The Art of Phraseology

             Spoken word is the rhythmically charged delivery of an original poem by an artist. This inventive idea has grown and flourished over the past twenty years and become a mainstream outlet for poets. The combination of passionate delivery and often a poignant message makes listening to spoken word, or slam poetry, a very entertaining experience.

             Saul Williams is a pioneer of slam poetry.  In one of his most powerful pieces, “Coded Language”, Williams speaks about self-consciousness, and that people should be enlightened and aware. People need to live in the present, "We claim the present as the pre-sent, as the hereafter." He acknowledges people who have had an impact somehow in today's society. Williams' message is that people need to fight for their own justice as men, not settle to be seen as a "person", whose rights can be twisted and ignored. Engaged in a chant-like rhythm, Williams powerfully asks his audience what they are willing to do to achieve progression in society.

Spoken word poetry, though often powerful, doesn’t have to be quite so dense. There can be a more obvious message, like in Taylor Mali’s “What Teachers Make”. What good is a teacher in our culture that no longer values education? They are only educating our future generations, for god’s sake. This is how Mali perceives the world. He has a distinct message to the ignorant people who believe he is unimportant and irrelevant: “You want to know what I make? I make kids wonder, I make them question. I make them criticize.” Mali makes a lasting impression that doesn’t leave a doubt in anyone’s mind: “Teachers make a goddamn difference! Now what about you?”

Slam is a channel through which many artists get their start in becoming a household name. Kanye West, the infamously egotistical rapper was barely more than a no-name when Mos Def introduced him as “the future of hip hop” at the 2004 Def Poetry Jam. Flashing the still attached tags of his brand new Adidas high tops, Kanye spoke “It seem we living the American Dream , but the people highest up got the lowest self-esteem.” West made it clear that people with the most status, the most money, and the most ego are often also the most insecure. He rose to be an infamous rapper, through his roots in slam poetry.

Spoken word, or slam poetry, is a means of expression vital to our culture today. It connects well-read philosophers with kids from the ‘hood, who have never been able to show that they have just as much potential to move an audience, or change the world. This art of phraseology was born form diversity, which makes it the most accessible avenue of expression, and it will undoubtedly continue to grow.