By Mekeisha Madden - The Detroit News
To understand “Def Poetry Jam,” you have to first know a little about its
founder, Russell Simmons.
He’s an investor, purveyor and connoisseur of spoken-word poetry, just like he
is and has been with hip-hop, comedy and fashion.
Like those other mediums, of which Simmons and his name have become a part,
spoken word is the hot new thing that’s caught his eye and fattened his
pockets.
Thanks to Simmons, this is the fourth coming of poetry in pop culture —
including the beatnik ’50s, the Last Poets of the ’60s and ’70s and the “Love
Jones” ’90s. “Def Poetry Jam,” like “Love Jones,” focuses on spoken word or
slam poetry, where the poet’s stage presence is just as important as the
words, which are usually delivered in a competitive, rhythmic way. Simmons’
Tony-award winning “Def Poetry Jam” stage show comes to Detroit’s Music Hall
beginning Tuesday through Jan. 4.
“In the last five years, there’s been an emergence of young poets,” Simmons,
46, says during a recent phone interview from Hot 97, a hip-hop radio station
in Manhattan, where he was a guest. “Poetry is a new experience in hip-hop but
better. In hip-hop, the music drowns out the words. Spoken-word poetry is pure
without the distractions.”
Simmons says his older brother Danny first exposed him to spoken word. Soon
after, Simmons pitched the idea for a spoken-word show to HBO, and “Def Poetry
Jam” debuted on the cable network in 2001. The show’s fourth season films in
February, and an air date has yet to be set.
The touring version of “Def Poetry Jam” opened on Broadway in 2002, earned a
Tony award for Best Special Theatrical Event. Simmons took the show to
Broadway with the help of his “Def Comedy Jam” co-creator Stan Lathan, who
directs the stage show version of “Def Poetry Jam.”
And much to Simmons delight, the show’s foray on Broadway has attracted a
young, racially diverse audience rarely seen on the nation’s pre-eminent
theater scene.
“Most people thought spoken-word artists wore head wraps and burned incense,”
Simmons says.
“But we (he, Lathan and brother Danny) started seeing more and more kids in
Polo jeans and Phat Farm (plugging his brand) performing poetry. These are the
kids on the stage, and these were the kids coming to the Broadway show.”
Simmons says the correlation between hip-hop and poetry is natural because a
lot of rappers began as poets.
“Tupac, DMX, these guys were writing poems before they wrote rhymes,” he says
excitedly, his lisp slightly bleeding through.
Now Simmons predicts that “Def Poetry Jam” poets, such as Poetri (aka Devin
Smith) from Muskegon and Suheir Hammad of Palestine, will become stars too.
It’s pretty likely, considering what Simmons did for his younger brother,
Joseph “Run” Simmon’s group Run-D.M.C. And his “Def Comedy Jam” helped turn
Martin Lawrence, Chris Tucker and Bernie Mac into household names. So many
African-American comedians got their start on “Def Comedy Jam,” that Simmons
can’t remember them all.
“When I got here (Hot 97), Tracy Morgan ran up and gave me a hug and thanked
me for helping kick-off his career,” Simmons explains.
“But I don’t remember him being on ‘Def Jam.’ ”
“Do you remember Tracy Morgan on ‘Def Comedy Jam’?” Simmons asks his
interviewer.
When told “yes,” Morgan, a sitcom star and “Saturday Night Live,” alum was
about 100 pounds heavier on “Def Comedy Jam” and wore a too-small T-shirt and
rainbow beanie with a propeller, Simmons repeats the description verbatim.
The words are met with a uproarious response.
Morgan is still there, and from the sound of things, is elated that the mogul
remembers him after all.
Sorta.
