Def Poetry Jam

After lighting the fuse for the hip-hop explosion more than two decades ago, Russell Simmons has extended his Defness to the Def Poetry Jam tour, coming straight from Broadway. With rhymes as diverse as the poets, Russell's Jam has gone global, championing poetry competitions everywhere. This most slamming of poetry...

By Luke Turf

January 20, 2005

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After lighting the fuse for the hip-hop explosion more than two decades ago, Russell Simmons has extended his Defness to the Def Poetry Jam tour, coming straight from Broadway. With rhymes as diverse as the poets, Russell's Jam has gone global, championing poetry competitions everywhere. This most slamming of poetry slams examines everything from Bush to tush, using a cappella flows. All of the artists rhyme to the beat of their own minds, giving audience members a peek at life on different streets. Def poets range from oppressed to depressed, and they'll take you on journeys from a mother's passion to childhood ambition. Their poetry is birthed from the soul, spat from the mouth and shot at your mind. You'll laugh, cry, be pissed and maybe even enlightened as these underground philosophers crawl into the limelight right in front of your eyes.

Luke Turf

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