Drew "Droopy" Anderson (Host)
Drew Anderson aka "Droopy the Broke Baller" is the master of multi-dimensional mania. Audiences struggle with whether to label him "comedian" or "poet", "MC" or "emcee", but they never struggle to label his explosive exploits as entertaining. An award-winning filmmaker, veteran educator, and host of DC's legendary "Spit Dat" open mic, Droopy is known lovingly as "The Black Weird Al Yankovic" for his infamously hilarious spoofs of popular songs. His latest critically-acclaimed CD, "The Bully: The Aww-Dacity of Broke", is now available. cdbaby.com/droopybrokeballer | facebook.com/brokeballer
Dwayne Lawson Brown (Host)
Dwayne Lawson-Brown affectionately known as "Dwayne B!" is the co-host of the NUSPA winning venue “Spit Dat” winner of 2010's NUSPA for best haiku, He has published 3 chapbooks, “All The Good Names Were Taken”, How Do You Follow That?” and "Page Don’t Lie”. Dwayne is also a fashion designer making a splash with his Crochet Kingpin line of scarves and accessories, His work has earn him articles in the DC Examiner, The Washington Post, as well as segments on WETA and BBCAmerica. His personal goal is to be a good dad and a nice guy. www.thecrochetkingpin.tumblr.com | www.facebook.com/thecrochetkingpin
B. Sharise Moore (Performer)
B. Sharise stormed the world of performance poetry in 1998 and quickly became a slam champion, featured poet, and member of the New Jersey National Slam Team in 2002. Since then, she has shared the stage with HBO Def Poets Lemon, Jamaal St. John, and Sonya Renee while performing at venues nationwide. Moore's poetry has been published in The Journal of Black Poetry and The Mas Tequila Review, among others. She is also the facilitator of The Fluid: A Poetry and Prose Workshop Series. She is currently pursuing an MFA in Creative Writing (Poetry) and Publishing Arts at The University of Baltimore. Check her out on the web at www.bsharisemoore.com.
Komplex (Performer)
"Where Langston Hughes meets Mos Def," he walks like a poet and talks like an MC. Poet. Hip-Hop Artist. Host. Author. Actor. Educator. Professional.He closes his eyes and the stage becomes GOD's ear; every poem a secret, every rhyme a confession. From National college tours to opening for Floetry Jill Scott, Raheem Devaughn, Doug E Fresh and so many more, this Brooklyn-bred lyricist has moved crowds to action to tears and to love.
Hadaiyah “Yaya” Bey (Performer)
Hadaiyah “Yaya” Bey is a New York Native that relocated to the DMV area after attending several open mics in the area. Since she has planted her roots here,her dynamic performance poetry has given her the opportunity to become a member of the 2010 DC Slam Team. In 2010 she received a NUSPA for Best Performance by a female.
Rasheed Copeland (Performer)
Rasheed Copeland is an up and coming poet raised in DC. He has competed on the National Poetry slam level as a member of DC’s 2010 Busboys and Poets 11th hour slam team. As 2010 NUSPA (National Underground Spokenword Award) winner for “Best Performance Male” he has featured at various venues along the east coast. He is also a crucial fixture of Graffiti DC which is rising poetry slam in Washington DC. With an affinity for justice, love, God and the city he was raised in, Rasheed uses his smooth style and his tremendous writing ability to draw in listeners
Tarrah Reynolds (Performer)
A well established, classically-trained violinist and native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin who relocated to New York to study violin at The Juillliard School and discovered her passion for songwriting in the process.
A few years after college, Tarrah began experimenting with the acoustic guitar and became a fixture on the NYC songwriter scene. She now regularly plays popular venues such as the Blue Note, Rockwood Music Hall, and Living Room. She recently opened for John Forte at Highline Ballrom in New York City, and collaborates with him as both a violinist and vocalist.
Tarrah has also worked with Mos Def, Jay-Z, Kanye West, D'Angelo, Maxwell, Alicia Keys, Harry Connick Jr., Marc Anthony, Ms. Lauryn Hill, The Clark Sisters, Donnie McClurkin, Tramaine Hawkins, The Gorillaz, Oleta Adams, Lalah Hathaway, Il Divo, El DeBarge, Whitney Houston, U2, Mick Jagger, Tortured Soul, Tamar-Kali, Imani Uzuri, Monet, and Si*Se yet she still manages to perform with several chamber groups and orchestras in the NYC area.