I Slam (Ya Muslimeen) > Husam Aldiery
I Slam (Ya Muslimeen) by Husam Aldiery
Lyrics:
I slam in slams to slam stereotypical labels out of your mind
And I’ll slam six hundred and sixty six thousand times for you to enter mine
I’ll grab your finger and let it grace that button to re-wind
Rewind your mind back to the ages of pre-ignorance
When your view of me was pre-militant
You see..
My words are melodic, hypnotic, sporadic and slightly spastic
And my thought process is futile when I’m twelve hours fastin’
If you cross me I’ll smile at you and swallow my anger
Aint nothing in this world worth fighting for so take a step back.. son
Brother, sister, father, mother, grand-father and teacher you all are my equals
Take my hand as we circle around our ka3ba like oceans are circled by eagles
Let us walk amongst the mountains of our forefathers
And may the mercy of allah be on the souls of all our beloved martyrs
Let us breathe in the air that is purified by the light that our heart shines
There voices echo between each and every one of my weighted rhymes
This is for Hamza al khatib, Ibrahim al hayjee, mohammed turki
This is for you and you and you and me
I write these poems to show you the truth of who we could be
Ya Muslimeen…
Let us pack sandcastle mountains of knowledge on the shores of our lands
Far enough from the oceans waves for our hands to crash softly into the sand
Let us illimunate around our brothers like the moon lights the stars and the sun glistens off the seas
Let us grow like dafodils in the cracks of broken stone like the bones of our knees
Let us smell like the roses at dusk after a hurricane
And let our words sweeten the eardrums of our brothers like sugar cane
So take my hand and walk with me to the gates of heaven
Grab a group with you blessed like the skies and seas.. seven
Circle around the oceans and fill your pens with the ink that god has given
Hold your voice between your fingers and widen your vision
Write like the instrument that god made you
Write till your soul shakes you
Till your breath overtakes you
Till your mind can’t take you any further
Write for your brothers and your sisters struggling
Write because the truth is humbling
Write because you have a purpose
Write because we are all worth it
Shrug aside facebook, twitter, tumblr, and youtube
Our voices are the social media that God speaks through
Ya muslimeen…
We are the bird’s chirp at dawn
We are the rhythm of the ocean’s waves
We are the rigidity of Mountains
We are the rays of the sun
The shine of the moon
The smell of truth
We are the taste of grace
We are fresh cut grass
A cold glass of water
The warmth of a campfire
The beating of a drum
The meaning of music
The rumble of thunder
The spark of lighting
We are Muslims
So let us spread our existence like perfume fills a room
And let our scent descend and transcend the existence of men like flowers about to bloom
Because we are the instruments through which god speaks through
So speak with me and shine light on the truth
Poetry & Preaching > by SLAM TV
Stylistically, many Slam Poets are close to preachers – even Saul Williams has spoken of the influence of his father the Baptist Minister in his style of spoken word. However, the connection between slam and proselytizing is becoming more and more visible in the online world these days, as the theological debate goes online and the slam poems and the video responses are creating a fascinating global discussion.
Some might say that Religion has been going around in circles for thousands of years, debating the pros and cons of each set and subset of the splintering churches of the monotheistic juggernaut. Perhaps what is most original about these young spoken word artists is that Youtube has become the pulpit, or the soapbox, and the different worlds of religion are able to share their idealistic, mutualistic, and mono-mystic views without the discussion debasing into violence. Everyone in between can tune in and make up their own mind, or tune out and live their own life, in Peace, whilst the preachers argue about something that is supposed to bring us together.
Although we are non-partisan, SLAM TV presents a taste of the debate from the Christian to the Muslim to the Atheist and a few notes inbetween. These videos have collectively received millions of hits online. But is it poetry, or preaching, or both?
Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus || Spoken Word
Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus || Muslim Version || Spoken Word || Response
”Why I Love Islam, And Love Jesus Too” The Zaghloool | Spoken Word HD
Why I Love Jesus But Reject Islam
Why I Love Religion, And Love Jesus || Spoken Word
I Hate Religion, And Jesus Too
A Postcard From Hell In October > Andrew McMillan
A Postcard from Hell in October > poem Andrew McMillan > video by Annaaliese Ciel Walker from slam tv on Vimeo.
“Going troppo” has never been so well explained as in this poem by legendary Northern Territory writer and poet Andrew McMillan. The film invites us into the mind of a gonzo evening underneath the ceiling fan, drenched in sweat and whiskey as the writer (played by an actor) explores the sultry depths of the infamous tropical build up before the first rains of the wet season each year in Darwin, Australia.
RIP Andrew McMillan 1957-2012
Director/Cinematographer/Editor: Annaliese Ciel Walker
Starring Peter McVean as The Writer
Sound: Colin Simpson
More work by this filmmaker:
http://annaliesecielwalker.com
Badilisha Poetry Radio
Badilisha Poetry Radio uniquely focuses on podcasts by poets from the African Continent and its Diaspora. This online platform creates a dynamic space in which to appreciate, celebrate and discover contemporary Pan-African poetry. The weekly podcasts feature a vast spectrum of voices across poetic genres.
A to Z > Luka Lesson
A to Z’ from the Album ‘The Confluence’ by Luka Lesson.
Filmed by Jeremy Beasley
jeremybeasley.com.au
HEART REMAINS > JOELISTICS
Heart Remains > Joelistics from Verb Studios on Vimeo.
The HEART REMAINS OPEN PROJECT invited people from across Australia to contribute video content in response to the track HEART REMAINS by the hip hop artists Joelistics (ELEFANT TRAKS). The final video is a tapestry of place, culture, people and landscape that paints a portrait of Australia in the 21st Century.
Words and music: Joel Ma (Joelistics)
Produced, Directed and Edited by Timothy Parish – Verb Studios
Footage Contributors:
Cris Broadhurst
Jasper Smith
Grant VK58GR
Gini Lee
Sundry Productions
San-A
Jenny Grinlington
Michael Fletcher
Kym Fielke
Aime Lou
ABC Open Wide Bay
Darcy Travers
Doecke
Barry Schrapel
Norm Ofstead
Injected Ideas
James Russell
Geoff Oliver
Dave Dwyer
Tracey Lundgren
Pierpaolo Baricchio
Sharon Greenaway
Nicky Forster
Stephanie Riddel
Ty Swanson
Bjorn Rust
Mike Riley
Pasramos
Paul Sellen
Alasdair Shurman
AP_OZ
Ashley Perry
Martin Whipp
Documentary Shop
Will Horne
Liam Monkhouse
Tim Parish
Many thanks to:
Will Tinapple
Sam Hussey
Miles Merrill
Anthea Varigos
Bill Wade
Hamish McDonald
Eric Fassbender
Richard Tamplenizza
Creative Commons
Fade To White > E’eda
Enlightening spoken word piece on color consciousness by Ee’da.
Please support Sisters for Sisters. http://youtu.be/O-_di9JYsvc
CODED LANGUAGE > Saul Williams
Saul Williams performs his epic ode to the genius of language and the indictment of the mindless violence of gangster hip hop culture to raise the consciousness of the entire. fucking. world.
From the album ‘Amethyst Rock Star’ with music by DJ Krust
Below, the same poetry performed live at Def Jam Poetry show on HBO.
Yelp > with apologies to Allen Ginsberg
Technology can be addictive. In a tribute to Allen Ginsberg’s classic 1956 poem, we created a short film lampooning the addictions of our generation. It’s narrated by Peter Coyote.
The filmmaking team behind “Yelp: With Aplogies to Allen Ginsberg’s Howl,” also made the 2011 Sundance documentary “Connected: An Autoblogography about Love, Death & Technology.”
Credits:
written by tiffany shlain & ken goldberg
directed by tiffany shlain
edited by tiffany shlain & dalan mcnabola
original animations by stefan nadelman
narrated by peter coyote
produced by carlton evans
You can learn more about both films at:
connectedthefilm.com
The Revolution Will Not Be Televised > Gil Scott Heron
A collage of Youtube clips to the original recording from Gil Scott Heron’s classic piece.
Words: Gil Scott Heron
Video artist: unknown.
For those young ‘uns who haven’t heard of Gil, below is full length documentary about the legendary poet and his contribution to the artform.
Rest In Peace
x
SLAMTV
For more:
The Shape Of My Tongue > Thomas Jack of Hearts
‘The Shape Of My Tongue’ is part of a series of contemporary poems inspired by the words of sufi poet Rumi.
Words by Thomas, Jack of Hearts. – myspace.com/thomasjackofhearts
Music by Briztronix – briztronix.com/
Produced and directed by Tim Parish – Verb Studios
My Generation > Omar Musa
“My Generation”
Written and performed by Omar Musa
Directed, shot and edited by Vis Pajori
SLAM TV 