known as Mutabaruka, is a Jamaican Rastafari dub poet, musician, actor, educator, and talk-show host, who developed two of Jamaica's most popular radio programmes, ''The Cutting Edge'' and ''Steppin' Razor''. His ...

– Dis Poem *

Daniel Beaty Daniel Beaty (born December 28, 1975) is an American actor, singer, writer, composer and poet. Beaty is known for his blend of music, movement, and words in such original works as ''Emergence-See'' and ''Through The Night''. Early life Daniel B ...

– Duality Duel * Rupert Estanislao – Empress *

Jill Scott Jill Scott may refer to: * Jill Scott (singer) (born 1972), American soul singer and songwriter. * Jill Scott (racing driver) (1902–1974), English racing driver * Jill Scott (media artist) (born 1952), Australian media artist * Jill Scott (footba ...

– Nothing is for Nothing * Suheir Hammad – We Spent the 4th of July in Bed

Episode 2

* Mayda del Valle and Lemon – Tito Puente *

Flaco Navaja José María Avizanda Glaría (born 24 May 1966), better known as Flaco, is a Spanish football coach and former player. He won the Norwegian Football Cup with Molde in 1994. Flaco has played for Rayo Vallecano from 1986 to 1990, where he was a ...

– Kids Don't Play * Gemineye – Poetic Bloodline * Ursula Rucker – Get Ready * Michael Ellison – Light Skin-did * Ishle Park – Pussy * Ras Baraka – American Poem * Dana Gilmore – Wife, Woman, Friend *

Common Common may refer to: Places * Common, a townland in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland * Boston Common, a central public park in Boston, Massachusetts * Cambridge Common, common land area in Cambridge, Massachusetts * Clapham Common, originally ...

– God is Freedom

Episode 3

* Poetri – Krispy Kreme * Emanuel Xavier – Tradiciones * Marc Bamuthi Joseph – For Pop * Richard Montoya – Miami * Vanessa Hidary – The Hebrew Mamita * Danny Hoch – PSA *

– Homeward * Lemon – Gangsta MCs * Steve Colman – Terrorist Threat

Episode 4

* Black Ice & Staceyann Chin – Jammin * Rock Baby – Titty Man * Alix Olson – Women Before * Mike 360 – Twilight Zone * Cheryl James – We Follow Your Lead * Shappy – I Am That Nerd * Jonzi D – 3000 Casualties of War * Amalia Ortiz – Cat Calls * Jimmy Santiago Baca – from Healing Earthquakes ("Twelve")

Episode 5

* Roger Bonair-Agard – For Trent Lott * Frenchie – Fucking Ain't Conscious * Geoff Trenchard – Of Copper Chipped Teeth * Chinaka Hodge – Barely Audible * Quincy Troupe – Forty One Seconds in June, in Salt Lake City, Utah (for Michael Jordan) * Dufflyn – Single Life * MuMs – Brooklyn Queen * Kevin Coval – Jam Master J *

– Love

Episode 6

* Shihan – Sick and Tired * Jason Carney – Out Here * Gina Loring – Somewhere There Is a Poem *

Kanye West Ye ( ; born Kanye Omari West ; June 8, 1977) is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and fashion designer. Born in Atlanta and raised in Chicago, West gained recognition as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records in the ea ...

– Self Conscious * Jamie Kennedy – Grim Fairy Tale * Bao Phi – You Bring Out the Vietnamese in Me * Roscoe P. Coldchain – Trouble * Mayda del Valle – Mami's Makin' Mambo * Buju Banton – How Long

Episode 7

* Maggie Estep – Happy * Malak Salaam – Warrior's Love * Joel Chmara – Sweet Tooth Tollbooth School Year * Flowmentalz – The Payphone * Saul Williams – Coded Language * Georgia Me – Hit Like a Man * Deb Young – Children of a Lesser God *

Smokey Robinson William "Smokey" Robinson Jr. (born February 19, 1940) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and former record executive director. He was the founder and front man of the Motown vocal group the Miracles, for which he was also chi ...

– A Black American

Season 4 (2005)

Episode 1

– Knock, Knock * Rives – Kite * Nafessa Monroe – White * Mark Gonzales – As with Most Men * Zena Edwards – Laugh * Oscar Brown Jr. – Children of Children * Amalia Ortiz – Women of Juarez * Black Ice – Or Die *

MC Lyte Lana Michele Moorer (born October 11, 1970), better known by her stage name MC Lyte, is an American rap music, rapper, Disc jockey, DJ, actress and entrepreneur. Considered one of the pioneers of female rap, Lyte first gained fame in the late 19 ...

– I Was Born

Episode 2

* Gemineye – What Are You Fighting For? * Bonnie – My Man * Javon Johnson – Elementary * Suheir Hammad – What I Will * Rachel and George McKibbons – Multi-tasking *

Vanessa Hidary Vanessa may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Vanessa'' (Millais painting), an 1868 painting by Pre-Raphaelite artist John Everett Millais * ''Vanessa'', a 1933 novel by Hugh Walpole * ''Vanessa'', a 1952 instrumental song written by Bernie ...

– Fling Gone Awry * Flowmentalz – Constipation * Nikki Patin – Sweat * Nikky Finney – Girlfriends Train *

– 18 years

Episode 3

– Diallo * John S. Hall – America Kicks Ass *

Tish Benson ''TISH'' was a Canadian poetry newsletter founded by student-poets at the University of British Columbia in 1961. The publication was edited by a number of Vancouver poets until 1969. The newsletter's poetics were built on those of writers associa ...

– Fifth Word Email *

Kelly Tsai Kelly may refer to: Art and entertainment * Kelly (Kelly Price album) * Kelly (Andrea Faustini album) * ''Kelly'' (musical), a 1965 musical by Mark Charlap * "Kelly" (song), a 2018 single by Kelly Rowland * ''Kelly'' (film), a 1981 Canadi ...

– Mao *

Tracy Morgan Tracy Jamal Morgan (born November 10, 1968) is an American stand-up comedian and actor best known for his television work as a cast member on ''Saturday Night Live'' (1996–2003) and for his role as Tracy Jordan in the sitcom ''30 Rock'' (2006 ...

– Feeling Fucked Up * Will Bell – So I Run *Morris Stegosaurus – Big Man II * Dawn Saylor – Take You To Brooklyn * Michael Eric Dyson – Intellectual MCs *

KRS-One Lawrence "Kris" Parker (born August 20, 1965), better known by his stage names KRS-One (; an abbreviation of "Knowledge Reigns Supreme Over Nearly Everyone") and Teacha, is an American rapper from New York City. He rose to prominence as part of ...

and Doug E. Fresh – 2nd Quarter

Episode 4

* Poetri – Dating Myself * Julian Curry – Nigger, Niggas, Niggaz * Ishle Park – Open Letter to Soldier * Taylor Mali – Like Lily Like Wilson *

Adele Givens Willadele Givens is an American comedian, actress and writer. Beginning her career during the late–1980s in comedy, Givens television appearances include ''The Hughleys'', ''Moesha'', ''The Parkers'', ''Comedy Central Presents'', ''Def Comedy ...

– That Shit Ain't Funny * Kevin Coval – My g-dself Loose * Yolanda Kae Wilkinson – Circa Valentine's Day *

Amir Sulaiman Emir (; ar, أمير ' ), sometimes transliterated amir, amier, or ameer, is a word of Arabic origin that can refer to a male monarch, aristocrat, holder of high-ranking military or political office, or other person possessing actual or ceremo ...

– Danger * Floetry – Everybody Heard

Episode 5

* Lemon – Love Poem * Regie Cabico – You Bring Out the Writer in Me * Rafael Casal – Abortion * Kim Fields – How Come * Reg E. Gaines – I Don't Feel Like Writing * Jon Goode – Barbara * Dana Gilmore – Wife, Woman, Friend, Pt. 2 * Rita Dove – Black on a Saturday Night * Talib Kweli – Lonely People

Episode 6

* Flaco Navaja – Revolution * Liza Jesse Peterson – Waitress * Robert Karimi – Get Down with Your Catholic Muslim Self * Triple Black – Love Poems * Bonafide Rojas – In front of the Class * Laura "Piece" Kelly – Central District * BessKepp – Rotten Pomegranates * Michael Franti – Rock the Nation * Ruby Dee – Tupac

Episode 7

* Georgia Me – Bitch Ass Nigga * Jus Cus – Homeland Security * J. Ivy – Dear Father * Marlon Esquerra – Morning Papers * Marvin Tate – My Life to the Present * Martin Espada – Imagine the Angels of Bread * Alix Olson – America on Sale *

– Pornographic Content * Ani DiFranco – Coming Up * Mike Epps – I Love the Hood

Episode 8

* Mayda del Valle – Hood Days * Andy Buck – *69 * Faraji Salim – Star Spangled Banner * Bob Holman – Rock & Roll Mythology * Patrick Washington – Letter to the Editor * Tara Betts – Switch * Paul Flores – Brown Dreams * muMs – The Truth Parts I & II * Buttaflysoul – Queer Eye * Dead Prez – 4 the Hood

Episode 9

– I'm So Deep * Aysiha Knight – Until * Buddy Wakefield – Convenience Store * Shihan – The Auction Network * Miguel Algarin – Met Walking * Kendra Urdang – To Every Man Who Never Called Himself a Feminist * Speech – Night Time Demons * Red Storm – My Debut *

Universes (poetic theatre ensemble) Universes (stylized UNIVERSES) is a New York-based American ensemble company of multi-disciplined writers and performers who fuse poetry, theater, jazz, hip hop, politics, down home blues and Spanish boleros to create what has been descr ...

(Steven, Mildred & Gamal) – Don't Front * Common – A Letter to the Law

Episode 10

* Tommy Bottoms – Basic Economics * Staceyann Chin – Three Frenzied Days *

Joe Hernandez-Kolski Joe Hernandez-Kolski is an American actor, spoken word poet, comedian and hip-hop theater artist. He appeared on the fourth and sixth seasons of HBO's ''Def Poetry Jam''. Early life and education Hernandez-Kolski was born in Chicago, the son of Ph ...

– Cool * Marc Batmuthi Joseph – Move * Denizen Kane – Love Song * Aya De Leon – Cellulite * Musiq – Pieces of this Life *

– My Life is Real * Yusef Komunyakaa – The Sure Beat *

, Georgia Me, Suheir Hammad – First Taste

Season 5 (2006)

Episode 1

* J. Ivy – Never Let Me Down *

Dahlak Brathwaite Dahlak Brathwaite (born 1986) is a hip-hop-rooted performance artist, spoken word poet, actor, musician, and writer. He has toured the United States with his one-man show, ''Spiritrials'', since 2015, first gaining prominence when appearing twice o ...

– Just Another Routine Check * Claudia Alick – Employed Poor * Black Ice – Imagine * Gideon Grody-Patinkin – Touching * Avery Brooks – from Purlie Victorious (by Ossie Davis) *

Lauryn Hill Lauryn Noelle Hill (born May 26, 1975) is an American singer, songwriter, rapper, and record producer. She is often regarded as one of the greatest rappers of all time, as well as being one of the most influential musicians of her generation. ...

– Motives and Thoughts * Rachel McKibbens – After School Special * Dave Chappelle – Fuck Ashton Kutcher and How I Got the Lead On Jeopardy

Episode 2

* Al Letson – The Ball the Rim and Him * Dan Sully and Tim Stafford – Death From Below * Georgia Me – For Your Protection *

John Legend John Roger Stephens (born December 28, 1978), known professionally as John Legend, is an American singer, songwriter, pianist, and record producer. He began his musical career by working behind the scenes, playing piano on Lauryn Hill's " Eve ...

– Again * Caroline Harvey – Spoons * Bounty Killer – Look Into My Eyes; *

– I Want to Kiss You * Will "Da Real One" Bell – Diary of the Reformed *

Alicia Keys Alicia Augello Cook (born January 25, 1981), known professionally as Alicia Keys, is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. A classically trained pianist, Keys started composing songs when she was 12 and was signed at 15 years old by Colu ...

– P.O.W.

Episode 3

* Reg E. Gaines and

Savion Glover Savion Glover (born November 19, 1973) is an American tap dancer, actor, and choreographer. Early life The youngest of three sons, Glover was born to a white father, who left the family before he was born, and a black mother. Glover's great grand ...

– Pawn Shop * Tommy Chunn – Computer Wordplay * Scorpio Blues – Second Guessing * Gemineye – Penny for Your Thoughts * Emanuel Xavier – Nueva York * Mayda del Valle – To All the Boys I've Loved Before *

Rev. Run Joseph Ward Simmons (born November 14, 1964), better known by the stage name Run, Rev. Run or DJ Run, is an American rapper, producer, DJ and television personality. Simmons is one of the founding members of the influential hip hop group Ru ...

– Peter Piper * Aulelei Love – Same Cell, A Poem for Women in Prison * Mike Booker – Hoodology *

– Gang Bangin'

Episode 4

* The Poem-cees – Cheatin' * Geoff Trenchard – Ode to my Bathroom * Marty McConnell – Instructions for a Body * Nikki Giovanni – Nikki-Rosa * Roger Bonair-Agard – Calypso *

Joaquin Zihuatanejo Joaquin Zihuatanejo (born 1971 in Dallas, Texas) is an American slam poet and teacher. In 2004, Zihuatanejo competed in the National Poetry Slam as part of the Dallas Poetry Slam team, which placed third. He also appeared on HBO's Def Poetry in 20 ...

– This is a Suit * Ishle Park – Sa-I-Gu * Willie Perdomo – Nigger-Reecan Blues * Floetry x2 – Fantasize

Episode 5

* Poetri – Driving * Sharrif Simmons— Fuck What You Heard *

Michael D. Ellison Michael D. Ellison (aka MIKE-E, Mike Ellis, Michael Ellison) is an African American recording artist. He is well known for his slam poetry performances and his involvement with the Detroit Concert of Colors annual event. Biography Ellison was bor ...

– Mezeker Means to Remember * Phylicia Rashad – On Status (by Vivian Ayers) * Ratsack – Free the Toes * Abyss – She * Kevin Coval – Nothing Fight * Mollie Angelheart – Psychotic Bitch * Flomentalz – Talkin' to God * Thea Monyee and Gaknew – A Different World

Episode 6

Wyclef Jean Nel Ust Wyclef Jean (; born October 17, 1969) is a Haitian rapper, musician, and actor. At the age of nine, Jean immigrated to the United States with his family. He first achieved fame as a member of the New Jersey hip hop group the Fugees, ...

– Immigrant * Nayeli Adorador-Knudsen – Priceless * Michael Cirelli – Love Song for Kelis * M'Reld – Ready for Love * Red Storm – Snake in the Grass * Kelly Tsai – Aftershocks * Paul Mabon – The Toothbrush * Kevin Derrig – Andrew * Mighty Mike McGee – Like * Narubi Selah – Uncle Benz * Ise Lyfe – Popular Dirt

Episode 7

– Bittersweet * Ursula Rucker – What a Woman Must Do * Rafael Casal – Barbie and Ken 101 * Terry Creech – Lost Bird * Thadra Sheridan – Bad Boyfriend *

– Hip Hop * Shihan – In Response * Sonia Sanchez – Our Vision Is Our Voice * Amir Sulaiman – She Said, I Prefer A Broken Neck... * Lemon and Flaco – Boriquas

Episode 8

* Preach R Sun – Cotton * Steve Connell and Sekou The Misfit – America Calls * Big Poppa E – Poem For A Friend * Amanda Diva – 40 Emcees * Al B. Back – Super Negro * Sista Queen – Try Being A Lady * Jerry Quickley – 3-Part Bitter X-girlfriend #167249-B * Oscar Brown, Jr. – This Beach * Staceyann Chin – A City In Tragedy * Brother J – Atlan *

– Be Known

Episode 9

* Suheir Hammad – Mike Check * Lemon – Poor People * Tamara Blue – Thick Chicks * Rives – Op-talk * Otep Shamaya– Dedicated To My Enemy * Heru Ptah – Why *

Sharon Olds Sharon Olds (born November 12, 1942) is an American poet. Olds won the first San Francisco Poetry Center Award in 1980, the 1984 National Book Critics Circle Award, and the 2013 Pulitzer Prize in Poetry.

– Self Portrait, Rear View * Perre Shelton – Dandelion * Consequence – Friend Zone * Jason Carney – Our Soldiers *

Black Thought Tariq Luqmaan Trotter (born October 3, 1973), better known as Black Thought, is an American rapper, actor and the lead MC of the Philadelphia-based hip hop group the Roots, which he co-founded with drummer Questlove (Ahmir Thompson). Regarded ...

– Untitled

Episode 10

* Gina Loring – You Move Me * Rock Baby – That Sweet That Funk * Chinaka Hodge – Cousin * Denizen Kane – Patriot Act * Sekou Sundiata – Amman * Kristiana Colon – From the Clay * Jimmy Tran – Mediocre Penis * Flaco Navaja – Dimple * Eve Ensler – My Father's House * Black Ice, Poetri and Shihan – We Are Men

Season 6 (2007)

Episode 1

DMX Earl Simmons (December 18, 1970 – April 9, 2021), known professionally as DMX, was an American rapper and actor. He began rapping in the early 1990s and released his debut album ''It's Dark and Hell Is Hot'' in 1998, to both critical acclaim ...

– The Industry * Big Mike – Sexy * Asia – The Waiting Hour * Dan Vaughn & Dasha Kelly – Six Million * Kelly Tsai – Grey Matter * Red Storm – Black Barbie Doll * Shanelle Gabriel – Why I Love You * Idris Goodwin – What is They Feedin' Our Kids *

– Ain't a Ceiling

Episode 2

Dahlak Braithwaite Dahlak may refer to: * Dahlak Archipelago, an island chain in the Red Sea * Dahlik language, a language spoken on three of those islands and in parts of Eritrea *Dahlak Subregion Dahlak Subregion is a subregion in the Northern Red Sea region of Er ...

– Peculiar Evolution * Skim – Your Eyes * Eamon Mahone & Paul Graham – Black Irish * Tahani Salah – Hate * George Watsky – V For Virgin * Shannon Leigh – Sudanese Children * Pat's Justice – Innocent Criminal *

Lyfe Jennings Chester Jermaine "Lyfe" Jennings (born June 3, 1978) is an American R&B and soul singer-songwriter, record producer, and instrumentalist. He plays the guitar, bass, and piano which he integrates into his music. The ''New York Times'' referred ...

– Rough Stuff *

Matisyahu Matthew Paul Miller (born June 30, 1979), known by his stage name Matisyahu (; ), is an American reggae singer, rapper, beatboxer, and alternative rock musician. Known for blending spiritual themes with reggae, rock and hip hop beatboxing soun ...

– Late Night In The Field *

Talib Kweli Talib Kweli Greene (; born October 3, 1975) is an American rapper. He earned recognition early on through his collaboration with fellow Brooklyn rapper Mos Def in 1997, when they formed the group Black Star. Kweli's musical career continued with ...

– Hell

Episode 3

* Sarah Kay – Hands * Riva & Sciryl – My Best Friend (Hip Hop) * Rafael Casal – First Week Of A Break-Up * Meilani Clay – Lost * Shihan – Father's Day * Shannon Matesky – My Space * Carlos Andres Gomez – What's Genocide *

Carole King Carole King Klein (born Carol Joan Klein; February 9, 1942) is an American singer, songwriter, and musician who has been active since 1958, initially as one of the staff songwriters at 1650 Broadway and later as a solo artist. Regarded as one o ...

– Touchstone * Natalie Stewart – Her Story *

Jamal Joseph Jamal Joseph (formerly Eddie Joseph; ...

– Ricky Do & The 4th Of July

Episode 4

* Oveous Maximus – Salcedo's Breakdown *

Sonya Renee Taylor Sonya Renee Taylor is a New York Times best-selling author, activist, thought leader, spoken word artist, and founder of The Body is Not An Apology global movement. Taylor's work focuses on body liberation, racial justice, and transformational ch ...

– Connections * Anis Mojgani – For Those Who Can Still Ride an Airplane for the First Time *

– Dirty Talk * Mush – Next Wednesday * Joe Hernandez-Kolski – No Disclaimers * African-American Shakespear – Will You Be There * David Banner – What About Us * Sunni Patterson – We Made It

Episode 5

* Big Poppa E – Propers *

– Apology To My Unborn * Alvin Lau – What Tiger Said * Saddi Kali – Goin' Platinum In 2 Days * Liza Garza – My Everything * Lamont Carey – I Can't Read * Brian Dykstra – Pushing Bush * Vanessa Hidary – Phd In Him * Basikknowledge – Numbers * George Clinton – Dope Dog

Episode 6

* Black Ice – The Ugly Show * Mayda Del Valle – The porn industry *

Steve Colman Steve Colman is an American award-winning poet, playwright, producer, and director. Biography Colman was the inaugural poet on the Peabody Award-winning television series ''Russell Simmons presents Def Poetry Jam'' on HBO. He co-wrote and co- ...

– I Want To Eat Your Pu**y * Georgia Me – The Promiseland *

– Back To The Now * Staceyann Chin – Nails * Poetri – Monsters In My Stomach * Suheir Hammad – Daddy's Song * Lemon – Experience *

Nelly Furtado Nelly Kim Furtado (; ; born December 2, 1978) is a Canadian singer and songwriter. Furtado has sold over 40 million records worldwide making her one of the most successful Canadian artists. She first gained fame with her trip hop-inspired de ...

– Nevis

Reboot

Chance the Rapper Chancelor Johnathan Bennett (born April 16, 1993), known professionally as Chance the Rapper, is an American rapper, singer-songwriter, and record producer. Born and raised in Chicago, Bennett released his debut mixtape ''10 Day'' in 2012. He ...

will host this season.

References

External links

* *
Is There A Future For Spoken Word? @ dropmagazine.com
{{HBONetwork Shows Works about slam poetry HBO original programming 2002 American television series debuts 2007 American television series endings English-language television shows Hip hop television Def Jam Recordings