When I was a sophomore in college, I got pulled over for going 90 mph while knocking Anida Yoeu Ali‘s “Excuse Me, ameriKa.” and while I admit that it was extremely geeky to be an outlaw due to poetry (I once also got written up in my dorm for bumping Sage Francis too loud…ughhhhh…) it’s hard to escape the excitement I felt as a young underspoken Asian kid hearing one of his own spit fire for the first time. Since then Anida’s played a huge role in my life, even taking me under her wing in the fateful Chicago summer when I decided to follow in her footsteps and pursue a career as an artist. Some years later, she teams up with Masahiru Sugano to present Mistaken For Muslim, yet another landmark piece. This time she calls attention to post-9/11 anti-Muslim violence – an issue that tragically remains relevant a decade after the fact. As a part of the 1700% Project which entails the poem, video, and an accompanying installation performance, “Mistaken For Muslim” is truly the most gripping piece of visual spoken word I’ve seen in a long time. Check it out above, and if you digit, vote for it for the One Chicago One Nation Film Contest!

In perfect Indiana Jones fashion, Bambu slips a track in right before the caves close in on the decade! And certainly a great one to drop with, this new track “The Queen is Dead” has me uber amped for his new collabo EP with Fatgums entitled …paper cuts….

That last period was awkward. LISTEN!!!

Bambu “The Queen Is Dead”

Emcee-poet-singer-wiseman Denizen Kane dropped his new album Brother Min’s Journey to the West, which certainly should not be slept on because I say with complete not-just-because-he’s-the-homie genuineness that it’s one of the best records I’ve copped this year. However, given that he hadn’t released anything for such a long time before this, it’s inevitable that despite all that I’m saying, people will sleep still. Mr. Kane understands this, so just weeks after his album he offers us the Take Me Out mixtape, a collection of selected tracks from his past and current projects, as well as some rare live performances and alternate versions.

Still not convinced? Check out his performance on Def Poetry:

And here’s a new gem that you won’t find anywhere else:

Denizen Kane “Bottom of My Shoe (Original Version)”

One of my favorite artists, and one of my favorite people. Do yourself some good and make some space in your hard drive.

DOWNLOAD: Denizen Kane “Take Me Out Mixtape”

Via iLL-Literacy

One day, right before the Heart of the City tour with Jay-Z and Mary J. Blige, Jay needed a new DJ and was handed a mixtape by DJ Neil Armstrong of 5th Platoon. Moments after, Neil was called to audition and landed the job under the condition that he leave immediately and save packing for when they make their NYC stop. Thus began the gig of a lifetime as a resident member of Hova’s touring collective, surely a dream for many DJs, rappers, and singers alike. Although Neil’s Original and Sweeet series’ of mixtapes were recognized worldwide, a large portion of the circulation was among the Asian American community, of which he played an active role. He even spun at a fundraiser for the 2003 APIA Spoken Word & Poetry Summit, and consequently his tapes were on constant rotation throughout the entire conference. It’s fantastic to see a brother come up through genuine talent, community involvement, and drive. Check out his latest interview with Ransom.

Via iLL-Literacy & 2dopeboyz

Whoaoaoaooaoa amidst everything we’ve been pulling together for iLL-Lit, I’ve been part of the planning crew for the 5th Asian Pacific Islander American Spoken Word & Poetry Summit, a gargantuous event going on in the Bay from Thursday through Sunday.  It was at the 2003 installment of this summit where I for the first time tapped into the APIA spoken word community as a young college kid with nothing more than a few poems and the seeding idea of a poetry group I’d name iLL-Literacy, and the rest is history.

The Summit happens every two years, and it’s always been so important to me because it was the entry point into the world that would ultimately lead me to my passions for art and people.  Among the curators for the 2003 Summit in Chicago were the members of I Was Born With Two Tongues, a four-person collective of Asian American spoken word heavyweights Anida Yoeu, Denizen Kane, Marlon Esguerra, and Emily Chang.  In 1999 they dropped their only LP, Broken Speak.

[I Was Born With Two Tongues "In America"]

The album featured spoken word and music that reflected on the APIA experience in a new, grittier light than the Amy Tan stories that, up until that point, had pretty much made up my entire scope of what Asian American writing could be.  Still fresh into my bourgeoning as a young angry Asian kid, finding a talented, intelligent, and raw collective like this was the best possible discovery I could’ve ever made.  My freshman year in college, I got a speeding ticket for going 90 mph, not knowing I was going that fast because I was so juiced and hyped off of Anida’s “Excuse Me, ameriKa.” Yep, sped for poetry.  Geeeeeeeeeeeeek.

[I Was Born With Two Tongues "Excuse Me, ameriKa"]

The Summit was so vital to me because it gave me the opportunity to spark personal relationships with artists who, up until that point, seemed like distant celebrities.  And rightfully so — ten years after Broken Speak, I’ve yet to find an APIA spoken word record that rings as relevant, thorough, and dope.  The Tongues disbanded in ’03, and actually played their last show at that Summit.  It was a bittersweet experience for me, to finally find a collective of artists whom I felt spoke directly to me in such a way and for my first live experience with them to be my only.  At the same time, some of the members have become my closest friends, and their impact continues to inspire the direction I drive iLL-Literacy, and the type of influence that I aspire for as an artist.

[I Was Born With Two Tongues "Letter To Our Unborn Children"]

Find out more about the Summit at www.apiasummit.com

At almost college campus in the country that iLL-Lit travels to, we catch word that Good Asian Drivers has either just been there, is about to be there, or is hella in demand there.  After completely KILLING IT!!!!!! at the 2007 APIA Spoken Word & Poetry Summit in Boston, the duo went on to do a 30-state tour within 12 weeks, and since then they’ve been only moving upward.

Fusing the gripping energy of slam spoken word with the richness of folk music, members Kit Yan and Melissa Li are a ridiculously talented pair who not only create their own material for the stage and record, but also direct their videos.  They use humor, theatrics, and music to discuss important issues dealing with gender, sexuality, and race without sounding heavy-handed.  Entertaining education!  Heyyyyyyyyyy!

I absolutely loved their performance at the last Summit and I look forward to hearing much more from them.  Check them out here!

As we get closer and closer to the Summit (we’re so close!) I’d like to take some moments to pay homage to members of our community and past Summit participants who have helped shape me as an artist and a person.  Ishle Yi Park is an incredible Korean American poet from Queens who has called everywhere from Hawai’i to New Zealand to the Bay home (okay, those are all kinda tropicalish sometimes you gotta leave the NY air for some mangoes and green yadiggggg?)

The first chapbook I ever owned was Ishle’s Girlfish which I got as a strapping young lad back in 2002 at the Youth Speaks Teen Poetry Slam.  Since then she has gone on to rock all over the world as a part of the Def Poetry on Broadway lineup, gotten her MFA in writing, and released a number of books and albums.