Last week I reminisced about Sekou Sundiata (1946-2007). His signature piece, Space, I heard for the first time on a CD called Flippin the Script: Rap Meets Poetry. Produced by the legendary Bob Holman, this CD is a virtual open-mic recorded over 2 years at the Nuyorican Poetry Cafe. It was released on Mouth Almighty/Mercury; the first ever spoken word/poetry record label.
The following is a play list with a few liner notes from me. It’d be dope to have a Read List like this one Tuesday:
1. Introduction - Bob Holman
2. Harlem Sweeties - Seventeen
a dope rendition of a classic Langston Hughes’ piece…
3. Processions - Tish Benson
I’ve always thought that Def Poetry Jam’s Georgia Me was a knock of this poetess who is far more prolific and engaging
4. What I Got Is Gonna Last - Kool Kim
Kool Kim is from a rap group called the UMCs. their biggest hit was called Blue Cheese.
5. Love Poems - Bob Holman
all of my friends are hip to the fact that i used to recite this short piece at the end of every poetry night back in the day.
6. Open - Sonja Sohn
Sonja is the chick from the Underground classic Slam. She also plays a cop on the HBO cop drama the Wired
7. Kickin’ It All Around - Dasez
8. Space - Sekou Sundiata
the crowd participation on this piece is Crazy!! if you’ve ever been to our night and experience my Poem “Pretty”…well…it pales in comparison to this definitive performance poem
9. Nigger-Reecan Blues - Willie Perdomo
puerto rican poetry is some of the most powerful poetry in the known universe. Willie Perdomo is its Sourcerer Supreme!!
10. Os-Sos-Saros - Edwin Torres
11. Supreme - Samantha Coerbell
12. My Baby’s Mother - High Priest
13. What Is Hip Hop? - Greg Tate
this is the Only piece of poetry i’ve ever known Greg Tate to write/perform. this fact is amazing considering how extensive a library he’s created writing for the Village Voice. on top of that, the piece is Dope as Hell! and very timely considering the state the hip hop community is in.
14. Regurgitations - Mikah
that’s Mikah 9 from California’s Freestlye Fellowship; the group that birthed the mcee Aceyalone
15. No Respect For Life - Essence Donn
16. Every Time I Say Now - Seventeen
17. Why Lie? - Sha-Key
18. Well? - Everton Sylvester
19. Howl In Japanese - Nakagaki Hisafumi (A.K.A. ‘Howlin’ Tommy’)
20. Letter Word Terminology - Murder One
1 response so far ↓
1 Bob Holman // Oct 15, 2007 at 2:37 pm
Imani, I’ll have to agree w/ you that “Flippin the Script” is a terrific record of that mid-90s mome when rAP mEETS pOETRY…that was the other name of this series, which actually took place at The Fez, Lafayette and Bond, downstairs, muy suave, later at SOBs…Bill Adler, partner at Mouth Almighty and also Producer of the CD, was the DJ….as for legendary — !!??!! — please blurb my new CD! (ps — I’ve always really loved the artwork on FTS!)
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