powerful modern poetry?

October 5, 2008 12:35 PM

Suggestions for hard-hitting contemporary poets or spoken word artists?

I have little experience with modern poetry, but recently came across Shane Koyczan and love it intensely. He captures the human condition unlike I have ever experienced.

I'm sure there are more like him out there.

I'm primarily looking for recorded dictation rather than written, but both are great!

Music to accompany is a plus.

Thanks!

posted by bradly to media & arts (13 comments total)

Spaulding Gray is my favorite spoken word artist. Very accessible and speaks to the human condition.

I also enjoy Henry Rollins, but he's not subtle. A good story teller with his early stuff the most raw and honest.
posted by Argyle at 12:55 PM on October 5

Saul Williams. (wiki, youtube [a few hand-picked selections])
posted by slimepuppy at 12:57 PM on October 5

you may want to pick up, or thumb through, the outlaw bible of american poetry
posted by refractal at 1:00 PM on October 5

If you live in New York, you should check out Rodrigo Toscano. I don't think he's very well known, but I like him quite a bit. Spoken word poetry is always better in person.
posted by puckish at 1:20 PM on October 5

Dude, Taylor Mali. Lots on youtube.
posted by mattbucher at 1:40 PM on October 5

I'd like to second the aforementioned Henry Rollins and add Jello Biafra.

As for music, I'd recommend some good "underground"/"political"/"socially concious" Hip-Hop style music along the lines of Flobots, Jurassic 5, etc. Mostly political, but relevant, catchy, and beautiful.
posted by ChazB at 1:58 PM on October 5

Try Joe Frank.
posted by carmicha at 2:27 PM on October 5

Jim Carroll's a fascinating figure. Try Pools of Mercury for a combination of spoken word and music and Catholic Boy for terrific, gritty, and strangely catchy early '80s postpunk with insanely brilliant lyrics. If you find you'd like to read some his work, start with the legendary Basketball Diaries and Forced Entries for prose, and Fear of Dreaming for poetry.
posted by scody at 3:08 PM on October 5

You might like Sage Francis. He got his start in the slam poetry scene.

Also, if you're into slam poetry, you should consider checking out to see if there' s a local venue that hosts a team and regular slams. This website might help you find someplace. I really recommend that, actually, because it's generally a cheap way to hear lots of slam poetry, and it's always nice to support local artists.
posted by lunit at 8:17 PM on October 5

Check out Kelly Zen-Yie Tsai.
posted by blu_stocking at 8:40 PM on October 5

The Apples and Snakes newsletter is a good way to hear about British spoken word artists just before they make it big. (Although I find the formatting a bit annoying.)
posted by the_latin_mouse at 4:31 AM on October 6

Are you familiar with Simon Armitage? His style is brusque and some poems are about murder, death and other fine Northern topics.

Musicwise, you may want to look at Meanwhile in Communist Russia. I'm a fan of Ballboy, Half Man Half Biscuit and Jegsy Dodd and the Original Sinners who are all almost spoken-word, but they tend more to the mildly acerbic.
posted by mippy at 8:53 AM on October 6

I really dig Rives.
posted by lauranesson at 6:19 AM on October 7