Product Description

PRODUCED BY RUSSELL SIMMONS AND HOSTED BY MOS DEF, THIS GROUNDBREAKING HBO SERIES PRESENTS POETRY FOR THE HIP-HOP GENERATION.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #28836 in DVD
• Brand: HBO HOME VIDEO
• Released on: 2004-08-31
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .25 pounds
• Running time: 120 minutes

Amazon.com
Produced by Russell Simmons and hosted by Mos Def, this groundbreaking HBO series presents poetry for the hip-hop generation. The setting is New York's Supper Club, the performers are young men and women of every hue, and the tools are words: angry, funny--even profane--words. Taped live, each of the four 30-minute episodes from the first season features several poets and a guest or two (from the fiery Last Poets to the out-of-her-element Jewel). This isn't your grandma's traditional verse, but rather slam poetry--or spoken word--as influenced by Public Enemy as Langston Hughes and the evening news. Some are powerful (see Suheir Hammad), some clever (Sarah Jones), and some irritating (Yellow Rage), but each poem is sure to provoke some kind of reaction. Def Poetry would go on to beget a world tour, a Peabody Award and, in its Broadway incarnation, a Tony for best theatrical event. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

From the Back Cover
From the makers of Russell Simmons' "Def Comedy Jam," comes an all-new series that showcases practitioners of one of the country's fastest-rising performing-art forms--def poetry --in an intimate, uncensored format. Taped live at The Supper Club in New York, Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry is hosted by popular rap artist Mos Def, and spotlights original material performed by contemporary urban poets and well-known music/comedy artists.

Customer Reviews

Will have you laughing and tearing in the same episode..
This DVD is definitely a must have for all dvd collectors. As Mos Def stated in a few of the shows, these artists get up there and say things you may already be thinking. They will have you laughing at times, and will have you reflecting on the state of our society at others. As they show clips of the audience, you find every skin tone and age up in there and its a beautiful thing to see them all laughing together and even shedding tears together...It's deep..
Based on my experience from Def Comedy Jam, I was expecting all of the artists to be African American, but Russell mixed it up with Caucasians, Asians and Arabs which was HOT...We never really know how different people look at the world and this gives you a glimpse into what each person sees and what they've been through.

DEFinitely a classic!!

Food 4 the Soul
I caught this show on HBO by chance and became a fan instantly. If you are a person who appreciates any kind of art form, you will find true value in these performances. These poems are a window into the different cultures in our world and they allow you to relate to and understand other people and ourselves. This season has 4 episodes. However, I encourage you to also get Season 2 particularly (I have up until Season 3). On Episode 2 Danny Hoch did a piece on 9/11. Simply outstanding! It was at once somber, funny, sarcastic, introspective, sad, in short the most brilliant performance. Same goes to a performance by "Black Ice" which was Hip-Hop, yet anti-gangsta... awesome!! Beau Sia is also incredible with a hyperbolic performance about the "Asian Invasion". They alone make it a must have for anyone with an appreciation for poetry. I must warn you language can be explicit at times.

dvd collection "must have"
This DVD is wonderful and gives proof that the spoken word is the strongest force out there. Russell Simmons has truly captured and presented a raw form of unbelievable talent of everyday people and those more notable. These poets will touch and pierce your very soul and leave you laughing, crying, mad and happy. After the first episode, you will be hooked.