Also available as audio-only on iTunes, Spotify, & wherever you get podcasts

Take a journey through skid row with critically acclaimed poet Alex Alpharaoh as your guide during “Threads and Lines”. The Clique touch the heavens and the bottom of the barrel with the highest and lowest “2 Piece combo” scores yet! Alpharaoh closes us out by shutting ‘Merica down during the “Five For Ya Eye”.

 [Episode Index] 

• 0:40 – “Spare Change” by Alex Alpharaoh 
  
• 4:41 – “Threads and Lines” 
  
• 14:34 – 2 Piece Combo | Harlem ‘Round Midnight by Jeffrey Almonte 
  
• 34:43 – 2 Piece Combo | @loveandbruise 
  
• 43:20 – 5 For Your Eye 

Working with Daniel and (Kuya) David on Pen Clique was a reminder of why I do what I do: love of the work. Their passion, drive, and expertise is only rivaled by their love for the spoken word. When they both approached me about the concept for a new podcast, we were backstage at one of my shows. Daniel, David, and I had engaged in several conversations about the state of poetry in America…

The observations ranged from slam-poetry, to hip hop music, to emceeing, to rap, and traditional poetry (both written and expressed). Although all of it is valid because it is creative expression, not all of it is good. David and Daniel were concerned that the state of affairs has placed the written and spoken word in direct danger of extinction. It began with mass commercialization. What was once an art form used to express release and relief from oppressive systems rooted in colonialism has now become a tool for popular culture to implement ignorance and superficiality as societal norms to the youth that the genre has used as a vehicle of expression for several decades. 

There are several things I appreciate about how Daniel and David are approaching the genre. They are using conventional forms of media (I.e. radio) in unconventional ways (such as streaming both a podcast and vlog cast simultaneously). They are also amazing wordsmiths that use their knowledge and expertise to not only craft stories, but breakdown everything from structure, to meaning, allowing the viewer/listener to often times gain insight on the process of writing, get history lessons on the origins of the genre, and bringing in guests that are true staples of the work and their respective communities. Kuya David and Chubby Fat da God are not personalities, they are genuine people with unique perspective that have chosen an altruistic approach to the work by sharing their ideas, creativity, critiques, and in the process, providing a fresh perspective on the continual evolution of poetry and spoken word. 

When I first met David, he has doing trial runs of Prime Poetry League’s poetry-clash. It was a bold concept where he combined competitive elements of emcee battling with the essence of spoken word poetry. This is where and when I met Daniel: a passionate poet whose work felt raw, volatile at times, and ultimately, under appreciated. The three of us have been friends ever since. It is my sincerest belief that in order for the genre to grow and maintain a sense of importance in this digital age, innovators such as David and Daniel must be bold and courageous enough to steer the ship in a new direction. This is what they are doing with Pen Clique, and if you care about the work, this is but one of many reasons why you should tune in.

Write up by Alex Alpharaoh

[Footnotes]

• Alex Alpharaoh: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
• 2 Piece Combo: “Harlem ‘Round Midnight” by Jeffrey Almonte of TheAlmonteFilms 
  
• 2 Piece Combo: #poetry piece by @loveandbruise 
  
• Music by The Dope Spot Studios Produced by Dom V
  
• Intro title animated by Seth Garnes