Comments on: To Slam Or Not To Slam

By: KHAYA

KHAYA — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 17:11:29 +0000

I would have agree with TUELO on this one.I also dont have much of the poetic avenue taken to negotiate this poetry journey.All that im majorly concerned is accountability for the your work.I have to say that I fear one these days Matthew will be losted to consciousness because some established arts publication would have taken him from us.great work!

By: matt

matt — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 13:30:40 +0000

thanx for the comments guys…

the slam on the 31st was quite enjoyable, flopped at the end wen some ungrateful person stole the cash that was meant for the participants… results… 1. KB (writers forum. PTA University)
2. Magnum Opus
3. Some guy representing STREET POETRY!!! WHATTTT?

By: Phomolo Flex

Phomolo Flex — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 11:07:28 +0000

So Matt… How was the slam on the 31st…

By: Tuelo (A sense)

Tuelo (A sense) — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 07:17:04 +0000

We all have a part to play… some slam, some publish, some touch hearts, some punch lines, and some touch souls… some go “OOOHHH, that was sick” and some go “this nigga is wack…” and some go “boo” I dnt slam, but i can safely say i used to write and perform slam poetry (never competed though) and now i write something totally different. it all depends on where you see yourself, who you want to be… I used to hate battle rap because i needed messages in rap, im a very soft-centered guy and i like to be moved without moving… moving so far beyond but never getting close to the edge. that is exactly why i threw my old rap and poetry scripts, and opened up a new page… so what im trying to say, if you want poetry to be a certain way, if you want to define it in anyway, TAKE A PEN, OPEN A BOOK, AND WRITE!!! let others define it the way the way they want to… for, it is our collective interpretations and definitions that actually spells out P.O.E.T.R.Y… WE ALL HAVE A PART TO PLAY. OH… great article by the way matt… i felt like i was there

By: TPP

TPP — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 14:15:27 +0000

I am in agreement with you, like someone once said to me,’ everyone has his crowd’ which I dont believe, once the intention of going to slam is to totally defeat then I have sold my soul to the game, I believe one should go with the knowledge that although one may not be the best slammer out there, one must have the sack to go out among the best, try waters that one is not accustomed to and make an indelible impression like I have on many hearts, I go to slam knowing well who will kick my ass but regardless of that I get something from every session, be it inspiration or new confidence or a new heart to touch, all in all I am against the idea of killing slam, I think slam brings out the best in us, slam builds character as a peformer, pushes you to adopt a certain standard in presentation, gives experience that comes in handy when no one is judging.

By: matt

matt — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 06:36:29 +0000

TPP, i’m not quite certain whom u r not in total agreement with, Eric or myself? but nonetheless, Slams r in word circles the equivalent of “hip-hop battles” yeah? the slam that i attended @ HoH was VERY TASTEFUL. I mentioned that the slammers themselves weren’t necessarily ‘battling,’ because some, like urself r very gifted msg deliverers, which, u must agree, is not enough to WIN!!! it is GREAT!!! but not cigar. In all truth though… I’d rather here that “GREAT” poet because i am able to internalize his/her msg. His/her 70% is more than sufficient. the crowd here Eric, to be honest, was the “hugging, attentive” type. They listened and considered even poems/speeches which would have been booed off a virgin stage. The scores were just “in the spirit of competition.” In a way, whethr we like it or not, LIFE IS A VERY COMPETITIVE JUNGLE, and i’m sure u’ve heard some BAD poetry in ur life Eric, these ppl r atleast honest enough to let the poet know he/she has work to do. I AM NO SLAMMER, but even i can perform on that stage without feeling utterly discomforted. DANKIE SIS, c u at the slam
…droW(**m)att…

By: phillippa yaa

phillippa yaa — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:28:06 +0000

Matthew you are gifted. I love this piece. The tension… well done!

By: TPP

TPP — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 14:51:05 +0000

Since I was there I hasten to say everything you said was true, just to add my 2 cents, I for one am not a ‘slam artist’, I feel that slam is a different brand altogether in the diversity of poetry, one that I am not particularly strong at, however if one intends to peform one’s poetry at some stage and be well received, the merciless stage of slam is the place to be, there one’s character will be tested by the unforgiving judges, by peers, by the crowd which generally has higher expectations than the usual ‘poetry crowd’. I feel if one can move such a crowd, then one can move any crowd, and if one can walk off the slam stage with a smile, then a lot is won dispite the overall result. VEry few platforms are available for artists to bring their work foward and be criticised on it, notice in a slam people have been knocked out with a rating of 21/30, bassically straight seven’s from the jugdes which I think adds up to 70%, in one can push beyond this seemingly impressive boundary then like Linda said, slam is for growth. Slam tests the calibre of the metal, many have fallen in slam, while we mourn their death we smile because the world out there is brutal, so brutal that when you suck people dont tell you until you are booed off stage. Some of the greatest poets of our time have had nasty experiences on stage, some being booed off, some having crowds walking out on them, but the question is, what happens after the boos? Lick your wounds and come to slam, slam makes great poets.

By: Eric Nkosing'phile Mashiyane

Eric Nkosing'phile Mashiyane — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 14:22:51 +0000

I personally don’t like this “Era” of slam poetry recitals.i think is is like an auction where words are used as “prostitutes” to get the judges perception to put the performer in the next round.have you noticed that the crux of the recital is to see who thinks is better than the next whereas your God “given” art revolves around someone’s vague opinion. The most blatantly stupid part of judging is he or she has never written a poem that they think is fit enough to tickle the numb senses of the judge,I would feel better if a slam is judged by a panel that has braved and murdered stages and left lower lips hanging out of disbelief.not just a random character that is picked from a crowd that would mostly applaud a “punchline” th or poem they don’t understand.I value my work deeply and trust me loosing in a slam I believe i should have won would wound my courage.my point is what happened to the poetry that was enjoyed by many people and poets would even hug when they meet?I am talking about the days when Mak Manaka was dreaded with energy blazing and performed with passion not for the lust of the anticipated” yo man you are dope” complement.when Lebo Mashile was on L attitude and I would come close to the TV with and Listen with undivided attention.when Kgafela oa Magogodi had a website that I would always log on to whenever I sat in front of an Internet Connected computer.nower days poets wait to be greeted by a fellow poet they don’t would murder them on stage just to inflate their egos at poetry recitals.my Opinion is”Slams are slowly Lowering the coffin of spoken word.!! eradicate Slams!! Eric Nkosing’phile Mashiyane

By: Linda Gabriel

Linda Gabriel — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:11:46 +0000

Slam is also not just about the scores but for also developing our poetry, hence this month its new poems from those who will be slaming, if you slam a poem we are familia with u get disqualified. so if poets write 3 new poems for each slam by end of year they would have 30 poems and in 2yrs thats 60, poems for an anthology man! I love House of Hunger

Thanx for the great review