Spoken word? Word

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It’s been a while since the beatnik’s artful protest against a war and establishment politics. Spoken word did not evolve until the late 1980s and early 1990s with the emergence of "poetry slams," where spoken word artists would square off in cabaret-style duels. This type of competitive slam poetry event has been popular in India for centuries. In the United States, the competition of slam poetry probably arose from rap music and freestyle competitions. The common element is protest and a critical or corrective tone. Nuyorican Poets Cafe in New York City is one of the earliest venues where poets could protest the ills of society. Then the noncompetitive slam-like poetry came on board. Almost 4 decades later poetry comes back as a powerful tool of communication between us, in no need of an overwhelming production behind it. The boom that we observe right now started with Russell Simmons’s HBO program (also a Broadway show) “Def Poetry Jam” first shown in 2002, hosted by Mos Def series presenting performances by established spoken word poets, as well as up-and-coming ones (well-known actors and musicians would often surprise the audience by showing up to recite their own original poems). Even though some spoken word artists don’t necessarily appreciate the effect of commercialization that the show brought to a poetry world, they cannot not agree with the fact Def Poetry brought them the audience to their own, live shows featuring renown artists as well as the new voices, pretty often giving a chance to everyone who wants to take the audience over for few minutes. It’s a movement and state of mind, not a competition. Every human being is equal in front of the mic as long as they don’t go over the time limits! Even though NYC is a place of birth and still a capital of that phenomenon, almost every town throughout the country has their spoken word events and LA’s stuff seams to create their own quality. Here they are:

Spoken Funk, an upbeat, uplifting breath of comedic and poetic fresh air. The brainchild of Juren Smith and Tony Award winning poet, producer, actor, educator - Poetri, Spoken Funk fuses today’s funniest comedians with the world’s most talented spoken word poets. This dynamic duo has already teamed up in several avenues, from designing and sales, to a club full of games, to workshops on television. Poetri is the muse, the brilliant wordsmith, entertainer, and crowd pleaser; Juren is the big-idea woman, the one who takes the risks, shapes the brand, and pushes the boundaries. After years of disappointment from the social circuit’s predictability and hunger for shock value over moral value, they set out to formulate an environment where one wouldn’t feel desensitized by the end of the night. They've found a way to combine their individual strengths and compensate for each other's weaknesses, to forge mature entertainment that is both commercially successful and a reflection of their own values.

Da’ Poetry Lounge (GreenWay Court Theater, 544 N. Fairfax Blvd,Los Angeles, Ca 90036, 9:00PM – Midnight; EARLY ARRIVAL IS A MUST), the largest weekly poetry venue in the nation with an attendance of over 350 people every Tuesday, also hosted by Poetri, has not only broadened the appeal of spoken word in Los Angeles, but has become a haven for young people to come and express their emotions in a positive atmosphere. It is an open forum designed to allow artists of all fields to perform or showcase their artform. Birthed in 1998, Da' Poetry Lounge has become a tourist attraction – the longest running weekly venue in Hollywood's history.

Flypoet Entertainment was established in 2000 by John Hensley, a spoken word artist himself, tired of performing in obscure coffee houses and bookstores for audiences made up, primarily, of other performers. He was determined to provide exposure by presenting this form of art to an audience of non–poets in a venue with professional sound and lighting where they wouldn’t have to compete with chatter and cappuccino machines. For the audience, the formula is simple: a comfortable venue where patrons could relax with food and drinks, and enjoy the best spoken word talent available plus the poetry spaced out by inserting musical acts and novelties, more energy. Simply -- a vehicle to bring “underground talent” into the light.