Apr. 21, 2010 - Issue #757: Face First

Prevue

Two hearts

Edmonton Poetry Festival unites rap and poetry

'I guess if you write lyrics, you're a poet. But I'm a rapper," offers Edmonton hip-hop artist Omar Mouallem (aka AOK or Assault of Knowledge). "In some ways I'm an unusual choice for a poetry festival, but then again, the festival is bringing poetry back to its origins, which is performance art."

Mouallem is referring to Hip Hop Heart. Beat, an evening of rap and poetry at this year's Edmonton Poetry Festival, which runs from April 19 – 25. Former poet laureate Alice Major, who organizes the annual festival, asked fellow wordsmith and rap curator Joe Gurba (aka The Joe) to pick a handful of local hip-hop artists who embody and appreciate the similarities and differences between the two art forms.

Joining AOK onstage will be Edmonton's current Poet Laureate Cadence Weapon and Gurba's Old Ugly crew. "Nothing like it has been done before," notes Mouallem. "I don't think Alice would have put this event on if she didn't know that there's already an appreciation for hip hop in poetry circles."

Because of his other accomplishments as a published journalist and author—he's associate editor of Avenue and one of Vue's freelancers—Mouallem modestly keeps his musical achievements at an arm's length. He's currently working on the follow-up to his critically-acclaimed 2008 debut If You Don't Buy This CD the Terrorists Win, and is slowly starting to understand how his life-long love of rap has been the basis for writing poetry. As a regular performer at open mic nights, Mouallem has found inspiration and support in both Edmonton's rap and poetry communities.
"So many young poets in Edmonton are hip-hop lovers, and even deliver their poetry in a slam, hip-hop way, so I was encourage and reminded of the synergetic quality between hip hop and poetry," he notes.

Gurba, for his part, was insistent on gathering artists—like AOK—who are conscious to represent the bridge between hip hop and poetry.
"Poetry is about showing and not telling, whereas rap is all tell," Gurba explains. "They relate on a rudimentary level, this common musicality of words and an appreciation for the sound of words. I've selected rappers who are more conscious of these differences and more poetic as rappers."
Gurba also notes that AOK in particular adds diversity to the lineup: "Omar's attachment to writing and music is a bridge to what's happening in this festival." V

Fri, Apr 23 (8 pm)
Hip Hop Heart. Beat
AOK
With Cadence Weapon, the Joe, Politic Live, mikey maybe, mitchmatic and Dakwon Lee
The ARTery, $10

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