| Reviews & Columns |
|
Reviews DVD TV on DVD Blu-ray 4K UHD International DVDs In Theaters Reviews by Studio Features Collector Series DVDs Easter Egg Database Interviews Feature Articles Columns Anime Talk DVD Savant Horror DVDs The M.O.D. Squad Art House HD Talk Silent DVD
|
 DVD Talk Forum |
|
|
|
Columns
  
 
|
|
|
Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry Season 1
In fact, it is hard to acknowledge some of the performances in the first series of the show as "poetry." Dave Chappelle and Cedric the Entertainer both perform pieces that would have fit in better on that other Simmons-produced HBO program, for instance. But what Def Poetry does give us is interesting perspectives in a format that is a breath of fresh air.
The first season of the show, hosted by Mos Def, only lasted four episodes, but there are still several standout performances. The two standouts in my mind come in episode three.
Sarah Jones might be the most famous "def poet" in America right now. She's done one-woman shows at edgy theaters in New York and sued the Federal Communications Commission. In fact, on this DVD she performs her poem "The Revolution" that got a radio station in Oregon fined $7,000 by the FCC:
You will not be touching your lips to my triple dip of
French vanilla butter pecan chocolate deluxe
Or having Akinyele's dream
A six-foot blowjob machine…
Your revolution will not happen between these thighs.
Also in that episode is a poem from Beau Siu, tackling the issue of Hollywood stereotypes, including the classic line, "Struggling [expletive] sucks hard after the ninth packet of Ramen noodle soup."
The DVD
Video:
Russell Simmons presents Def Poetry looks a lot on DVD like it does on HBO, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. It's obvious that the Mos Def introductions were filmed on the cheap (and maybe added in later?) – the picture is grainy and flat. But the transfer itself is solid.
Sound:
The 2.0 track pulls out the poems nicely from the applause, which is all it has to do to be successful.
Extras:
There is one extra, a featurette on the making of Def Poetry. It is not only a good look behind the scenes of the show, but also an interesting look at some of the most popular poets and where they get their inspiration.
Final Thoughts:
Jewel does appear on the disc, but otherwise Russell Simmons presents Def Poetry is nothing like reading the diary of a shy high school girl. This is poetry that is aggressive, with a strong point of view and unabashedly emotional. It's an experience worth having.
|
| Popular Reviews |
| Sponsored Links |
|
|
| Sponsored Links |
|
|
| Release List | Reviews | Forum | Blu-Ray | Advertise | |||
|
Copyright 2026 DVDTalk.com All Rights Reserved. Legal Info, Privacy Policy, Terms of Use,
Manage Preferences,
Your Privacy Choices 
| |||||||