Local hip hop enthusiasts will gather to slam the president tonight in hopes of competing in a national contest.
X-plosive Productions is sponsoring the Slam Bush-Athens Heat contest at the Union, 18 W. Union St.
Inspired by hip hop activist and journalist Davey D, Slam Bush is a MC and slam poet battle contest to see who has the gift of gab for dissing the president. The winners of preliminary events in different states, mostly swing states, will go to Miami, Fla., to compete in the national competition on Wednesday Sept. 29, a day before the first presidential debate. Tonight's Athens winner will receive a $100 prize.
Stu Pflaum, coordinator of the Athens slam, first learned of Slam Bush by frequenting Davey D's Web site.
I read Davey D's corner
and I got inspired Pflaum said. I contacted the promoters and they were excited to get more push in Ohio
being that it's such a key market.
Pflaum tried to contact several politicians to help promote the event as well, but he is not expecting any of them to show.
I think they are scared of it
Pflaum said.
Mike Bart, also known as DJ Barticus; Akil Houston, professor of African American studies; and John Gilliom, professor of Political Science are the guest judges for the slam. Bart said he is excited to see people use hip hop for more political purposes.
The slam is important because of the lack of respect politicians have for hip hop issues
Bart said. I hope the battle will wake politicians up to the problems the hip hop community voices.
The battle begins at 9 p.m. Admission is $2. DJ Barticus, The Symphonics and Jimson Lo-Fi also are performing.
There's so many ways to express yourself about these issues and hopefully it will be a nice environment for people who feel a certain way about our political problems
said Mike Big City Roberts, beat producer of the Symphonics. We're not trying to be anti-patriotism
we just want to exercise our rights of free speech.
The League of Pissed Off Voters and Slam Bush PAC also sponsor the Slam Bush contest.
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