For the first time in awhile, so many poets wanted to compete we had to draw from the envelope, disappointing a couple poets. The list we got of competing poets was truly eclectic, from newcomers to old-school vets.
First round gave us Kevin Fortnum and Valentino Assenza, both of Last Call Poets, and also some heavy material from Millado and Shoolie, both from BAM! First-timer Ronnie told us about romance, while Cathy Petch went funny with an ode to back acne. Yes, bacne.
Second round gave us Iyah talking about his nappy hair, and Will Of Peace continued to amaze us with his intriguing beat-like voice. Cathy went serious with her lisp poem, and Millado also dropped some powerfully serious poetry that dropped a few jaws.
Third round was Cathy vs Millado vs Valentino, but it was Cathy in the final spot, dropping Alien Children, that won the night, securing a spot in March's semifinals (if she slams one more time).
Our feature was truly incredible. JustJamaal from Ottawa won over the crowd with a wide range of poetry, including a boxing-match riff where he careened across the stage, unlike anything we've seen before. We can't wait to see how this artist grows and blossoms in the coming year!
See you at our next slam on Sept. 16 featuring Poetic Speed from Ottawa!
