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Publication Date: 26 NOVEMBER 2008
SPECIAL FEATURE
PART TWO: SPOKEN WORD
Following the Electro influence on everything from Grime to House
to Hip-hop in the first instalment of this new series, regular UKG
contributor and freelance journalist GEORGE LUKE goes off-radar...
to Hip-hop in the first instalment of this new series, regular UKG
contributor and freelance journalist GEORGE LUKE goes off-radar...
Away from the UK gospel music scene's massive Street Music successes of
2008, GEORGE finds out if the poetic is poised to take centre stage, exploring
the art - and advocates - of the Spoken Word...
2008, GEORGE finds out if the poetic is poised to take centre stage, exploring
the art - and advocates - of the Spoken Word...
NEXT SOUND...
The beauty of Spoken Word is, in a way, its undoing:
many people can't say exactly what it is... Poetry? Comedy? Rapping by rappers
who can't really rap? A bit of all the above?
One thing those who've experienced it can all agree on, though, is that whatever it is (or isn't), it has the potential to make you laugh, cry, think, and a lot more besides...
But can Spoken Word ever be the next sound of UK Gospel? The answer from the genre's most established name is an emphatic 'No!'
'I'll tell you why not..' says Alan Charles. 'For a start, the artists
haven't got the same amount of respect as singers or preachers. Spoken Word artists are used and abused as filler; a distraction whilst the band's getting changed...'
who can't really rap? A bit of all the above?
One thing those who've experienced it can all agree on, though, is that whatever it is (or isn't), it has the potential to make you laugh, cry, think, and a lot more besides...
But can Spoken Word ever be the next sound of UK Gospel? The answer from the genre's most established name is an emphatic 'No!'
'I'll tell you why not..' says Alan Charles. 'For a start, the artists
haven't got the same amount of respect as singers or preachers. Spoken Word artists are used and abused as filler; a distraction whilst the band's getting changed...'
'...Basically, promoters et cetera don't value spoken word acts
as much as they do singers, and in turn the church doesn't
value singers as much as it does preachers...'
'...There are a handful of us right now, but I don't think we're making as much noise as you need to in order to get noticed...'
'The talent's definitely there, but I'm not sure that there's enough of it. You have pockets of artists about, but basically, they're making their own little ripple.
As a movement, it's going to be some time before we're on a par with the rappers, the Ragga guys or the singers; before we get to the level where Spoken Word can stand on its own two feet and be considered a force to be reckoned with.
I've been around for years, and it's still a struggle...'
as much as they do singers, and in turn the church doesn't
value singers as much as it does preachers...'
'...There are a handful of us right now, but I don't think we're making as much noise as you need to in order to get noticed...'
'The talent's definitely there, but I'm not sure that there's enough of it. You have pockets of artists about, but basically, they're making their own little ripple.
As a movement, it's going to be some time before we're on a par with the rappers, the Ragga guys or the singers; before we get to the level where Spoken Word can stand on its own two feet and be considered a force to be reckoned with.
I've been around for years, and it's still a struggle...'
Alan made history two years ago when he received a MOBO nomination for his work- to my knowledge, the first Spoken Word act (Christian or otherwise) to receive the honour.
'The MOBO nomination certainly helped,' he says. 'Being a Spoken Word artist, it's a novelty for someone like me to be considered for an award like that.
I'm honestly not sure whether being MOBO nominated does much for your veteran musicians. But for someone with my background, it did give me a few brownie points. I got some good work from it, but all that's beginning to wear off now. Remember, it was two years ago!"
Some of Alan's concerns are echoed by other acts making waves in the world of the word.
'The MOBO nomination certainly helped,' he says. 'Being a Spoken Word artist, it's a novelty for someone like me to be considered for an award like that.
I'm honestly not sure whether being MOBO nominated does much for your veteran musicians. But for someone with my background, it did give me a few brownie points. I got some good work from it, but all that's beginning to wear off now. Remember, it was two years ago!"
Some of Alan's concerns are echoed by other acts making waves in the world of the word.
ALAN CHARLES
MySpace
MOBO HISTORY...
POOR COUSIN...
'It's not a new thing for a prophet to be without honour in
his backyard,' says Richard Smartt jr, better known as
[verb]swish.
'But it will come as a surprise to some that one of the
most successful 'Christian spoken word artists' I know of
has an online following larger than all 'leading' UK gospel
acts combined.
'His name's Bradley Hathaway. He is an exception, though.
Relatively speaking, Spoken Word isn't the popular medium of the day: music is.
'And as such first impressions of Spoken Word may be 'poor cousin'. It manifests itself in different ways, and it happens to me less, but it still goes on, I guess, and that used to really frustrate me...'
his backyard,' says Richard Smartt jr, better known as
[verb]swish.
'But it will come as a surprise to some that one of the
most successful 'Christian spoken word artists' I know of
has an online following larger than all 'leading' UK gospel
acts combined.
'His name's Bradley Hathaway. He is an exception, though.
Relatively speaking, Spoken Word isn't the popular medium of the day: music is.
'And as such first impressions of Spoken Word may be 'poor cousin'. It manifests itself in different ways, and it happens to me less, but it still goes on, I guess, and that used to really frustrate me...'
[verb]swish
Website
'I was talking to [verb]swish, who I'm really inspired by, and I told him that Spoken Word is more of a live
thing,' says self-styled "Street Psalmist" Karl Nova.
'You have to be there to hear it in the moment when it is being delivered to really appreciate it...'
'I think it should have a market amongst the gospel crowd as a live experience when it is done properly - like the way [verb]swish does it, or Michaela...'
'I don't know how it translates into a record that you listen to at full length. I'm not mainly a Spoken Word artist myself; I alternate as I see fit when performing live'
'When we do have events,' says Alan Charles, 'it tends to be Spoken Word artistes for a Spoken Word audience. And therein lies the problem: the people who go to poetry events are the ones who like poetry...'
thing,' says self-styled "Street Psalmist" Karl Nova.
'You have to be there to hear it in the moment when it is being delivered to really appreciate it...'
'I think it should have a market amongst the gospel crowd as a live experience when it is done properly - like the way [verb]swish does it, or Michaela...'
'I don't know how it translates into a record that you listen to at full length. I'm not mainly a Spoken Word artist myself; I alternate as I see fit when performing live'
'When we do have events,' says Alan Charles, 'it tends to be Spoken Word artistes for a Spoken Word audience. And therein lies the problem: the people who go to poetry events are the ones who like poetry...'
MySpace
KARL NOVA
MASS APPEAL - AND CONTROVERSY...
'...But really, you want the masses. You want the Spoken Word artiste bang in the middle of a Raymond & Co concert or a convention such as IGOC."
That aside, there's also the age-old "is it really Christian?"
issue. Many Christians who are into Spoken Word would
consider Andrea Encinas (aka 'Sugarblack') one of its
pioneers.
Andrea, however, refuses to label herself a 'Christian'
Spoken Word artist.
'My first encounter with performing my poetry in a 'Christian' setting left much to
be desired,' says Andrea. 'As a poet I cover all topics about life from an angle that will give people food for thought while making them laugh...'
'A spoonful of sugar always helps the medicine go down. My passion is about socio-
That aside, there's also the age-old "is it really Christian?"
issue. Many Christians who are into Spoken Word would
consider Andrea Encinas (aka 'Sugarblack') one of its
pioneers.
Andrea, however, refuses to label herself a 'Christian'
Spoken Word artist.
'My first encounter with performing my poetry in a 'Christian' setting left much to
be desired,' says Andrea. 'As a poet I cover all topics about life from an angle that will give people food for thought while making them laugh...'
'A spoonful of sugar always helps the medicine go down. My passion is about socio-
SUGARBLACK
MySpace
political issues, but I have found much joy in writing about football, love, teenage angst and most recently about celebrating the fuller figured woman...'
And it was that last subject - my so-called controversial poem - Bubulupsi.
'From the response to that poem at my one and only 'Christian' gig, it seems that some 'Christians' are in denial about sex, its very existence and its power, and were in shock that I could speak so humorously about it,' she says. 'Some even accused me of encouraging immorality through my words...'
'...But issues like racism and war go unrecognised by them. No shock was incurred
by the fact that our preoccupation with self - yes, even as 'Christians' - can have a domino effect in maintaining the poverty and slavery of our brothers and sisters across the world.
And it was that last subject - my so-called controversial poem - Bubulupsi.
'From the response to that poem at my one and only 'Christian' gig, it seems that some 'Christians' are in denial about sex, its very existence and its power, and were in shock that I could speak so humorously about it,' she says. 'Some even accused me of encouraging immorality through my words...'
'...But issues like racism and war go unrecognised by them. No shock was incurred
by the fact that our preoccupation with self - yes, even as 'Christians' - can have a domino effect in maintaining the poverty and slavery of our brothers and sisters across the world.
PREOCCUPATION...
'I would be unappreciative if I did not say that there were many who found humour, strength and encouragement in my work at that same event...
So perhaps there is hope after all for the 'Black church'. I only pray that God gives the forward thinking Christians more strength to shout above those who believe that man was conceived when Adam knew Eve...
I personally do not like poetry that says 'I was going through this, this and that in life and then I met Jesus and He saved me and he can do it for you'. It is boring, it is not creative and it is not good literature...'
Andrea's sentiments are echoed by Debo Oluwatuminu.
So perhaps there is hope after all for the 'Black church'. I only pray that God gives the forward thinking Christians more strength to shout above those who believe that man was conceived when Adam knew Eve...
I personally do not like poetry that says 'I was going through this, this and that in life and then I met Jesus and He saved me and he can do it for you'. It is boring, it is not creative and it is not good literature...'
Andrea's sentiments are echoed by Debo Oluwatuminu.
Conception through understanding... If only childbirth could be that easy!
CHURCH VERSUS ARTS...
Debo is probably better known as a playwright, but can be
seen doing the odd poetry performance every now and
then, and released a poetry album called 'When Lightning
Speaks' some years ago.
'...It does seem a bit ironic that we're talking about the
'Spoken Word' in the context of the 'Church'. After all, that's
the currency of the Church isn't it..? The 'spoken word'...?
Hmmm, deep. That's Debo for you. '...But seriously,' he continues, 'the full expression of this creative experience will only happen when the 'Church' - and I'm generalising a bit here - resolves this age-old tension between the Church and the Arts.
The more liberated artists (including poets and visual artistes) feel in the community of faith, hopefully, a more diverse, innovative and creative expression
seen doing the odd poetry performance every now and
then, and released a poetry album called 'When Lightning
Speaks' some years ago.
'...It does seem a bit ironic that we're talking about the
'Spoken Word' in the context of the 'Church'. After all, that's
the currency of the Church isn't it..? The 'spoken word'...?
Hmmm, deep. That's Debo for you. '...But seriously,' he continues, 'the full expression of this creative experience will only happen when the 'Church' - and I'm generalising a bit here - resolves this age-old tension between the Church and the Arts.
The more liberated artists (including poets and visual artistes) feel in the community of faith, hopefully, a more diverse, innovative and creative expression
Debo Oluwatuminu
will result.
'It's time for 'Christian' artistes to break free from the constraints imposed on us both by the Church, the world and even ourselves.
Creativity is a right, a privilege and a responsibility. We need to be expressing the pain, realities, challenges and yes, joys of this adventure of faith - avoiding the clichés, the 'cheesy' and the 'Christianese'...'
From the point of view of a non-poet (albeit a fan), I'd say what the Spoken Word scene needs is the right combination of the newer artists' youthful idealism and the experience carried by veterans such as Alan and Debo...
And Andrea too. Her decision not to stay in the Christian subculture is an honourable one, and artists and audience alike should learn from what she does,
'It's time for 'Christian' artistes to break free from the constraints imposed on us both by the Church, the world and even ourselves.
Creativity is a right, a privilege and a responsibility. We need to be expressing the pain, realities, challenges and yes, joys of this adventure of faith - avoiding the clichés, the 'cheesy' and the 'Christianese'...'
From the point of view of a non-poet (albeit a fan), I'd say what the Spoken Word scene needs is the right combination of the newer artists' youthful idealism and the experience carried by veterans such as Alan and Debo...
And Andrea too. Her decision not to stay in the Christian subculture is an honourable one, and artists and audience alike should learn from what she does,
AND FINALLY...
rather than stigmatise her because her work doesn't fit their narrow definition of what's 'Christian' or not. But I'll give the last word to a relative newbie on the scene, Sharone Benjamin:
'I do believe there's definitely more room for growth and creativity, but
Spoken Word does seem to be becoming a highly popular alternative.
When you're around people of a similar sort, it makes you want to pull
your socks up and do what you do even better. Not in a competitive
way - but iron really does sharpen iron - and I'm all for being filed!'
'I do believe there's definitely more room for growth and creativity, but
Spoken Word does seem to be becoming a highly popular alternative.
When you're around people of a similar sort, it makes you want to pull
your socks up and do what you do even better. Not in a competitive
way - but iron really does sharpen iron - and I'm all for being filed!'
Sharone
Benjamin
Benjamin
EPILOGUE
I had this piece sitting on the site for almost a couple of months before
publishing it.
Coming back to it with fresh eyes (plus some useful pre-publication
feedback from [verb]swish) meant I finally pinned down what had been
kicking around the back of my mind: the article could almost be construed
as a collective complaint.
It'll be an easy assumption to make: a collection of disparate artists railing
against constrictive boundaries (real or imagined) of the church in particular
and the cultural nuances of Christianity in general.
It'll also be an incredibly lazy option.
By its very nature good Spoken Word treads a creative path that should
provoke thought and - for my money anyway - its essence requires you
publishing it.
Coming back to it with fresh eyes (plus some useful pre-publication
feedback from [verb]swish) meant I finally pinned down what had been
kicking around the back of my mind: the article could almost be construed
as a collective complaint.
It'll be an easy assumption to make: a collection of disparate artists railing
against constrictive boundaries (real or imagined) of the church in particular
and the cultural nuances of Christianity in general.
It'll also be an incredibly lazy option.
By its very nature good Spoken Word treads a creative path that should
provoke thought and - for my money anyway - its essence requires you
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