In my opinion, spoken word poetry is an art that (unfortunately) goes unnoticed. It's overwhelmingly underappreciated in mainstream culture. There's the beloved music that plays in one's ear and a rising popularity of written poetry, but where's the love for poetry you can actually hear? Spoken word brings the message of the piece alive by the use of vocalization. To hear exactly how the words should sound is a dynamic that can't be matched.
1. "Nipples" by Jose Soto
This was the first time I had seen any of Jose's poetry and I was pleasantly surprised. It was a humorous and refreshing story about his almost first time. The girl he was with pointed out a flaw of his ("milk dud nipples," hence the name). While the poem was funny and watching him perform in such an enthusiastic way was nice, the poem made me think of something. It isn't often that we hear stories from or about boys and embracing their flaws, so for him to do so is a major accomplishment in my eyes.
2. "Hide Your Shea Butter" by Crystal Valentine and Aaliyah Jihad
If you find yourself a little lost when it comes to cultural appropriation, look no further. Crystal and Aaliyah absolutely slayed it. They told the truth like it was while also appealing to the humor of it all. This poem relays a clear and significant message about the importance of culture. Just go watch it.
3. "When Love Arrives" by Sarah Kay and Phil Kaye
Sarah and Phil were some of the first spoken word artists that really accelerated my interest in the medium. Their poetry as separate entities is impressive, but when they perform together I am always taken aback. "When Love Arrives" is a sweet and innocent piece about kids who think they know love, who then grow up and find out that love is everything they never imagined.
4. "What Female Ejaculation Feels Like" by Mikayla Mitchell
My eyes widened at the sight of this one. I honestly didn't know what to expect. Luckily, the unexpected turned out to be great in this case. Mitchell highlighted a topic seen as rather "taboo" in our modern society and turned it into something powerful. This was a celebration of womanhood and embracing sexuality, an unapologetic homage to women's empowerment.
5. "El Cantante" by Noel Quiñones
If you've ever watched the movie El Cantante (starring Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony), this piece will definitely mean so much more to you. Through his impressive performance, I was placed right into the movie. The accent, the mannerisms, the change in mood, all of it was accurate and indicative of Héctor Lavoe's personality (at least what it was based on the movie). Also, along with this video, I highly suggest watching the movie.
6. "Alternate Universe in Which I Am Unfazed by the Men Who Do Not Love Me" by Olivia Gatwood
Olivia Gatwood has recently become one of my favorite people ever. "Alternate Universe..." is a satirical-like poem about a girl who is completely done with bullsh*t at the hands of men. From slaughtering goats to tattooing a bad word on the inside of her lip, she presents many ways in which she is "unfazed." Side note: please check out another one of her poem's titled "Ode to the Women on Long Island."
