The Spoken Word Revolution: Slam, Hip-Hop and the Poetry of a New Generation

We’re about to take you off the road you expected to be on when you heard the word “poetry.” Sandburg, Kerouac, Whitman, and Millay were all radicals in their early days. They outraged the status quo. The poets you’ll experience in this book and audio CD travel on that same track. The Spoken Word Revolution is a continuation and rebirth of the oral tradition in our country, and in countries around the world, where the power of poetry performed out loud compels an audience to listen.

The Spoken Word Revolution brings to life the written and performed works of more than 40 of the most influential slam, hip hop, performance art and contemporary poets in the world today.

This defining collection of spoken word poetry captures today’s electrifying words and voices, in text and immediately live on one audio CD.

Hear the innovative poetry styles of:
--Slam
--Nuyorican
--Performance art
--Taos
--Youth poetry
--Hip hop

Includes poems by:
--Sherman Alexie
--Billy Collins
--Regie Gibson
--Celena Glenn
--Edward Hirsch
--Jean Howard
--Taylor Mali
--Viggo Mortensen
--Beau Sia
--Patricia Smith
--Saul Williams