Def Poetry
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Def Poetry, also known as Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry or Def Poetry Jam, is an HBO television series produced by hip-hop music entrepreneur Russell Simmons. The series presents performances by poets who are established in the world of poetry slams, as well as up-and-coming ones. Well-known actors and musicians will often surprise the audience by showing up to recite their own original poems. The show is hosted by Mos Def. Def Poetry is a spin-off of Def Comedy Jam. As he did on Def Comedy, Simmons appears at the end of every episode to thank the audience. The show premiered in 2002 and is currently still in running.
A live stage production, Russell Simmons Def Poetry Jam ran on Broadway from November 2002 to May 2003, and subsequently toured.
[edit] Featured poets
Well-known poets that have appeared on Def Poetry include:
- Jimmy Santiago Baca
- Amiri Baraka
- Black Ice
- Big Poppa E
- Oscar Brown
- Rafael Casal
- Staceyann Chin
- Lemon
- Anthony Morales
- Mayda del Valle
- Eve Ensler
- Nikki Giovanni
- Suheir Hammad
- Danny Hoch
- Bob Holman
- Helena D. Lewis
- Terry a O'Neal
- Ise Lyfe
- Taylor Mali
- Mighty Mike McGee
- Georgia Me
- muMs da Schemer
- Alix Olson
- Bao Phi
- Sonia Sanchez
- Beau Sia
- Shihan van Clief
- Saul Williams
- Emanuel Xavier
- Rives (poet)
- Gemineye
- Yellow Rage
[edit] Featured celebrities
Well-known actors and musicians that have appeared include:
- Saul Williams
- Erykah Badu
- David Banner
- Black Thought
- Avery Brooks
- Cedric the Entertainer
- Dave Chappelle
- George Clinton
- Common
- Dead Prez
- Ruby Dee
- Ani DiFranco
- DMX
- Floetry
- Jamie Foxx
- Nelly Furtado
- Lauryn Hill
- Wyclef Jean
- Lyfe Jennings
- Jewel
- Jamie DeWolf
- Alicia Keys
- Keith Murray
- Carole King
- John Legend
- K'Naan
- KRS-One
- Talib Kweli
- Matisyahu
- Tracy Morgan
- Phylicia Rashad
- Lou Reed
- Smokey Robinson
- Jill Scott
- Otep Shamaya
- Kanye West
- Michael Dyson
[edit] External links
- Official Site
- HBO's show page
- Def Poetry Jam On Tour website
- Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry at the Internet Movie Database
- Russell Simmons Def Poetry Jam at the Internet Broadway Database
- Is There A Future For Spoken Word? @ dropmagazine.com
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