Def Poetry Jam
Def Poetry Jam
Def Poetry, also known as Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry or Def Poetry Jam, which was co-founded by Bruce George, Danny Simmons and Deborah Pointer, is an HBO television series produced by hip-hop music entrepreneur Russell Simmons. The series presents performances by established spoken word poets, as well as up-and-coming ones. Well-known actors and musicians will often surprise the audience by showing up to recite their own original poems. The show is hosted by Mos Def. Def Poetry is a spin-off of Def Comedy Jam. As he did on Def Comedy, Simmons appears at the end of every episode to thank the audience.
ARTICLES OF INTEREST
Def Poetry Jam Provides Enlightening Entertainment - November 18, 2004 - THE DES MOINES REGISTER
Poetry for the Stage, Not the Page - November 11, 2004 - THE DES MOINES REGISTER
Def Poetry Jam Takes 'Encore' - November 11, 2004 - GAINESVILLE SUN
The Word On The Street - November 5, 2004 - THE TAMPA TRIBUNE
Poetry is moving from coffeehouses to the Hippodrome - October 28, 2004 - THE BALTIMORE SUN
Jammin' with the Poets at PPAC - October 11, 2004 - PROVIDENCE JOURNAL
Pop Culture: Power of the Spoken Word - October 8, 2004 - ASBURY PARK PRESS
Poetry Is Def - October 8, 2004 - BURLINGTON FREE PRESS
Tony Winner Def Poetry Jam Gears Up for 51-City U.S. Tour Oct. 10 - September 8, 2004 - PLAYBILL.COM
Spreadin' the word - February 6, 2004 - FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM
Russell Simmons "Def Poetry Jam" Dallas Pick - February 6, 2004 - DALLAS MORNING NEWS
Grand 'Slammer' - January 20, 2004 - CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
Five Questions With Russell Simmons - January 20, 2004 - CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
Too Much Chatter: Doesn't Somebody Have Anything Important To Say
- January 15, 2004 - RED STREAK
Rappers Hit Hard - January 13, 2004 - SYDNEY MORNING HERALD
Power Poetry Comes to Music Hall - December 30, 2003 - THE DETROIT FREE PRESS
'Def Poetry Jam' slams onto stage at Music Hall - December 26, 2003 - THE DETROIT NEWS
The Brand Name - December 7, 2003 - THE BOSTON GLOBE
The Bushnell Goes Hip-Hop - December 3, 2003 - THE HARTFORD COURANT
Bustin' A Rhyme - November 24, 2003 - THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Lemon To Make Triumphant Return to Ohio - November 24, 2003 - THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Simmons touts America's 'greatest poets' - November 21, 2003 - THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER
From Bankhead to Broadway - November 16, 2003 - THE ATLANTA JOURNAL CONSTITUTION
Rhyme time: 'Def Poetry' comes to Butler - November 7, 2003 - THE INDIANAPOLIS STAR
The Word On The Street - October 22, 2003 - LA TIMES
The Word According to Simmons - October 16, 2003 - PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS
REVIEWS
The Def Poets' Society - May 3, 2004 - THE WASHINGTON POST
Beat stays cool, so the words heat up on their own - April 4, 2004 - THE BALTIMORE SUN
Def Poetry Jam mixes fun, reality and a hip-hop beat - April 8, 2004 - PITTSBURGH POST GAZETTE
Def Poetry Jam, Metro Theatre - January 13, 2004 - SYDNEY MORNING HERALD
Passionate Poets Pack Powerful Punch in Wham-Bam Jam - December 11, 2003 - THE BOSTON HERALD
Young Urban Poets Take Dead Aim - November 16, 2003 - THE ATLANTA JOURNAL CONSTITUTION
The Rhythm of Their Words Results in Powerful Works - October 25, 2003 - LA TIMES
Simmons' Def Poetry Jam Gets a Reviewer Rappin' - October 18, 2003 - PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER
