In appreciation of lyricism
In celebration of Black History Month UK in October 2016, legendary American poet and performer Saul Williams teamed up with global music broadcasting platform Boiler Room to present an evening devoted to spoken word and lyricism at The Yard Theatre in east London.
Showcasing fresh talent and embracing new and unusual forms of lyricism, the event brought together different strands of this evocative art form.
Part of a project funded by Arts Council England, the event featured well-known London-based artists such as rapper, poet, playwright and novelist Kate Tempest, and Jamaican-British rapper Klashnekoff, alongside emerging and ‘unclassifiable’ acts like Kojey Radical, a spoken word artist and musician.
The show celebrated the “acrobatic” lyrical form in all its varieties, with artists opening the night with intimate acapella recitals, before a live DJ joined them later in the evening to accompany their performances. The event was live-streamed on Boiler Room's website, and you can watch the archived show in full via the videos below.
WARNING: Both videos contain strong language.
