2009
KYLE “GUANTE” MYHRE is an emcee, spoken-word poet, activist, writer and educator based out of Minneapolis, MN. He's been slam champion of Minneapolis, St. Paul and Madison, and most recently took first place at the 2009 National Poetry Slam as a member of the St. Paul slam team. As an emcee, Guante is signed to indie label Tru Ruts/Speakeasy Records and is a multiple Independent Music Awards nominee, Urb Magazine "Next 1000" artist and one of City Pages' "Artists of the Year" for 2008; he's shared bills with some of the biggest names in independent hip hop, including Talib Kweli, Atmosphere, Brother Ali, Zion I, Sage Francis, dead prez and many more. On top of these artistic endeavors, Guante has also found time to write for nationally recognized music blog CultureBully.com, facilitate university-level social justice courses, spearhead the "Hip Hop Against Homophobia" concert series, teach writing and performance workshops through the MN Spoken-Word Association and serve as arts coordinator of the Canvas, a St. Paul youth center. In 2009, Guante was awarded a VERVE grant for spoken word poets by Intermedia Arts. For more information, check out www.guante.info.
TOU SAIKO LEE is a spoken word artist, mentor and hip-hop organizer. Lee is the MC for the socially conscious, funk/hip hop band PosNoSys (Post Nomadic Syndrome) and has been organizing a monthly all-ages open mic event called I.C.E. (Innovative Community Elevation) since 2004. Lee occasionally teams up with his grandmother, Youa Chang, who practices the traditional Hmong art of kwv txiaj (Hmong poetry chanting) and the duo performs together as “Fresh Traditions.” A mentor for youth at schools and community centers across the country, Lee speaks about human rights, diversity, racism, gang violence and arts for social change. Lee is a 2009 Intermedia Arts VERVE grant recipient and the co-founder of “The H Project” a compilation music CD inspired by the human rights violations of Hmong people in the jungles of Laos.
POETIC ASSASSINS. The Poetic Assassins (Ryan Virden and Jessica Gabrielle) facilitate workshops and performances at an array of venues including open mics, theaters, nightclubs, libraries, and Universities. Besides being spoken word artists, the duo are also playwrights in the second run of their self-titled play, "Poetic Assassins". Ryan Virden [a.k.a. B.U.G.S. (Better Under Gods Supervision)] is an up-and-coming spoken word artist/emcee/teacher and organizer from Northeast Minneapolis. He has been writing and performing since 2004. He is a member of a number of local organizations working to create positive change in his community including the Minnesota Spoken Word Association and Yo! The Movement. As a member of Poetic Assassins Virden has performed at events such as Peace Jam 2008 and Rock for the Environment. Jessica Gabrielle a.k.a. Verse is originally from Chicago and is currently Gates millennium Scholar at the University of Minnesota. Gabrielle has been writing and performing for since 2001. She was a member of Minnesota’s youth slam team, Quest for the Voice, in 2007, received an Intermedia Arts VERVE grant for spoken word poets in 2009, and currently works as a youth mentor with Minnesota Spoken Word Association. She is in the process of publishing her book entitled Poetic Graffiti and completing a CD of the same name.
KHARY JACKSON. “I'm a teaching artist, playwright (with a play opening in Chicago in April) and nationally ranked slam poet (currently 3rd in the country). I am a native of Detroit, currently repping the Twin Cities. I love animals, and my favorite movie is Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. That has little to do with my poetry, but it says a lot about me.”—Khary. Jackson is a 2009 Intermedia Arts VERVE grant recipient and recently took first place at the 2009 National Poetry Slam as a member of the St. Paul slam team.
TISH JONES. Latisha “Tish” Jones is a Spoken word Artist, Activist, Educator, and Organizer based out of St. Paul, MN. Recognized for her work by local publications, Jones was named one of the City Pages “Artists of The Year” along with mention in the Star Tribune as an “Artist on the Verge” in 2007. In 2009, Jones received a VERVE grant for spoken word poets from Intermedia Arts. Co-producer and host of “Tha Remix” open mic series in north Minneapolis, Jones has performed on many stages, both locally and nationally as both an Independent Artist and as a member of a Minnesota state slam team in 2006. Also, the founder, executive, and artistic director of a developing non-profit arts organization, TruArtSpeaks, Jones teaches performance art and creative writing in schools throughout the Twin Cities area as well as in prisons and other facilities with youth programming.