Spoken word poetry at the V&A this Friday 28/6/13

FRIDAY LATE AT THE V&A

Come and see a one-off showcase of spoken word poetry from Angry Sam, Poetcurious, Keith Jarrett and Benny Diction, performing poems about Hackney, London and life from 6:45-7:15.

Free Admission

When Words Collide - BBC Radio 1Xtra - 27/1/13. 9pm

Nick Taylor's documentary exploring the relationship between hiphop and spoken word poetry airs this Sunday on BBC Radio 1Xtra at 9pm. The documentary centres around a night organised by poet Angry Sam that took place at East London's, Bedroom Bar last August. A synopsis of the night is included below; it was a great night  and you can find out who won if you listen to the show on Sunday!

Via 1xtra website...

When Words Collide

"Are hip-hop and poetry worlds apart? Or are the lines between these two celebrated art forms starting to blur? Nihal investigates the relationship between hip-hop and poetry, hearing from some of the finest rappers and spoken word artists around - including Chuck D, KRS-One and Scroobius Pip.

Along the way, we head to a bar in East London where five rappers and five poets are battling it out across three rounds to decide which form of expression is the best. The results may surprise you...

In Round 1 of Poets vs Rappers, the two teams do what they do best. We find out the shared history of the two art forms, and learn that the connection between hip-hop and poetry might go further back than we think - from the vibrant rap and poetry nights in New York in the 90s, to the legendary 'godfathers of hip-hop' such as Gil Scott-Heron and The Last Poets, to American recordings of the 1920s. Could the romantic poets and Shakespeare even be connected? Spoken word artist Kate Tempest and hip-hop artist Akala tell us how.

Round 2 sees our competing poets and rappers taken out of their comfort zones, where poets have to do their thing to music, and rappers have to do their thing without a beat. Nihal speaks to some of today's finest spoken word artists who started off as rappers, including Kate Tempest, Polar Bear, The Ruby Kid and Scroobius Pip. We also hear from established rappers who have taken themselves out of their comfort zones and strutted their stuff at spoken word nights. UK rappers TY and Mystro tell us why so many rappers are crossing over in to spoken word today. Finally before we find out how our own rappers and poets got on, we meet poet Mark Grist and MC Mixy, otherwise known as The Dead Poets, who tell us about their unique theatre show about learning each other's art forms.

Then, in our final round of Poets vs Rappers, it's an out and out battle of words as our rappers and poets clash - but this isn't the first time a rapper and a poet have gone head to head. At the beginning of 2012, teacher-turned-poet Mark Grist battled MC Blizzard as part of Don't Flop, the UK's largest rap battle league. We find out how this battle became an online sensation, and hear from other spoken word artists who have tried their hands at battle rap.

In hip-hop, a rap battle is one of the best places to show off your lyrical skill. We head to Shake The Dust, the UK's biggest ever youth, poetry slam, where a new generation of lyricists are embracing poetry. We hear from those competing about their love of words and how they draw influence from both poetry and hip-hop.

But where are these new poets and rappers coming from? Nihal finds out how both poetry and hip-hop are being used in education, from the many brilliant poetry and rap workshops, to the growing 'HipHopEd' movement, which aims to bring hip-hop culture in to the classroom and prove that it can sit comfortably next to classical poetry.

Finally we return to Poets vs Rappers, to hear what happened when our competitors clashed and find out the winner."

peaCe

I Used To Be A Rapper (second edition) *OUT NOW*

Thank you to everyone who bought a copy of the first edition. There are no more available and never will be again, so hold onto it and hope I die young and famous!

This second edition of  'I Used to Be A Rapper' contains several different poems, as well as photographs, illustrations and a new full-colour cover showing a detail from my 2008 painting 'It's Yours'.

The book is available online from www.lulu.com. There is a discounted online to compensate for the delivery cost to addresses in the UK. Overseas mail order is also available (contact me for a quote) and I will be selling and signing copies at various gigs throughout 2013.

Thanks for everybody's support. I look forward to my first review!!

peaCe

"This Month" - Manorlogz BHM Special 2012

My installment for Manorlogz BHM Special, 'This Month' is one of my oldest poems but still seems relevant. Shout out to Gee; the folks at Vox Africa, Battersea Studios and all the poets who represented for this. Certainly wasn't the usual 'Windrush-waving' celebrations of struggle and oppression that has often constituted BHM's past. 

By engaging with this project I have had numerous conversations about the appropriateness and relevance of BHM. Where it easy to write the whole thing off as segregation and tokenism, it seems that there are new conversations arising amongst a broad range of artists, social commentators and anyone else who gives a stuff about the changing nature of BHM and especially around how it is changing and adapting, as the context in which black politics is enacted changes and crosses over with other non-black (but still marginalised) groups experiences of inequality and resistance. 

Perhaps BHM will come to be known as MHM (Minority History Month) or OHM (Oppressed History Month) and just very maybe, one day, the history of all people will be taught with parity and we can do away with the whole thing.

Next Gig: Friday 2nd November, Intimates at the Poetry Cafe, London. Hosted by Kat Francois.

To Sea

Refugee Week 18-24 June 2012

To celebrate the innumerable stories of political and economic migration that have shaped our cities and societies, 'To Sea' reworks Edward Lear's 'The Jumblies' for a 21st century audience. Echoing the bravery and persistence of Lear's green and blue creatures, this poem serves to highlight the superhuman struggles undertaken daily in the name of freedom and opportunity.


Poetcurious says:

I know the original from my childhood and read it regularly to my young daughters. Reading it as an adult I was struck by the parallels between the fantastic story of the poem and the realities of many of my own friends journey's to this country. Once I had written the poem, I recited it for some of my friends whose stories had inspired it. They told me they were moved by the honesty of the piece and that it resonated with their own experiences. This was obviously a very rewarding response. 

After that I contacted human rights charity 'Restless Beings' to discuss turning the poem into a film. I was introduced to video-journalist and documentary maker, Ceren Yilmaz. I presented my ideas for visuals and Ceren edited my still images into the animated montage that you see projected onto my face in the film.
Ceren shot the performance in a single first take before editing it and delivering it to my inbox before midnight!

My greatest thanks and admiration go to Ceren, Mabrur and the whole Restless team for their support and dedication to this project. I am very proud to be associated with this crew!

If you would like to know more about the Restless Beings; find out more information about ways to support Refugee Week; get a film made or if you just want to see more curious poetry, check out the links below...peaCe

www.refugeeweek.org.uk
www.restlessbeings.org
www.cerenyilmaz.com
www.artofcurious.blogspot.com

Twitter:

@poetcurious
@_cerenyilmaz
@restlessmabrur
@refugeeweek

Come get some curious...

Upcoming Gigs:


Friday 8th June @ SOAS. 8pm onwards. Free.
Supporting '3rd Floor' - retro-fresh hiphop soul and funk. Spokenword and beatbox set.


Tuesday 12th June @ The Recreation Ground, Camberwell Green. 7-midnight. £5
Christopher Logue tribute night hosted by Angry Sam Featuring: Kate Tempest and John Hegley.


Friday 22nd June @ D'Gaf, Stratford. 7-midnight. Details tbc
Charity event in aid of Syria.


Saturday 30th June @ Kingsbury High School. 2-6pm. Free
Summer Festival literary tent + open mic


Sunday 1st July @ The Yard Theatre, Queens Yard, hackney Wick. E9 5EN. Midday-11pm. £7
Lyrix Organix: Relay with Restless Beings. Hiphop and poetry night. Gonna be BIG!


Sunday 15th July @ Theatre Royal bar, Stratford
Intimates hosted by Kat Francois. Details tbc


...That's all for now!!


 Look out for videos with human rights charity Restless Beings as well as a chance to see me spit in 3D in the soon to be released Peckham BMX club documentary by JetSet films


Much love for everybody supporting; enjoy the new video clips for Good Enough and My Beauty Remains and I hope to see you at a gig soon! peaCe

*new poem* FLASH BANG LONDON

FLASH BANG LONDON

by poetcurious

In a flash London was back

Back on the map, back on track

Back to back but never back to that

Dark days of 2011;

Its 2012 and London is heaven

All sins forgiven; despite there being more poor in prison

Isn’t this an old one Stephen? Just being retold

For the new youth, while the new old, remember

Stories from days past

When 10 pence could make the day last

Where we walked slow and we prayed fast

How does this one end again? The detail escapes me,

But I see through their gloss; what dem posh wanna make me.

Still, the fireworks were excellent; emotional, expensive

Which in ‘these times of austerity’ makes me apprehensive

Can we afford this? Really though, can we?

If we can, then that’s all good

But can you stop trying to skank me? And thank me

Come hand me a couple of Olympic tickets

(something close to the finish line)

While I’m writing these slogans on placards and pamphlets

For colleagues who are standing on picket lines.

See, it’s just a whole lot of politics

I need someone to help me unpick it

We all gotta have our fair share of the glory

Or lets tell dem man where to stick it.

Still, the fireworks were excellent; the party more intimate

The purse string are tight and them clubs I’m not into it.

So we rave on in maisonettes

Pissing through the xmas debts

Cut the decks, place your bets and laugh off your losses

A punch of rum, some drum and bass

Your wifey whining on ya waist

A smile on every drunken face

For whatever life offers.

OPEN/WIDE: 29/10/2011 @ Alaska Studios

Come down Saturday and have your say on the open mic. Best acts will be invited to perform at WORDAMOUTH events and record for a compilation at the studios. peaCe

curious - Future Movement *new video*

This is a piece I wrote in response to the fuckeries of the new coalition government. Enjoy (if you are not out protesting to claw back your dignity).

peaCe

curious - Olde Skool Artist *new video*

This is the first verse from a track I did with Ashwan entitled Old Skool Artist about 10 years ago. It was basically a battle rap referencing famous artists - High brow, low brow need to learn though...

peaCe

New things/New thanks...

.BIG TALL THANKS to Samantha Marie (La Alta) for putting this brain-aching montage together for I'm Not A Rapper. The piece was originally performed at WORDAMOUTH presents FreeStyles @ Favela London. A monthly spoken word and hip-hop night in London's east sides. If you want to know more about WORDAMOUTH events, find us and like us on facebook.

PLUS...WORDAMOUTHMASSIVE thanks to everyone who came down to the first REAL TALK event at Bedroom Bar on the 19th October to see Buntylooping, Richard Marsh and Katie Bonna. Good times!! Next one is on the 16th November.

peaCe

Statemeant Sessions #5 - curious

Props to my man Alhi Rashid aka Mr Statemeant for coming down to shoot this piece. We shot it on the windiest night of the year in Wembley Park *bang bang*. Peep the Statemeant website and check out the merchandise for the modern hip hop activist. They got got some sick tshirts and some hard to get baller jackets for the flush and flossing. peaCe

WORDAMOUTH presents REAL TALK @ The Bedroom Bar. 19/10/2011.

That's right, we are back at a new venue in Old Street in East London. Featuring at this first night is Resonators singer and live-loop solo artist Bunty Loopings with her unbelievable one-woman beat-box, loop pedal extravaganza and superpoetstorytellaractors Katie Bonna and Richard marsh with...

DUET

a scratch performance by Richard Marsh and Katie Bonna

Duet is a brand-new piece, so at the time of writing we can'’t give you a synopsis of the story. But you can probably expect tales of the world's least romantic, most romantic stag and hen dos, festivals, lonely Christmas dinners and too many coats. A wry, warm, real romance told in a hopeful, heartfelt way.

...You'd be Bonkers to miss it!!

peaCe

WORDAMOUTH IS BACK!!

More details soon, but after a long summer break WORDAMOUTH is back at a new venue in Old Street, bringing midweek party poetry vibes to all comers. Come and join us at the newly refurbished Bedroom Bar (63 Rivington Street) for the best in spoken word, storytelling, MCing, beatboxing, freestyling...you name it, we've got it! All backed by sick DJs spinning hiphop and eclectic breaks from beyond the crate. Simply put: WORDAMOUTH IS BACK!!*

*Start talking!!

SGP2011

Check out my Saturday afternoon set at Secret Garden Party. The Valley Of The Antics stage hosted me and Angry Sam last year and were good enough to have us back to open the show this year. Big up Theo for hooking us up.

My stand out performances of the weekend were:

Blondie's flawless vocals

The Resonators Sunday morning set

Stanton Warriors dutty DJ set

Switch & Khalil @ Wormfood on Saturday night

and much, much more.

SGP may be less of a secret than a few years ago but it's still a hell of a good festival. Can't wait for next year!!

curious & Angry Sam in today's Guardian...

It is only a couple of weeks since myself and Angry Sam hosted The Guardian for a school poetry slam. Following slam conventions, the poets performed poems from the Year 9 anthology for the judgement of an audience of 300 teenagers. Blake and Wordsworth battled it out with Kate Tempest and Linton Kwesi Johnson; with Kwesi taking top honours!! There was also a performance from a year 9 student who won the school's London Poetry competition with a poignant and image-laden piece of highly-crafted writing. One for the future, surely!

--> Big thanks to Judy and Richard from The Guradian for supporting this event and producing this article.

peaCe

"I'M NOT A RAPPER" NEW VIDEO + EVENT DETAILS FOR THIS WEEK

Recorded at FreeStyles at Favela Chic in April, "I'm Not A Rapper" is curious' slam-winning attack on the British arms trade. Scathing imagery and wry humour combine to produce a poem that packs a punch like a Scud in a school yard!!

More curious affairs ------------>

Tuesday 14th June. FreeStyles hosts Salena Godden and Talia Randall

Saturday 18th June. OPEN/WIDE is London's MOST open mic night.

For more information on these and future WORDAMOUTH / curious events, check out the "wordamouth" page on facebook and hit the 'like' button.

peaCe

Getting down Saturday night...

Out of Step at Mascara Bar in North London went off last night. There was a good turn out to see Angry Sam host and perform. His blend of wry wit and insightful critique was well delivered and received. Cat Brogan was the only female in the trio and repped her causes hard. Politics both geopolitical and sexual defined her set and her performance was sassy and assured. It was good to share stage time with such good poets and friends and to rock the spot with just a microphone (and an ipod for the breaks!!)...

...After that it was off to hear DJ MK, A-Cyde and Chris P Cuts rip the set at The Alibi in Dalston for the second of the new season of Gullyvers. This trendy late night spot attracts the local eclectro-punk set; throwback hip-hoppers and all the other weird and wonderful sub-groups that make up this exciting scene. The true music heads get a treat from the 3 DJs spinning music that is as eclectic as the fashions of those who dance to it. However, this is a hip-hop night and cutting, mixing and creativity abound in each set as the genre lists lengthen and the movements continue. Everyone has a good time; the door is free; the drinks are cheap and the dancefloor is sweaty (like a dancefloor should be!).

So that's two reasons why Dalston's trending right now. If you're in London and don't know Dalston, check it out because there's a lot of hot shit going down there right now. To find out what's on in N16, check out www.N16mag.com for info on events as well as restaurants, bars and other local info. peaCe

Session and the Bear @ FreeStyles

Yo!!!!! It seems like ages since Polar Bear and SessioN NoisseS ripped this ridiculous music/poetry set at April's FreeStyles. The night was sick! A good crowd; good vibes; sick performances and New Jack Swing - Don't forget a thing...

SESSIONANDTHEBEAR @ FreeStyles

...Next FreeStyles in on June 14th and features Salena Godden and Talia Randall. We are at Favela Chic again, so expect party poetry vibes, strong cocktails and phat beats from DJ Kaya Lox!!

peaCe

The man with 3 golden guns...

I previously posted a pic of the first Golden Gun Award I received at Bang Said The Gun's excellent poetry night at The Roebuck Pub in Borough. Since then, I have won 2 more. Here they are for your eyes!

This is the second Golden Gun Award I received at Bang Said The Gun. I find it adds a little extra pepper to any meal I cook in it...

...and this is the third and final Golden Gun Award I received before I decided to 'llow the slamming at Bang to preserve my 3 in 3 record! I was considering this one as a gift for W an' K on their big, expensive, publicly-funded day, but thought it could be misinterpreted as some sort of comment on the empire.

Thanks to everyone at Bang for putting on top-notch poetry nights that are both intellectually enlightening and downright bonkers at the very same time, in equal measure.

You can see me return to the Bang Said The Gun slam stage alongside a whole host of talented poets and comedians at the Meadlowlands Festival in the last Bank Holiday weekend of May (somewhere in a field described on this website).