Russell Simmons Presents...
 

DEF POETRY

HBO starting Friday, December 14th.


FYI

For the HBO peeps!
 

Just a little reminder! :D

What time, soror? And which HBO, 1, 2, or 3?

whenever I say HBO, I mean THE ORIGINAL (I guess ONE) :p

I think 9pm Eastern. :confused:

Girl, please ignore me today, lol. The ORIGINAL :p HBO is just that, HBO. There is nothing after it. The other two have letters, HBOS and HBOP or some mess like that. Blame Bill Gates on my flustrations. (See the newest HC thread for details, lol)

DISCLAIMER: This girl I went to undergrad with could not get those words, flustered and frustrated right, and she would ALWAYS say flustrated. I did not come up with that mess on my own, lol, but I do think it's cute. :)

HC I've heard others say the same thing!

That is some funny stuh! :D

I am curious to see how it is. I am a huge poetry fan and a writer so I am hoping it is GOOD.

I checked HBO.com- it premieres Friday at Midnight. (Technically that is Saturday morning though...you all know what they mean)
:D

midnight eastern time?

I'll definitely be watching...
 

Dang it!!
 

AWWWW MAN!!! I missed it last night. Did anyone watch? I'm curious to know - how was it?

It's about doggone time!!!
 

I just saw it last night, and there was a lot of great poetry on diverse subjects. If I'm right, it's schuduled to run at 12 am Friday nights (just like Def Comedy Jam), and it's ran again at 12 am on Sunday nights. That's when I saw it. They even have it in the same facility that they held Def Comedy Jam.

There were brothas and sistas spitting some real thoughts up there, and they didn't sound angry the whole time. They had the kind of poetry that made me wish I could have recorded it to watch it a few more times, take notes, and make sure I could appreciate every line. It was diverse, too, because the audience had all races and ages, the 1998 Slam winner (a Caucasian man) performed an excellent piece, Nikki Giovanni read a short piece, and the last poem was from an Arab woman. I cannot remember her name (something like Sumeir Mohammad), but she wrote on 9/11. It had so many levels beyond "All Arabs weren't involved", and it was quite moving. I know I felt kinda teary, and they showed the reactions of the audience.

I really, really enjoyed the show, and I'm making sure to catch it each weekend, someway, somehow. It's better than watching "ComicView" and listening to the same stuff about sex, black/white folks, smoking weed, etc. Ohh...did I digress on a BET rant? The point is that I know I couldn't have been the only one proud to see something that stimulated my thought process. Too bad it had to be HBO, not BET.

Good Poets
 

Since my school doesn't have HBO, could some GCer's email me the names of some of the poets featured that were really good. I'm planning a def poetry jam program and would like to know who to request. Thanks

Re: It's about doggone time!!!
 

I hope that it runs sometime this week, again, and not at no midnight. I'm ticked that I missed it!! :mad: I'll definitely see it this Friday.

I loved it too!!!!!!!
 

Sorry I didn't get back sooner to respond.

Yes, Eastern time. It is aired Friday, Sunday and Wednesday nights at midnight eastern time. If you go to HBO.com then schedule you can look it up in your itme zone. Since they have HBO east ans west it may show at midnight in other time zones as well.

I was out of town and missed it over the weekend so I think I am going to set the VCR to tape it tongiht.

Well, I guess I'll be up tonight, lol.

Does anyone know where Def Poetry is taped? I wonder if I could score some tickets. Speaking of Nikki, I met her at a Poetry Slam out in DC she was so friendly!!!

She is amazing! She has been my favorite poet since the ninth grade and I had the pleasure of meeting her, talking to her, having her sign on e of her collections of poetry and getting my picture taken with her when she read her work at the Delta National Convention in Chicago in 2000 (She's my Delta Soror). I was thrilled!

I really enjoyed the show. I almost forgot is was coming on, even after all this discussion of when. But I saw half. I saw Nikki Giovanni, Black Ice and the woman who did the incredibly moving poem about being American, a New Yorker, A Palestinian, A woman and she made my heart jump. I absolutely love good poetry.

More likely than not, the show is taped in New York.

:confused:

The show was good! :D

Well I am right in across the bridge in Jersey maybe I can score some tickets, thanx for the info.

Nationwide
 

I just found out that Def Poetry Jam is a nationwide tour they have already completed NYC, Philly, Detroit and Chicago. They are going to DC next. So ladies find out when they will be in your city and then you can purchase tickets. I will be in DC until April, so I am hoping I can get tickets to the DC show.

The shows we are watching weekly were taped in New York. It features poets from ALL over the country. The same was done for Def Comedy Jam.

Right but in my attempt to purchase tickets I actually called Def Jam and they passed on this information to me. The young lady told me that only four of the poetry shows were taped in NY and that's what is being shown on HBO. Now unless she didn't know what she was talking about which could have been a possibility because I asked her when they would be in DC and she didn't know she also said the guy who handles ticket sales wouldn't be back until Jan 2nd, this was the information I got from Def Jam. But in any case I am in northern Jersey and I will keep those of us in the NYC metro area posted because I am SO trying to get tickets!!!

NYC tapings...
 

I actually went to 4 of the tapings in NYC. Cedric the Entertainer was hilarious...as was David Chappelle. The Slam winner was and the Last Poets were insightful. Jewel read as well...material was good...her delivery was not. I have not seen it on television yet, but it will be interesting to see the edited version.

keep 'em comin!
 

I watched Def Poetry last night for the first time and I it was so good I can't wait for next week. Jewel recited a piece last night but I think I'll be taping the upcoming shows from now on. Go on head Russell!

I saw that this was on Friday night. Are these repeats or a new season?

Yeah for bringing this topic back up!
 

I went to the spring tapings and my friend Toni Blackman performed. The sister is DOPE. (I know I am so 90's...lol) If you all see her, please hit a sister with a PM, I am sure she would love the feedback.

Re: Yeah for bringing this topic back up!
 

Hey...I know Toni Blackman...from Howard. Very talented Sister.

Finer Woman10-A-9....I'm trying to figure out if I know you from Howard. I definately know some of your line sisters (Sonja, Cynthia). I'll hit you up on a PM.

Re: Re: Yeah for bringing this topic back up!
 

Small world...but Sonja and Cynthia are not my linesisters...they came in under me. ;) Sonja's my Spec. Gonna hit you on the PM.

Re: Yeah for bringing this topic back up!
 

Now that you and Soror Prayerfull are done talking :p, heehee, I watched the whole show... and I'm thinking I saw her... and if I did, she WAS dope, lol! Did a poem on a dude cheating on her with another chick and it was basically the convo she was having with the girl? I LOVED IT!!! So if that was her (small frame, glasses?), you tell her that poem was off the hinges and I loved it!!! Shoot, quietly, I'd like it written down. :)

New Season
 

Jill Scott To Appear On 'Def Poetry'
Tue Apr 1,10:00 PM ET

Anna Maria Gibson

Singer-poet Jill Scott will appear on Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry when the hit HBO show kicks off its third season. The first of seven new episodes premieres Friday (April 4) at 12:30 a.m. ET, with repeats airing on HBO2 Saturdays at 12 midnight ET.



Rapper-actor Mos Def co-executive produces and hosts Def Poetry, which has spotlighted famous and up-and-coming poets. Jewel, Cedric The Entertainer, Dave Chappelle, and Benjamin Bratt (news) are some of the celebrities who've appeared on the show.


-- Anna Maria Gibson, New York

I knew it was coming. When I first started watching Def Poetry, I was waiting for the day Jill Scott would wreck the place! I can't wait. :)

I actually had the opportunity to watch a live taping of Def Poetry for free in NYC, but I didn't get to see the show with Jill Scott. However, I DID get the greatest opportunity to see and hear Buju Banton recite a beautiful poem. I had a lot of fun despite the fact that I had to stand.

YIPPPEEEEE!! Def Poetry Jam is BACK!

I have never been so sad to not have HBO. :( This is worse than missing SATC.

HBO Rerun Schedule
 

Def Poetry Rerun Schedule


Ideal I slept through it last night but I will tape it.

Def Poetry was tight da death!

just in case the link doesn't work, here's the rerun schedule:

DATE/TIME . . . . . . . . CHANNEL
Sat 4/5 12:30 AM . . . . HBO - EAST
Sat 4/5 12:30 AM . . . . HBO High Definition - EAST
Sat 4/5 03:30 AM . . . . HBO - WEST
Sat 4/5 03:30 AM . . . . HBO High Definition - WEST
Sun 4/6 12:00 AM . . . . HBO2 - EAST
Sun 4/6 04:00 AM . . . . HBO2 - WEST
Mon 4/7 02:30 AM . . . . HBO - EAST
Mon 4/7 02:30 AM . . . . HBO High Definition - EAST
Mon 4/7 05:30 AM . . . . HBO - WEST
Mon 4/7 05:30 AM . . . . HBO High Definition - WEST
Wed 4/9 11:30 PM . . . . HBO - EAST
Wed 4/9 11:30 PM . . . . HBO High Definition - EAST
Thu 4/10 02:30 AM . . . . HBO - WEST
Thu 4/10 02:30 AM . . . . HBO High Definition - WEST

That poem about stank breath was so on point! We have all been in that situation.

That poem was TIGHT. Did you hear her R. Kelly reference? LMAO

Jill's poem was OFF DA HOOK. I need her to put that in her book.

Soror Nikki Giovanni will be on Def Poetry tonight. It starts in 2 minutes. I had fallen off of watching it the past couple of weeks -- travelling and what not.