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NUSPA 2006 Friday, April 21, 2006 at 7 oGÃÃclock 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 Gãhas the show started yetGÃÂ¥? 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 Gãbest performanceGÃÂ¥ presentations, no one could have done it better, really. Guest performances by guitarists, Jonathan GãThe Wryte OneGÃÂ¥ 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 GãPump your fist for the revolution! Pump your fist like this, GÃÿcause the revolution just wonGÃÃt quit! The question still remains, GãWho got the NUSPAs?GÃÂ¥ 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 GÃô Durham North Carolina C.O.U.P. MALE 2006
Tim Jackson GÃô Durham, North Carolina WHY DIDNGÃÃT I THINK OF THAT? Performance award
Drew G̣Droopy: Anderson G̙ Washington, DC MORE LIKE FAMILY SLAM TEAM
DC/Baltimore GÃô This is their second win of the same category. MORE LIKE FAMILY POETRY TROUPE
Lyric Ave GÃô Richmond, Virginia MOST CREATIVE COVER ART
Get Familiar GÃô Queen Sheba GÃô Atlanta, Georgia POETRY SLAM OF THE YEAR
Nuyorican Caf+¬ GÃô New York, New York Best Performance Awards BEST PERFORMANCE MALE
Shadokat GÃô Philadelphia, Pennsylvania BEST PERFORMANCE FEMALE
Naima Jahmaal GÃô Washington, DC BEST PERFORMANCE GROUP/DUO
Jhunippuz GÃô Norfolk, Virginia BEST PERFORMANCE YOUTH
Jazmin Fountain G̙ Norfolk, Virginia G̻of the year awards HOST OF THE YEAR
Drew GãDroopyGÃÂ¥ Anderson GÃô Washington, DC
Godchild the Omen - Norfolk, VA POETRY BOOK OF THE YEAR
Still Swinging by Tanya GãJahipsterGÃÂ¥ Matthews GÃô Baltimore, Maryland SPOKEN WORD ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Personology by Godchild the Omen GÃô Norfolk, VA
Water Margin by the 5th L GÃô Baltimore, Maryland Special thanks to all of the presenters, and special-special thanks to the people who were asked to present because someone couldnGÃÃt 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 GÃô we didnGÃÃt even know you were there. Thank you to all of the performers. Thanks Bru J Thank you Lala GÃô girl, donGÃÃt know what we would have done without your help. Thank you Jeffrey Duarte GÃô weGÃÃre 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. GãSo when I die, bury me in the skyGÃÂ¥Gê IGÃÃm undergroundGê Winners are available also on www.greatpublishing.com Visit our supporterGÃÃs 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. |
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