With Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, MC Lyte, DJ Spinna, Caridad De La Luz (LA BRUJA), mayor ras j. baraka, Mahogany L. Browne, Tyehimba Jess

MCs and poets unite at Dodge Poetry Festival for this celebration of the spoken word as a catalyst for social justice.

Rakim, the influential rapper and “inventor of flow,” first exploded onto the scene with Eric B. is President and raised the bar for all future MCs.

Big Daddy Kane, formerly of the Juice Crew, is known for his lyrical dexterity on songs like “Young, Gifted and Black,” “Ain’t No Half-Steppin’,” “Raw,” “Smooth Operator” and “Set It Off.”

MC Lyte, the first female rapper to release a full solo album, dominates the mic on “Ruffneck,” “Cha Cha Cha,” “Poor Georgie,” “Lyte as a Rock,” “10% Dis” and “Paper Thin.”

DJ Spinna is producer and remixer for De La Soul, Mary J. Blige, Stevie Wonder, Eminem and his groups Jigmastas, Polyrhythm Addicts and Domecrackers.

Caridad De La Luz, aka LA BRUJA, is an Emmy-winning poet, activist, actor and current executive director of the famous Nuyorican Poets Cafe.

Mahogany L. Browne is a poet and organizer whose books include Vinyl Moon, Chlorine Sky, Black Girl Magic and banned books Woke: A Young Poet’s Call to Justice and Woke Baby.

Tyehimba Jess is the author of Leadbelly and the Pulitzer Prize-winning Olio. Widely published and anthologized, his many honors include fellowships from Guggenheim and NEA.