Legit or Ego Trip

On this episode of the Poetry As Usual podcast, we're joined by members of the collective known as The Dope Poets: Imani Waweru, Storyteller Gordon, King Quinc, Lady Kay, and King Kamayera. In this episode, they explore the differences between prose writing and poetry. They discuss the tension between the academy's attempts to define art and the idea that art is a form of expression that becomes limited when we try to place rigid definitions on it. They also acknowledge that some poets primarily focus on the page, publishing books and written work, without emphasizing performance, while many performance poets do not always translate their work effectively onto the page. The conversation then shifts to how more seasoned poets show up in poetry spaces. They discuss how experienced poets often approach poetry slams, including the tendency to leave early if they do not advance, and debate whether sportsmanship should play a larger role in slam culture. They also examine showcase dynamics, including how some veteran poets may express frustration when they are scheduled to perform before less experienced artists. The episode concludes with another installment of Run It Back, where they revisit the poem "An Ode to Spirit," written and performed by the Virginia Poetry Slam Team, Rich Ink, and featuring team members Ephrim Nehemiah and Malpractice.

Tune in to the eighth episode of the Poetry As Usual podcast.