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By EvE Labi Contributing Writer The vibe was nothing less than electric on Saturday, November 20 at St. Lawrence Centre For The Arts' Jane Mallett Theatre - as the usual throng of UFTR supporters were joined by several new spoken-word enthusiasts, from all facets of the community. Almost everyone was dressed to impress at the 6th Annual When Brothers Speak Spoken Word Concert, which is annually anticipated by the entire expressive arts community. I, myself, was eager to see what all the testosterone-based hype was about - as well as feeling naturally compelled to support my fellow artists. Having only experienced Toronto's spoken-word scene, gaining a deeper insight into the lyrical minds of my Amerikkkan Brothers was definitely a bonus. It's not often that a Black man is given the opportunity to speak his innermost thoughts, uninterrupted, before an attentive audience. More often than not, when a Brother is in the spotlight, it's because he's done something to fall from grace (in the eyes of the media). This couldn't be truer of Miami, FLA's Will "Da Real One" - an HBO Def Poetry Jam artist and thug-turned-poet. Undoubtedly the most effective performer of the night, he spoke candidly about the deep impact that incarceration had on his mentality and entire way of life. I couldn't help but be captivated by the raw sorrow echoing through the deep bass in Da Real One's voice, as he detailed the hardships of life on the streets, and the challenges that the average Black man faces trying to survive in a world where the cards always seem to be stacked against him. But, not to be completely portrayed as the average gangster, "Da Real One" dropped something for the ladies, whispering tantalizing visuals of thug passion between the sheets. The man had even the most "stush- minded" Sisters screaming, clutching their skirts and inching away from their men to get closer to the statuesque, black-chocolate-coloured Brother with the gold-capped smile. Jive Poetic, a resident of NY, gave a performance that was a classic example of an artist struggling to maintain a fine balance between comedy and spoken-word. His quirky punch lines brought peals of laughter from the audience, but failed to hit home with any pure poetic power...even though he delved into the ever-popular subject of Amerikkka's current bio-chemical genocide of Iraq. But VA's 13th Of Nazareth re-paved the way for those who find solace in spoken-word, soothing the crowd with his calm (yet powerful) delivery. The soft-spoken artist had the aura of a proud, yet humble, lion - dreadlocks framing a face that seemed marked with a lot of pain and wisdom. The audience was given privy to the heart-wrenching details of a beloved mother's fight with a debilitating illness, as well as her son's battle with the same affliction - and resilience not to succumb to the same fate. The crowd favourite was definitely J. Ivy, the Chicago resident best known by his verses on "Never Let Me Down" - a popular track on Kanye West's College Droupout album. The handsome and charismatic J. Ivy kept the ladies biting their lips and breathing deeply throughout his entire performance, which was heavily laced with extreme sensuality and very suggestive body language. Of course, Toronto represented for spoken-word in full force, with top-notch performances by UFTR's Dwayne Morgan (who recently celebrated UFTR's 10-Year Anniversary) and Da Original One - whose latest album, If Yuh Heard Spread De Word, has been getting commendable circulation among Toronto's spoken-word enthusiasts. For more info on UFTR, including the upcoming "When Sisters Speak", please visit www.upfromtheroots.ca or call (416) 822-1465.
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