And the Winners of the 2006 NUSPAs are...

Friday, April 21, 2006 at 7 oGÇÖclock in the evening, the doors opened to The Lee Center 1108 Jefferson Street Alexandria, Virginia for the 2nd Annual National Underground Spoken word & Poetry Awards. Dark clouds cried profusely on the poetry lovers who entered the venue wet with anticipation. The stars of the gathered to greet each other, network, and enjoy the refreshments prepared by the NUSPA staff in the Rose Room. Calls flooded the phone lines asking GÇ£has the show started yetGÇ¥? The founders, the host, ten presenters, and many attendees, were stuck in traffic on all points highway 95 north and south.

At 8:22, 22 minutes later than anticipated, the lights dimmed over the crowd, the curtains opened, the music started with an opening act by Urban Dance Group, Culture Shock. The crowd came alive and it was celebration time! There were poetry performances by Dr. Goddess of Pittsburg reciting from her one woman show. Our youth performance came from Emoni of Washington, DC. who almost shut the house down! New-comer to the underground, Big Sllim who opened just before the GÇ£best performanceGÇ¥ presentations, no one could have done it better, really. Guest performances by guitarists, Jonathan GÇ£The Wryte OneGÇ¥ Hopkins and Courtney Downe who returned by popular demand. Kuku preceded them with one song, and Princess of Controversy accompanied by Tri-flava closed the show with a phenomenal performance leaving us with GÇ£Pump your fist for the revolution! Pump your fist like this, GÇÿcause the revolution just wonGÇÖt quit!

The question still remains, GÇ£Who got the NUSPAs?GÇ¥

Great Publishing Company, along with the entire underground would like to congratulate the NUSPA winners of 2006! Your determination is our inspiration!

Community Oriented Underground PoetsC.O.U.P. FEMALE
Monica Daye GÇô Durham North Carolina

C.O.U.P. MALE 2006
Tim Jackson GÇô Durham, North Carolina

WHY DIDNGÇÖT I THINK OF THAT? Performance award
Drew GÇ£Droopy: Anderson GÇô Washington, DC

MORE LIKE FAMILY SLAM TEAM
DC/Baltimore GÇô This is their second win of the same category.

MORE LIKE FAMILY POETRY TROUPE
Lyric Ave GÇô Richmond, Virginia

MOST CREATIVE COVER ART
Get Familiar GÇô Queen Sheba GÇô Atlanta, Georgia

POETRY SLAM OF THE YEAR
Nuyorican Caf+¬ GÇô New York, New York

Best Performance Awards

BEST PERFORMANCE MALE
Shadokat GÇô Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

BEST PERFORMANCE FEMALE
Naima Jahmaal GÇô Washington, DC

BEST PERFORMANCE GROUP/DUO
Jhunippuz GÇô Norfolk, Virginia

BEST PERFORMANCE YOUTH
Jazmin Fountain GÇô Norfolk, Virginia

GǪof the year awards

HOST OF THE YEAR
Drew GÇ£DroopyGÇ¥ Anderson GÇô Washington, DC
Godchild the Omen - Norfolk, VA

POETRY BOOK OF THE YEAR
Still Swinging by Tanya GÇ£JahipsterGÇ¥ Matthews GÇô Baltimore, Maryland

SPOKEN WORD ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Personology by Godchild the Omen GÇô Norfolk, VA
Water Margin by the 5th L GÇô Baltimore, Maryland

Special thanks to all of the presenters, and special-special thanks to the people who were asked to present because someone couldnGÇÖt make it. Thank you so much to our lighting technician, Teena B. (You did a spectacular job girl). Thank you Fahim for the sound, thanks Deejay Fred Locks! Thank you to Naim and Chris styles who spent countless hours opening and closing curtains and working the follow spot-light. Thank you so much to Lakaye Mbah of Soulstice City Photography for being there a second year. Special, special thanks to our video crew Phillip Gregory of G&A Productions (lets get those DVDS out soon!). Thanks to Komplex for not just being the host, but for being a friend. Thank you to Tribes Magazine although traffic kept you away. Thank you to the official magazine of NUSPA, THE PROTOTYPE! Thanks to the Washington City Paper GÇô we didnGÇÖt even know you were there. Thank you to all of the performers. Thanks Bru J Thank you Lala GÇô girl, donGÇÖt know what we would have done without your help. Thank you Jeffrey Duarte GÇô weGÇÖre making progress. Thank you Princess of Controversy for being our stage manager and still rocking the house in the end. Thanks Aunt Dar! Thanks Great Publicist Shoni Baker. Thank you Tasha for helping with the door. Thanks Big Sllim, thanks to Collective Voices (you know what you did). Thanks Kymone for the encouragement. Thanks Sir and Sonray. Thanks Kuroji! Thanks Big Head. Thank you Drew for the red party, it was off. da. Chain! Thank you to Bus Boys and Poets, Speak Easy Publishing, and Quick Press. Special thanks to the underground. GÇ£So when I die, bury me in the skyGÇ¥GǪ IGÇÖm undergroundGǪ

Winners are available also on www.greatpublishing.com

Visit our supporterGÇÖs websites
www.jazzpoetrycafe.net
www.komplexonline.com
www.onewordmag.com
www.tribesmagazine.com
www.busboysandpoets.com
www.speakeasypublishing.com
www.princessofcontroversy.net
www.lalalounge.net
www.4luvofpoetry.com
www.blacktvonline.com
www.afro.com
www.brokeballer.com

To become involved in next year's NUSPA's, please visit www.greatpublishing.com.