Def Poetry
Season 5
TV-MA
This show is a spoken word poetry television series hosted by Mos Def and airing on HBO between 2002 and 2007. The series features performances by established and up-and-coming spoken word poets. It's a spin off of def comedy and has been referred to as slam poetry although Simmons has said it isn't part of the movement. Just like def comedy jam Producer Russell Simmons comes out and makes an appearance each episode to thank the crowd at the end of the show. The series included historical legendary poets such as, The Last Poets, Nikki Giovanni, Amiri Baraka and Sonya Sanchez. It also featured poets, Saul Williams, J. Ivy, Jessica Care-Moore and Lemon. Though technically not a poetry slam, Def Poetry has become heavily associated with the poetry slam movement, and utilizes many of poetry slam's best known poets, including National Poetry Slam champions such as Beau Sia, Taylor Mali, Big Poppa E, Mayda del Valle, Mike Mcgee, Alix Olson and Rives, among others. Even poets who are critical of the poetry slam, such as John S. Hall, have acknowledged slam's influence on the show.
Where to Watch Season 5
10 Episodes
- Episode 1
E1Episode 1J. Ivy - "Never Let Me Down"; Dahlak Brathwaite -- "Just Another Routine Check"; Claudia Alick - "Employed Poor"; Black Ice - "Imagine"; Gideon Grody-Renkin - "Touching"; Avery Brooks - "Purlie Victorious"; Lauryn Hill - "Motives and Thoughts"; Rachel McGibbons - "After School Special"; Dave Chappelle - "F*** Ashton Kutcher" and "How I Got the Lead On Jeopardy" - Episode 2
E2Episode 2Georgia Me -- "For Your Protection"; Al Letson -- "The Ball the Rim and Him"; John Legend -- "Again"; Caroline Harvey -- "Spoons"; Bounty Killer -- "Look Into My Eyes"; Bassey Ikpi - "I Want to Kiss You"; Will Da~Real One Bell -- "Diary of the Reformed"; Dan Sully and Tim Strattford - "Death From Below"; Alicia Keys -- "P.O.W." - Episode 3
E3Episode 3Reg. E. Gains and Savion Glover -- "Pawn Shop"; Tommy Chunn -- "Computer Wordplay"; Scorpio Blues -- "Second Guessing"; Gemineye -- "Penny For Your Thoughts"; Emmanuel Xavier -- "Nueva York"; Mayda Del Valle -- "To All the Boys I've Loved Before"; Rev. Run -- "Peter Piper"; Aulelei Love -- "Same Cell, A poem for Women in Prison"; Mike Booker -- "Hoodology"; Smokey Robinson -- "Gang Bangin'" - Episode 4
E4Episode 4The Poem-cees -- "Cheatin'"; Paul Mabon -- "The Toothbrush"; Marty McConnell -- "Instructions for a Body"; Geoff Trenchard -- "Ode to my Bathroom"; Nikki Giovanni -- "Nikki-Rosa"; Roger Bonair Agard -- "Calypso"; Joaquin Zihuatanejo -- "This is a Suit"; Willie Perdoma -- "Nigger-Reecan Blues"; Floetry x2 -- "Fantasize" - Episode 5
E5Episode 5Poetri -- "Driving"; Shariff Simmons -- "F*** What You Heard"; Michael Ellison -- "Mezeker Means to Remember"; Phylicia Rashad -- "On Status"; Ratsack -- "Free the Toes"; Abyss -- "She"; Kevin Coval -- "Nothing Fight"; Mollie Angelheart -- "Psychotic Bitch"; Flo Mentalz -- "Talkin' to God"; Thea Monyee and Gaknew -- "A Different World" - Episode 6
E6Episode 6Wyclef Jean -- "Immigrant"; Nayeli Adorador-Knudsen -- "Priceless"; Michael Cirelli -- "Love Song for Kelis"; M'Reld -- "Ready for Love"; Red Storm -- "Snake in the Grass"; Kelly Tsai -- "Aftershocks"; Paul Mabon -- "The Toothbrush"; Kevin Derrig -- "Andrew"; Mike McGhee -- "Like"; Narubi Selah -- "Uncle Benz"; Ise Lyfe -- "Popular Dirt" - Episode 7
E7Episode 7Kanye West -- "Bitter Sweet"; Thadra Sheridan -- "Bad Boyfriend"; Rafael Casal -- "Barbie and Ken 101"; Terry Creech -- "Lost Bird"; Ursula Rucker -- "What a Woman Must Do"; Beau Sia -- "Hip Hop"; Sonia Sanchez -- "Our Vision Is Our Voice"; Shihan -- "In Response"; Jason Carney -- "Our Soldiers"; Amir Sulamain -- "She Said, I Prefer A Broken Neck ..." ; Lemon and Flaco -- "Boriquas" - Episode 8
E8Episode 8Preach -- "Cotton"; Sista Queen -- "Try Being A Lady"; Al B. Back -- "Super Negro"; Amanda Diva -- "40 Emcees"; Big Poppa E, "Poem For Castadera Antoine McGee"; Oscar Brown, Jr., "Once Upon A Time"; Steve Connell and Sekou The Misfit -- "America Calls"; Jerry Quickley -- "3-Part Bitter X-girlfriend #167249-B"; Stacy Ann Chin -- "A City In Tragedy"; Brother J of X-Clan -- "Atlan"; Common -- "Be Known" - Episode 9
E9Episode 9Suheir Hammad -- "Mike Check"; Perre Shelton -- "Dandelion"; Rives -- "Op-talk"; Otep -- "Dedicated to my enemy"; Heru Ptah -- "Why"; Sharon Olds -- "Self Portrait, Rear View"; Consequence -- "Friend Zone"; Tamara Blue -- "Thick Chicks"; Lemon -- "Poor People"; Jason Carney -- "Our Soldiers"; Black Thought from The Roots -- "Untitled" - Episode 10
E10Episode 10Gina Loring -- "You Move Me"; Rock Baby -- "That Sweet That Funk"; Chinaka Hodge -- "Cousin"; Denizen Kane -- "Patriot Act"; Sekou Sundiata -- "Amman"; Kristiana Colon -- "From The Clay"; Jimmy Tran -- "Mediocre Penis"; Flaco Navaja -- "Dimple"; Eve Ensler -- "My Father's House" ; Black Ice, Poetri and Shihan -- "We Are Men"