Meet the five contestants competing in the semifinals on may 4th at the anacostia river festival!
Click on their image to learn more about them!
Watch their open mic performances BELOW
Meet OUR host & Judges for the semifinals
Scroll to learn more about them!
Craig Black
Craig Blac first got his start in Broadcasting at WPGC 95.5 in D.C. where he was the overnight personality and a street team member, all while working towards a B.A. in Journalism at Bowie State University. He worked alongside two popular D.C. jocks, Tigger of BET’s “Rap City,” and the legendary Donnie Simpson. Blac later became the Assistant Promotions Director/Street Team Director/Weekend On-air Personality with a Sunday night go-go show at D.C.’s WKYS-FM 93.9. Go-go music’s greatest came through to sit in on Blac’s show, including the Chocolate City’s “godfather of go-go,” Chuck Brown.
In June 2000, Craig Blac made the move to St. Louis where he was an On-air Personality at the “Blazin’ Hip-Hop and R&B” station WFUN-FM Q95.5 in the 6 pm to 10 pm slot. The show was aptly titled “The Blac Out” Craig immediately gained a great following after inviting local hip-hop artists to shine on the mic live on the “St. Louis Love” segment. He also interviewed various guests including St. Louis’ own Nelly and the St. Lunatics.
Nicole Dowd
Nicole Dowd is the Head of Public Programs at the Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art, overseeing planning and implementation of museum-wide public programs and community engagement. Previously she served as Head of Cultural Programming at Apple in Washington DC, developing public programs and piloting the Today at Apple Creative Studios teen program. Over the last decade she has worked with and mentored artists throughout the DC region, as Director of Arts Programs at Halcyon and Program Manager of the Hamiltonian Artists Fellowship. She currently serves on the Board of Directors at The Nicholson Project, a DC-based artist residency and community garden.
Kymone
Freeman
Freeman is an award-winning playwright, activist and political commentator. The Catalogue for Philanthropy honored him with the 2022 Changemaker Award. He is a co-founder of We Act Radio, recognized as DC’s Best Social Justice Station in 2017 by Washington City Paper and 1st Place 2017 Public Media Journalists Association Award. He founded the Black L.U.V. Festival in 1997 & was honored at the Kennedy Center as a Mayor's Art Award Finalist for Excellence in Service to the Arts. PBS Online Film Festival produced his documentary short Fresh Prince of Anacostia. His work has appeared in Washington Post, Washington Informer and NY Times: Can Anacostia Build a Bridge w/o Displacing Its People? He has appeared nationally and internationally on BBC, French 24 TV, German ZDF, RT, CGTN America, Cuban National TV and TV One. He is a Douglass Community Landtrust founding board member and has published a novel, Nineveh: a conflict over water with Strong Arm Press. NinevehNovel.com He is now a revolutionary DC Statehood Green Party Congressional Candidate for DC Delegate challenging the 34 year incumbent. Freeman4congress.com
Cam Poles
Cam Poles is a musician, writer, producer, and cultural architect. With experiences that range from public school educator to C-suite nonprofit executive to full-time creative (songwriter/ music producer/ creative director / short film director), he has spent his entire adult life and professional career fighting for justice, access, and equity - amplifying voices, shifting narratives, building community, and continually striving to be the living embodiment of a dope artist, servant-leader, warrior, and healer.
2024 SPOKEN WORD TO GO-GO CHAMPIONSHIP
WHAT IS SPOKEN WORD TO GO-GO?
SWGG is an annual competition of spoken word artists who write spoken word poetry to a chosen custom track created by The Experience Band & Show and perform it live in front of a panel of selected judges. Tracklist below.
WHAT is the winning prize?
The SWGG Champion gains the 2024 SWGG Championship title, the Crystal Mic Trophy, a recording session with The Experience Band & Show and a $2,500 cash prize!
HOW MANY ROUNDS IN THE COMPETITION?
Two Open Mics (non-competitive)
Open Mic #1 - March 27th
Open Mix #2 - April 5th, Artomatic, Slammer Slot Registration
Round 1 - April 19th, Busboys and Poets Anacostia
Round 2 - Top 10 will be posted online for public voting
Semifinals - Top 5 will perform on May 4th at the Anacostia River Festival
Finale - Top 3 will perform on June 22nd at the DC Go-Go Stage at the 32nd Annual Giant Barbecue Battle
*Any questions, please contact Ashley Templeton ashley@anacositabid.org
RULES
PERFORMANCE RULES
Each poem must be of the poet’s own original construction alongside a pre-selected go-go track provided. Poem must not have been previously recorded or published.
Poem is not to exceed the length of the track (around 1:30 minutes)
Each poet gets 1:30 minutes (plus a ten-second grace period) to read one poem; if the poet goes over, points will be deducted from the total score.
The judges will then score the pieces anywhere from 0.0 to 10.0, evaluating such qualities as PERFORMANCE, CONTENT and ORIGINALITY. Scores will be totaled and compared at the end of the performances to determine which poets will continue to the next round.
The poet may NOT use props, costumes, or musical instruments. This includes the removal of clothing.
The poem can only be performed by one person.
Poets ARE allowed to read from paper and electronic devices such as laptops or cell phones. There will be no point penalty assessed unless it’s used as a PROP (as outlined above).
Use of profanity is not permitted.
HOUSE RULES
Please remember to turn off your devices.
Respect the mic, but most of all respect the person that is at the microphone. Give them your attention, it may be someone’s first time, or they may be getting very vulnerable. The only time you can make noise, is if it’s to show a lot of love to the person on stage in agreement with their poem. We are in an interactive space: you can clap, snap, yell hallelujah, but of course be respectful in your exuberance!
We do not censor our stages, but still reserve the right to dispel anyone from the stage at the Host’s discretion if the space is made unsafe at any point.
Last but not least, have a whole lot of fun!!!