Over 400 spoken word artists, among the most devoted in their city, their region, their country, their home venue, will battle for the title of ‘champions’ of the 19^th National Poetry Slam August 4-9^th in Madison, WI. In conjunction with the Lyrics on the Lake Festival, NPS will bring 76 teams of 4-5 poets from the United States, Canada and France to battle for a title that has outgrown its “national” name.

     This year, Chicago and the state of Illinois will be represented by its traditional two teams. In it’s 10^th year of competition in NPS, Mental Graffiti (formerly the Wicker Park Poetry Slam) are represented by Dan Sully, Alvin Lau , Kay Krown, Tristan Silverman and yours truly.  Mental Graffiti has already fully primed for syllaballistic combat having finished 2^nd - to Columbus/Writers Block - at the Rustbelt Regional Poetry Slam. MentalGraff also won the annual Chicago Grudge Match Slam. The venerable Uptown Poetry Slam & Green Mill Lounge are represented by Molly Meacham, Amy David, Robbie Q Telfer and Mythical Mind - winner of the Rootabaga Slam.

     MentalGraff, in the preliminary round, will face Cambridge, MA/Lizard Lounge, Worcester, MA/Poets Asylum and Eureka, CA on August 5; and LouderARTS/New York City, former champs Albuquerque and Cincinnati on the 7^th.

     Some other teams of interest include Slam Charlotte - defending champions and host crew for the 2008 Individual World Poetry Slam; Toronto - honing their skills in the last 3 Rustbelt slams; my sentimental favorite Decatur/ArtAmok; Boston/Cantab; Minneapolis; St. Paul; Nuyorican Poets Café; Berkeley; San Francisco; Seattle; Wisconsin teams Milwaukee & Madison among others.  I’m looking forward to hanging with all of the “slam family” and paying tribute to Austin native & Art Amok’s Shannon Leigh.

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The “HipHoppers Guide To The Galaxy Tour” is on a summer hiatus.  Of course you can always find me at Safe Smiles with PolyRhythmic and guest-hosting In One Ear at the Heartland Café. Later this summer I’ll make my 3^rd annual appearance at the Bucktown Arts Festival on the ‘Go’s north side.

Looking to book the HHGTTG in your town, venue, school? Check out the press kit built by Webmistress Candyce. 

Coming soon from Checkthebackpack recordings: Karmaquarius Presents Syllaballistics 102, another mixtape by DJ Risky Bizness. The second installment will feature 7 pieces by yours truly. In addition, I’ve added rare HipHop gems from Channel Live & Rhymefest and some of my favorite performance poets; Talaam Acey, Aricka epiphany Foreman, JW Baz, and Andi Kauth.