Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry: Season 4 (2002)

Def Poetry is one of the country's fastest rising performing-art forms, and recognizing the power of urban poetry on modern culture, rap impressario Russell Simmons teamed up with HBO to create Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry. Season four of the improvisational, uninhibited late-night series features the spoken words of the biggest and most stellar talent lineup like KANYE WEST (6 time Grammy Award-winner), TRACY MORGAN (30 Rock) and MIKE EPPS (Host of Russell Simmons' Def Comedy Jam). Each episode is hosted by the highly regarded hip hop artist and actor Mos Def (hit album Black on Both Sides).

Let the spoken word flow!!

Mr. Simmons has produced yet another great season of spoken word. I enjoyed the collection of readers for this season. I have purchased all season 1-5 and look forward to season 6. March 31, 2008

Fair poetry, weak packaging

As I watch the episodes back-to-back, I notice my reaction to Def Poetry shifting. A given poem can be thrilling and surprising and shocking and funny and wonderful (the opener of this season, "Knock Knock" is a good example), but the shine quickly fades as I log my second and third hour. Does a certain sameness creep in? Are there obvious rules by which the poets ALL play? Can I predict the likely ebb and flow of each poem, whatever its subject? By the last episode, the poetry no longer seems original; it seems formulaic. Perhaps this just means that I should resist the temptation to take long gulps of this; perhaps half-hour sips, separated by days or weeks, is the right way to digest these performances. I ding it a star for being good, but not great.

I ding the series another star for cheap packaging. Is it too much to ask for an episode by episode set list of who performs what, either printed in the case or as a menu option on the disc? How about some sort of extras? I'd like to give credit to the poet I cited above, but I'd have to re-watch the show to catch his name. May 16, 2007

The best one yet

I really enjoyed season 4 of the def poetry jam series. It has gotten better and the poets have improved as well. Special guest are selected for each episode and it is longer then the previous seasons. I only wish it offer some type of bonus material, like interviews, music videos, or backstage poet rants. Other then that it is packed with passion, humor, power, love, faith, and truth. KRS ONE and Doug E Fresh rocked it!!! April 4, 2007

This IS poetry today

As a spoken word poet and literature professor, I love Def Poetry Jam as a source of inspiration and a touchstone for the state of spoken word poetry. An ecclectic mix of different styles, season 4 is another great collection of incredible poets and poems. These are taped live in a Broadway theatre with a live audience, so it's as close to the real thing as you can get on dvd. These episodes do well to balance male and female voices as well as representatives from many different races, ethnicities and points of view. Forget about the celebrity appearances- it's the poets youmay never have heard of that will blow your mind. My personal favorites appear early, including Black Ice and a husband/wife duo telling the raw truth about raising kids on low incomes. My community college students, whom I cannot wake up to discuss Dickinson or even Hughes, were wide-eyed and all ears while I showed selections from these discs. This season includes more episodes than any of the previous three as well. March 7, 2007

Silly Silly

I thought poetry was supposed to be deep?

Quite Vulgar! February 25, 2007

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