If you are a dancer, filmmaker, and/or spoken word artist AND have a performance video under 6 minutes -- there is still time to enter FAMECAST's 4th Season. www.famecast.com/promo/?promo_code=215733 The Open Round ends for all categories by Sat. Feb. 2, 2008 12 noon EST. So, enter Famecast today by simply uploading your video and get... 1. Free artist page and fan management toolkit 2. $10,000 cash prize for winner of each stage! 3. Exposure to worldwide audience 4. Feedback from Industry Heavyweights 5. Networking within the FameCast entertainment community 6. Finalists receive Free trip to Austin TX to perform live and be broadcast! 7. Opportunity to earn revenue from the sale of your video(s) and by referring other artists! Here is a video link that will tell you more: www.famecast.com/promo/?promo_code=215733

Share your day with MGP on Master Griot Radio, www.mastergriotradio.com, as you surf the net . (click the forward button 4 times to get to the interview) MASTER GRIOT RADIO kicks off its INDUSTRY SERIES KICK-OFF with an interview w/IKE LOVE, President and CEO of LOVE ONE RECORDS & ENTERTAINMENT, a division of London based Jet Star Records (just click the fast forward button 4times to move to this great interview that opens up with Upreciation by Amun Miraaj - www.mastergriotradio.com) Our lively interview also includes conversations with **RUSSELL GORE, JR, Head of Artist Development for Love One Records and former member of Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes **GEORGE BUFFY, Producer/Musician/A&R for Ike Love Records has worked with everyone from Teddy Pendegrass to Chaka Chan **MS. PASSION & ANGELINE, Up and coming artists with Love One Records Go to www.mastergriotradio.com and listen in. We're Channel 13 on Your NBBTA Internet Radio Dial! I AM A BLACK BUSINESS BUILDER. ARE YOU? http://www.nbbta.org/member.html?1817

The following article is a reprint from www.dropmagazine.com Is There A Future For Spoken Word? Contributed by Rami K on 6/18/07 What is Spoken Word? Is it really hip hop??? One thing that's certain is that more and more hip hop fans are allowing Spoken Word into their cribs. Does Spoken Word have what it takes to make it mainstream? Poetry slam; ideas of dimly lit cafes, mahogany tables, free spirited individuals of all colors, dreadlocked hair humbly standing on a stage in front of others like them, speaking of oppression, struggle, history, and truth - Not exactly the image that record labels try to market within the rap and hip hop genre, huh? But despite not being the most known sect of hip hop, spoken word continues to push forward through the waves of marketable mainstream music and make its' presence felt within the worldwide urban community. Now, before we can hop into the "locks" of spoken word, we need to travel right to the roots and explore the core of the art, and the long history which surrounds spoken word poetry. The true essence of music isn't built on the instrumentals, or flashy marketable stereotypes, and infectious hooks; instead the essence of music finds its' roots right within the words, and in order to take an actual look into the heart of music we have to look past the catchy beats, and "blinged" filled videos, and peer right into the words that the artist speaks… hence, spoken word. Simply seeing the term, "spoken word", images of a lone man or woman on stage with nothing but a microphone, and a voice box to produce rhythm come to mind, allowing us to relive a moment in time, or experience an emotion; that essentially is the definition of Spoken Word poetry, the act of reading a literary work or poem out loud. However, we have to keep in mind that Spoken Word poets do not necessarily follow the conventional "guidelines" of poetry (remember trying to count syllables and stanzas in the back of your grade 11 English class during the poetry unit?). Guidelines don't exist within Spoken Word, instead a different approach is taken, which offers a more free flowing, and open ended style of poetry where there are no real limitations, and a poet is essentially able to do what they please. In fact, Spoken Word extends itself into all different artistic styles, ranging from the recitals and performances of poetic works by Shakespeare and further manifesting itself into hip hop music, all through the use of rhythm and words. As far as looking at where it all started, there really isn't a specific time, or group that opened up the world of Spoken Word, but it can be said that it's most basic form has existed for centuries, ever since mankind learned how to communicate with those vocal chords (Rahzel would have had his own shrine back then). But, we can still attribute the creation of Spoken Word back to times of ancient chants, and tribal story telling that have swayed generations, which really is the epitome and true primal nature of Spoken Word, the act of communicating with others through words. Let's just say that we've come a long way from circle fires and loincloths. Throughout the past years Spoken Word has flourished and continued to expand outwards, and along with its' nature of being flexible and limitless, it has been able to open up its' doors to artists from all paths of life. Within the realm of Spoken Word, there are no credentials, styles or certain images artists have to uphold, instead just being oneself is enough to move and connect with a crowd on levels of mind, and body. How often is it we experience an individual who has lived through the struggles of the streets, and a teacher living in the suburbs swaying the same crowd, and sharing the same stage? Just compare the works of Spoken Word artist, Rives, and Black Ice, that's love right there! And when it comes down

, we need to hear from you. , so MGP may tailor programming that meets your REAL needs. to submit one written poem on MGP's master poetry blog to be ranked by community members (fans of poetry), series about Copyrighting and by Joann Javon, book marketing strategy session with Mill City Publishing, and membership

"I'm just one metaphor away from shocking the world..." -HBO Def Poet/Master Griot artist, Tommy Bottoms (pictured: Master Griot Just Greg with elder Amiri Baraka) Can the genre of spoken word compete in the mainstream of the music industry? Now, I'm not speaking of audio books or speeches, but the dramatic rhythmic delivery of poetry, bare or to music/beats. Then, I'd like to take it one step further and look at performance poetry, the live presentation of spoken word. Can spoken word compete? I am Jacqueline Taylor-Adams, the creator of The Master Griot Project [media] . Now, this project's purpose is to promote the diversity of spoken word and prove its market viability while using its positive purposed words to build functional communities. Can spoken word compete? Now, this is where you come in. SoundClick.com is such an ideal place to help us find out. First, you are needed to listen to the spoken word that we have here on SoundClick.com: http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=697411&content=music I've just finished posting the poetry and music of the first ten artists selected as the vehicles that will prove the market viability of spoken word. They are The Master Griot Performance Poetry Collective: Tommy Bottoms (ATL), Queen [media] (ATL), Shyster aka Mrs. Betty's Son (PHL), Infinite Life (PHL), Just Greg (PHL), Brothas Keepa (Memphis), Quiet Rage (PHL), Lyrispect (PHL), RhapsodE (PHL), and Amun Miraaj (Chicago) Why them? Why their work? Well, when engaging in an experiment one has to have a controlled based from which to test. The MGP artists and their works are the controlled based. They and their work represent a diversity as well as high quality in production, content, and delivery. Once, we (you, I, and the MGP artists) have created the road to compete, then we will have made a path for other artists to follow. After listening to the work, rate it, post comments, add the ones that move you to your station. Search for the songs in the charts and let us know if its "hot" or a "flop". YOU ARE SO IMPORTANT. What you think matters. As a thank you for the first 50 people who at least listen and rate the work of the MGP Artists, you will receive a complimentary cd of The Master Griot Project's 1st compilation, "Purpose Driven Words" valued at $17.99 with 23 tracks. Deadline is Dec. 15, 2007 and you must submit: the songs you listened to & rated, the date, your name, email, and mailing address. Only complete entries can be considered. Look, there are other factors that create a viable market, but for the arts, the artist and their product is the foundation of the market from which everything else is built. So, this will be an ongoing blog here on SoundClick, "Can Spoken Word Compete?" Please, participate by listening to the music, giving feedback, and add the songs that move you to your station. Let's make history together... In the meantime, Stay Great!!! http://www.soundclick.com/MGPArtists www.mastergriot.com (2008 Black Web Award winner for Best Site For Spoken Word