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Spoken word meet House Music at the Next Level Party January 18th, 2008
On January 18th The Next Level Party is doing Poetry meets House Music event.The artists featured are Abiodun Oyewole of The Last Poets, Ursula Rucker, Oveous Maximus, Queen Godis, Tantra, Sugar Johnson, Kisha Toure, and B- Polite.
DJ Disciple
alongside special guests Ruben Toro (Temple) and Kervyn Mark (Melting Pot) create the soundtrack for this momentous occasion in the spirit or Martin Luther King weekend. The poetry showcase is from 8-11pm following the Next Level party that continues on until 5 in the morning.
For more on the event go to http://www.myspace.com/thenextlevelparty
To view our Next Level event. Please go to this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_tUazG0m7Q
The Poetry Showcase:
Abiodun Oyewole of The Last Poets
Abiodun Oyewole (born Charles Davis, 1948), was a founding member of the legendary African-American musical spieling group, the Last Poets, that developed into what is considered the first ever hip hop group. The group was based in Black Nationalism and quickly became known throughout the African-American community. They are generally credited, along with Gil Scott-Heron, as being major influences on the development of hip-hop. He subsequently went on to earn a doctorate from Columbia University in NYC, where is currently on the faculty. Recently, Abiodun has been touring various venues giving lectures of poetry and politics.
Ursula Rucker
As a poet and performance artist, Ursula Rucker has enchanted critics and fans across the globe with her diverse repertoire, captivating vocals and accessible poetic verse. Ursula’s work has been described as part of a growing movement that is slowly adapting its aural sensibilities to women, particularly in the hip-hop and urban music. Counteracting male artists who casually linger on tales of black whoredom, Ursula plays an essential role in the rise of a new crop of female recording artists who deliver strong, intelligent, and visionary feminine flavor.
Ursula’s albums are poetry in motion, guided by a time signature that speaks to the human experience with honesty and poignancy. To date, Ursula has performed her work at an array of venues, universities, and festivals including Montreaux Jazz Festival, Winter Music Conference, Theater of the Living Arts, Painted Bride Art Center, World Café Live, and Drexel University. Ursula has toured with Jamaaladeen Tacuma, SYLK130, and 4 HERO in the United States and Europe.
Oveous Maximus
Oveous Maximus is a native New Yorker who’s roots go back to the Dominican Republic. He started writing and performing in New York City in the summer of 2003 after he lost his only brother CARLOS “Ziiinc Blue” to suicide. Since then Oveous’ presence on stage has become a symbol of honor in the name of his brother “Ziiinc Blue” who is the eternal driving-force behind Oveous’ work to uplift and rejoice the spirits of all people. Oveous has been seen on HBO Def Poetry season 6, Showtime at the Apollo, Latin Nation, BET’s Lyric Cafe, and the movie SPIT.
QUEEN GODIS
One of the hippest nerds of this spoken word generation. Her work embodies an accessible blend of Hip Hop, Spoken Word, Music and Theater that is both dynamic and refreshingly unique. Just when you thought it couldn’t get any more fierce….she was born and raised in the no-nonsense planet of Brooklyn!
Her poetry has been featured live at
HBO’s Def Poetry Jam, Robert Townsend’s Spoken and appears on two major releases produced by Afro-European singing duo Les Nubians entitled: Echoes – Chapter One and Nubian Voyager.
GodIs coached the 2007 Urban Word NYC Teen Poetry Slam Team, which ranked top 3 in the nation.
SUGAR JOHNSON
Between catching the uptown train to conduct “we luv the kids” writing workshops to dancing rumba on the lower eastside, Sugar Johnson flaunts his creative freedom in various mediums. The actor, vocalist, and educator have not only shared the stage with prolific artists such as The Last Poets, M-1 of Dead Prez, Jessica Care Moore, and Spike Lee, but he also labors to cultivate the forgotten souls of Rikers Island.
Johnson made his film debut in Dave Chappelle’s Block Party. The ASCAP member holds a B.A. in Mathematics from DePauw University and will release the poetry collection Food Clothes and Shelter on his imprint Home Grown Publishing, LLC in 2008.
TANTRA
In her words: My work as a poet can best be described by the love that I make through my art to the vision of the unseen reality. Those of you that have experienced the healing powers of spoken word poetry understand its transformative influence in saving lives through education, inspiration, peace and love.
KISHA TOURE
In the spirit of a true New York City girl, Kisha is no different. She began her involvement in the annual Poetry Slam in support of political prisoner, Mumia Abu Jamal in 1995, and that same year, two of her poems were published in the National With appearances at Urban Erotica, Shrine and Mocca, both located in Harlem, and Saje in Brooklyn, she has made strides to return to the poetry scene slowly yet surely. She hosts a humble, traveling, endeavor that seeks to engage house music and poetry into a marriage made in heaven, called ‘Mother of Pearl’ of which her partner DJ is Ian Rock. It’s short-lived stint uptown at the original “Perks” was graced with the presence of many talented yet supportive well renowned poets including Brother Earl, Mo Beasley, Rainmaker, and many other beloved poets.
B.POLITE
Brian Polite (AKA B. Polite) is the new millennium renaissance man. A poet, MC, vocalist, beatboxer, dancer, designer, and philosopher: A total artist and thinker.
In the 11 years since arriving in Brooklyn from Hampton, VA, Brian Polite has made forays into every aspect of the New York art and music scene.
The ten years spent performing with Second 2 Last B. Polite has performed with Ruby Dee (actress/activist), Louis Reyes Rivera (historian/poet), Jessica Care Moore (poet/publisher), Danny Glover (actor/activist), Sonia Sanchez (poet/professor/activist), Yusef Komunyakaa (1994 Pulitzer prize winner), The Pharcyde, Mos Def, Medusa, Slum Village, Supernatural, Immortal Technique (hip-hop trendsetters). In addition, Second2Last has performed at innumerable venues including: MSNBC’s Here Arts Center, Nuyorican Poet
Ãs Cafe, The Bowery Poetry Club, CBGB Gallery, Rush Philanthropic Gallery, The Skylight Gallery, SOB’s, The Knitting Factory, BAM Cafe, Joeys Pub, Irving Plaza, Symphony Space, Tishman Auditorium and Aaron Davis Hall among others.
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