Here We Go, Yo!

So what's, so what's, so what's the scenario!?! Well as you may or may not know, slam is EXTREMELY competitive in nature. Not only are poets going up against each other for a lofty title, occasional cash prizes, and likely a spot on a team, but various poetry venues within certain areas are each hosting slams. There are more and more opportunities, slams every other night all over the city and poets, poets, everywhere, slamming their little hearts out. Let's not forget that everyday life responsibilities, conflicting schedules, and goals often crowd out our artistic aspirations. Tough decisions must be made. As a result, sometimes you start out with one team and end up with another. Hey, it happens.

A couple of the original team members for the 2011 LA Slam Team decided to explore other opportunities in slam and we wish them the very best. They will stay friends of the LA Slam Team and we definitely love them, support them, and congratulate them in their future successes! As a result of the shift, we were able to bump up two of our finalists: Ashley and Madison. We are so very excited to have these fierce young ladies join our team this year and happy that they were able to. So that's the scenario. Now, run tell yo Mama.

2011 LA GRAND SLAM FINALS RECAP

It was crazy. The poets went balls deep. Our special guest host, Javon Johnson kept it crunk. Our DJ, Tamara Blue kept us gyrating in our seats between poems. The audience was live. And when it was all said and done, the judges had the final say. Thank you to lovers of Brass Knuckles, everyone who supported all season long, our judges, hosts, and most of all, slammers!

Congratulations to Judy Holiday who dethroned last year's Grand Slam Champion, Nikki Blak with a final cumulative score of 88.1!!! It was such an exciting night! Though we hated to see the poets who were eliminated as the slam went on have to leave us, we sure are happy for the ones who made it through. Here are the final scores of the night:

Judy Holiday 88.1

Nick Macedo 87.3

Francois 86.8

Mr. Poetic 86.4

Edwin Bodney 86.2

2011 LA GRAND SLAM FINALS

Here's the line up:

Manuel

Francois

Madison

Ashley

Edwin Bodney

Mr. Poetic

E. Amato

Judy Holiday

Nick Macedo

What does that mean? Simply put... BRING YOUR ASS. That is all

2nd Semi Final Bout RECAP

Last night was the second (and very last) of 2 Semi Final Bouts to determine this year's finalists for the 2011 LA Slam Team. The crowd was hype and the gloves were off. In the end, Francios (who made it to Semis last year) was crowned the evening's king with a cumulative score of 84.9. We'll see him in finals, along with the following poets:

Madison 84.4

Manuel 83.8

Ashley 82.9

Judy Holiday 82.1

It's been fun, no? Well, the party ain't over! Join us for the grand finale of this year's slam season. We're talking 10 poets, 5 slots, 1 Los Angeles Grand Slam Champion, and the formation of a sexy ass team. Don't miss it.

Monday March 21, 2011

Kaos Network

4343 Leimert Park Blvd.

LA, CA 90088

8:30

$5

Special Guest Host: Javon Johnson

1 Down, 1 to Go: Semi Final RECAP

Last night's Semi Bout kicked off the beginning of a series of slug-fests for the eventual formation of the 2011 LA Slam Team. The crowd was enthusiastic, the judges were on point, and the poets were in rare form. Rudy Francisco showed us exactly why he is the current reigning Individual World Slam Champion with a score of 87.3. The following poets also earned a coveted slot in the 2011 Los Angeles Grand Slam Final:

Nikki Blak 86.2

E. Amato 86.1

Nick Macedo 85.6

Edwin Bodney 85.1

Now, with this one down, we have one more Semi Final Bout to go. Join us on Monday March 7th to see how it all pans out. Judge, spectate, congratulate, but don't be late. It starts at 8:30, costs only $5 and is the best thing you could be doing with your life on a Monday night.

Brass Knuckles LA Semi Final Bout Pt. 2

Kaos Network

4343 Leimert Park Blvd

LA, CA 90088

8:30

$5

AND OUR SEMI BOUT POETS ARE...

February 21st

• E. Amato
• Nikki Blak
• E. R. Sanchez
• Leon P.
• Nick Macedo
• Rudy Francisco
• Sarah Winters
• Mr. Poetic
• Edwin Bodney

March 7th

• Francios
• Lailah
• Matt Sedillo
• Judy Holiday
• Madison
• Clay
• Ashley
• Manuel
• Arthur Hitchcock

Los Angeles, your random slam judges have spoken with their scores. These are the poets you (and maybe fate) have selected to squabble for a spot on this year's LA Slam Team! Please come out and support these poets with your applause, slam scores, whoops and hollers!

BRASS KNUCKLES SEMI FINAL BOUTS

2.21.2011 & 3.7.2011

Kaos Network

4343 Leimert Park Blvd.

LA, CA 90088

*These lists were generated by random.org

Final Qualifying Slam RECAP

Last night marked the official end of the open slam season. Some of our favorite open mic-ers and a couple of last year's LA Slam Team members came out and got their slam on. We were thrilled to see the following folks advance to Semis:

Nick Macedo 86.4

Francois 86.3

Judy Holiday 84.4

Sarah Winters 83.3

E.R Sanchez 82.4

E. Amato 81.7

That's it kids! This is where it starts to get SERIOUS! Slammers, put on your good shoes and join us on February 21st and March 7th for our Semi Final Bouts. All of our qualified poets will be randomly placed in 1 of the 2 slam bouts to compete for a slot in our Grand Slam Final. We will post the bout schedule here, so be sure to check back, soon!

Coming Soon! Final Qualifying Slam!

The FINAL Qualifying Slam is only days away! Do you want to make the team? Are your poems all ready to go? Well, then, we're ready for you. This Monday night will be the last time you get to shoot it out (figuratively, of course) and earn a spot in one of the LA Slam Team's Semi Bouts. Don't be scurred. Be prepared. Slam sign ups start at 8pm.

Don't wanna slam, just wanna watch? Oooooh, you're so kinky! We like that. But be advised... It'll cost you. $5 at the door for good times and all the coffee you can drink. Meet us in the park after dark (translation: 8:30pm). 4343 Leimert Park Blvd. LA, CA 90088.

Qualifying Slam RECAP

The poets are coming out of their hiding places and showing up on our stage, slamming like crazies! Last night we were witness to some veterans, newbies, and people that we love but don't even ever slam, all going at it for a chance to be on the 2011 Los Angeles Slam Team. In the end, the following poets qualified and will be moving on to Semis:

Nikki Blak 82.1

Manuel 80.6

Mr. Poetic 78.3

Matt Sedillio 76.2

Lailah 72.1

Leon P. 66.1

Thank you all for coming out! Good luck in your semi bout. (hehehe... that rhymed) Our next and FINAL Qualifying bout for the 2011 LA Slam Team is on February 7, 2011. If you haven't already slammed and just needed to excavate the poems you needed to get down with or build up the nerve, this is your last chance! And if you don't want to compete but just want to come see, please join us. We need judges, audience members, and eye candy.

2nd Qualifying Slam for 2011 LA SLAM TEAM

Don't forget kids! Monday is the 2nd Qualifying Slam for the 2011 Los Angeles Slam Team. If you have dreams of forming like Voltron to become a big, bad ass slam machine alongside 4 other folks and representing at this year's National Poetry Slam in Boston, come on down! Bring your best 4 poems (for 3 rounds of poetry and a possible tie breaker, if necessary) and friends to cheer you on! We promise, it'll be fun.

Back Like We Left Something: 1st Qualifying Slam of 2011

It's been a long time. We shouldn't have left you. Without out some slam poems to -- judge to? Ummm, well, maybe that little lyric change didn't go so well... but you wanna know what did? You guessed it! Brass Knuckles' first qualifying slam of the new season!

This week, we had a gaggle of brave slammers come out and dust off their poems for the new season. They gave us a great show and built up our excitement about the soon to be formed 2011 LA Slam Team. Here's how the night ended up:

Rudy Francisco 82.5

Edwin Bodney 79.0

Madison 72.6

Ashley 71.3

Dennis 65.1

Clay 62.8

We look forward to seeing them in Semis!