The National Poetry Slam (NPS) was a performance poetry competition where teams from across the United States, Canada, and, occasionally, Europe and Australia, participate in a large-scale poetry slam. The event occurred in early August every year and in different U.S. cities. The last National Poetry Slam took place in 2018 in Chicago, Illinois.
History The first National Poetry Slam was held at Fort Mason in 1990 in San Francisco. Aptowicz, Cristin O'Keefe. (2008). Words in Your Face: A Guided Tour Through Twenty Years of the New York City Poetry Slam. Soft Skull Press. "Chapter Six: Playing Nice; The First National Poetry Slam" Page 45. . It was organized by poet Gary Mex Glazner and featured three competing teams: Chicago (birthplace of slam), New York City (Nuyorican), and San Francisco (host city). It was held every year from 1990 until 2018.Aptowicz, Cristin O'Keefe. (2008). Words in Your Face: A Guided Tour Through Twenty Years of the New York City Poetry Slam. Soft Skull Press. "New York City Poetry Slam Teams" Page 366-369. .
From 1990 to 2007, the National Poetry Slam held an individual poetry competition (known as "indies") simultaneously with the team competition, with the poets earning the highest ranking individual poems during the first two days of competition moving on the semifinal and final rounds. The first winner of this event was Patricia Smith, who would go on to win the Individual National Poetry Slam Championship title a record four times.Poetry Slam, Inc. Website: Past NPS Winners page
Starting in 2004, Poetry Slam Inc. (PSI) began hosting a separate event called the Individual World Poetry Slam (IWPS), in which solo poets, rather than teams, competed for the championship title.Poetry Slam, Inc. Website: iWPS page Because of the popularity of iWPS and to avoid the confusion of two "individual" poetry slam titles being awarded ever year, Poetry Slam Inc. decided to cancel the "indie" competition at the National Poetry Slam.Poetry Slam, Inc. Website: NPS FAQ page
In 2008, the "Indie Finals" was replaced with the "Group Piece Finals," in which the teams with the highest ranking group pieces (multi-voice poems featuring more than one poet) competed for the title. Only teams who weren't already eligible for NPS semifinals were allowed to compete, with New York, NYC-Urbana being the first Group Piece Finals championship team.
Also in 2008, the Women of the World Poetry Slam (WOWPS) was introduced, in which only female and female-identified poets are allowed to compete.Poetry Slam, Inc. Website: WOWPS page The first WOWPS was held in Detroit, Michigan and the first WOWPS champion was Andrea Gibson.Poetry Slam, Inc. Website: WOWPS News page
In 2008, poet Harlym 125 created an unofficial individual competition called the National Underground Poetry Individual Competition (NUPIC) as a response to the absence of an individual competition at NPS.Spread the word.....there will be an Underground Indi's at Nat's.... The winner of this competition has traditionally been given a showcase spot on the finals stage at NPS.
The National Poetry Slam has also been the subject of several feature-length documentaries, including the 1998 Paul Devlin film SlamNation, and the 2006 Kyle Fuller and Mike Henry film Slam Planet.
Results by year
Team Finalists Year Winner Runners up Number of Competing Teams Host city 2018 Charlotte, SlamCharlotte (2) Da Poetry Lounge Slam Team (3) Slammageddon Baltimore (4) Salt City Unified 72 Chicago, Illinois 2017 San Diego PoetrySLAM (2) Brooklyn Poetry Slam (3) The House Slam (Boston) (4) Da Poetry Lounge Slam Team 84 Denver, Colorado 2016 Slammageddon Baltimore (2) San Diego PoetrySLAM (3) The House Slam (Boston) (4) Austin NeoSoul 72 Decatur, Georgia 2015 The House Slam (2) Hawaii Slam (3) Berkeley Slam (4) Denver Mercury Poetry Slam 72 Oakland, California 2014 D.C. Beltway Poetry Slam (2) New York, NYC-Urbana (3) Slam New Orleans (4) Denver, Slam Nuba 72 Oakland, California 2013 Slam New Orleans (2) Hollywood (Da Poetry Lounge) (3) New York, Nuyorican Poets Cafe (4) Elevated! San Diego 70 Boston 2012 Slam New Orleans (2) Killeen, Texas (3) New York, Nuyorican Poets Cafe (4) Hollywood (Da Poetry Lounge) 72 Charlotte, North Carolina 2011 Denver, Slam Nuba (2) New York, Nuyorican Poets Cafe (3) Providence Poetry Slam (4) Columbus, Ohio Writing Wrongs 76 Boston 2010 St. Paul, Soapboxing (2) New York, Nuyorican Poets Cafe (3) Durham, North Carolina Bull City Slam Team(4) Austin, Neo Soul 78 St. Paul, Minnesota 2009 St. Paul, Soapboxing (2) Albuquerque, ABQ Slams(3) San Francisco(4) New York, Nuyorican Poets Cafe 68 West Palm Beach, Florida 2008 Charlotte, SlamCharlotte (2) New York, louderARTS(3) Austin(4) Boston, Cantab 75 Madison, Wisconsin 2007 Charlotte, SlamCharlotte (2) Killeen, TX Rhyme or Die(3) New York, louderARTS(4) Denver, Slam Nuba(5) New York, Nuyorican Poets Cafe 76 Austin, Texas 2006 Denver (2) Austin, Southflavas(3) New York, louderARTS(4) DC-Baltimore(5) Miami 75 Austin, TX 2005 Albuquerque, ABQ Slams (2) Charlotte, Slam Charlotte(3) Fort Worth(3) Hollywood (Da Poetry Lounge) 75 Albuquerque, New Mexico 2004 Hollywood (Da Poetry Lounge) (2) Denver(3) Dallas(4) Berkeley 69 St. Louis, Missouri 2003 Los Angeles (2) New York, Nuyorican Poets Cafe(3) Austin(4) Oakland 63 Chicago 2002 New York, NYC-Urbana/ Detroit (Tie) (3) New York, Nuyorican Poets Cafe(4) Seattle 54 Minneapolis 2001 Dallas (2) Los Angeles(3) Seattle(4) New York, NYC-Urbana 56 Seattle 2000 New York, NYC-Urbana (2) San Antonio(3) New York, Nuyorican Poets Cafe(4) New York, louderARTS 56 Providence, Rhode Island 1999 San Francisco & San Jose (Tie) (3) New York, louderARTS (4) Oakland 48 Chicago 1998 New York, Nuyorican Poets Cafe (2) Dallas(3) Los Angeles(4) Cleveland 45 Austin 1997 New York, Mouth Almighty (2) Chicago, Green Mill(3) Cleveland(4) Worcester 33 Middletown, Connecticut 1996 Providence (2) Berwyn(3) New York, Nuyorican Poets Cafe(4) Austin 27 Portland, Oregon 1995 Asheville (2) Cleveland(3) Boston(4) Maine 27 Ann Arbor, Michigan 1994 Cleveland (2) Boston(3) New York, Nuyorican Poets Cafe(4) Asheville 24 Asheville, North Carolina 1993 Boston (2) New York, Nuyorican Poets Cafe(3) Cambridge(4) Cleveland 23 San Francisco 1992 Boston (2) San Francisco(3) Ann Arbor 17 Boston 1991 Chicago, Green Mill (2) New York, Nuyorican Poets Cafe(3) San Francisco(4) Boston 8 Chicago 1990 Chicago, Green Mill (2) San Francisco(3) New York, Nuyorican Poets Cafe 3 San Francisco
Individual Finalists at NPS Year Winner Runners up 2007**Final year Indies held Danny Sherrard (2) Christopher Michael(3) Shannon Leigh(4) Alvin Lau(Other finalists: Kealoha, Michael Guinn, 6 is 9, Ed Mabrey, Oz, Robbie Q. Telfer) 2006 Anis Mojgani (2) Alvin Lau(3) Jon Goode(4) Lee Knight Jr.(Other finalists: Erin Jackson (poet), Jamie Kilstein, Amy Weaver, Iyeoka Okoawo, Falu, Travis Watkins) 2005 Janean LivingstonAnis Mojgani (tie) (3) Ragan Fox(4) Christa Bell(Other finalists: Jamie Kennedy, Eric Darby, Xero Skidmore) 2004 Sonya Renee (2) Jaylee Alde(3) Shane Koyczan(4) Andrea Gibson(5) Chunky(6) Kimberley Brazwell(7) Rives, Alvin Lau, Janean Livingston 2003 Mighty Mike McGee (2) Shane Koyczan(3) Delisle(4) Soul Evans(5) Omari(6) Suzy La Follette(7) Corina Delgado(8) Anis Mojgani(9) Da Shade(10) Jive Poetic 2002 Sekou tha Misfit (2) Corbet Dean(3) Kamal Symonette-Dixon(4) Xero Skidmore(5) Rives(6) Gina Loring(7) Shane Koyczan(8) Joel Chmara 2001 Mayda del Valle (2) Beau Sia(3) Shawn V.(4) Morris Stegosaurus(5) Angela Boyce(6) Mama Blue 2000 Shane Koyczan (2) Bryonn Bain(3) Al Letson(4) Iyeoka Okoawo(5) Michael Cirelli(6) Bao Thien Buc Phi 1999 Roger Bonair-Agard (2) Regie Gibson(3) Gayle Danley(4) Jason Carney(5) Ray McNiece(6) Shane Koyczan 1998 Reggie Gibson (2) Derrick C. Brown(3) Brian Comiskey(4) Sara Holbrook(5) Cass King(6) Patricia Johnson 1997 Da Boogie Man (2) DJ Renegade(3) Glenis Redmond(4) Evert Eden(5) Jerry Quickley(6) Monica Copeland 1996 Patricia Johnson (2) Evert Eden(3) Taylor Mali(4) DJ Renegade(5) Wammo(6) Glenis Redmond 1995 Patricia Smith (2) Wammo(3) Da Boogie Man(4) ?(5) DJ Renegade(6) Taylor Mali 1994 Gayle Danley (2) Carl Hancock-Rux(3) Regie Cabico(4) Derick Prosper(5) DJ Renegade(6) Daniel Gray-Kontar 1993 Patricia Smith (2)Lisa Buscani (3) The Invisible Man aka Azeem (rapper) 1992 Lisa Buscani (2) Patricia Smith(3) Dana Bryant 1991 Patricia Smith (2) Lisa Buscani(3) Michael Brown 1990 Patricia Smith (2) Paul Beatty
Group Piece Finalists at NPS Year Winner Runners up2018 Art Amok (2) Austin Poetry Slam(3) The Retort United (The Drunken Retort)(4) The Fuze Poetry Slam(5) Jersey City Slam(6) Orlando Poetry Slam(7) Boise Poetry Slam(8) St. Louis Poetry Slam(9) Nitty Gritty Slam(10) For The Win(11) Slam Free or Die2017 Dada Poetry Slam (2) Slam Charlotte Poetry Slam(3) PuroSlam(4) Eclectic Truth(5) Salt City Slam(6) The Writers Den(7) Boise Poetry Slam(8) Steel City Slam / ABQ Slams (tie)(10) Toronto Poetry Slam(11) Boston Poetry Slam(12) Ktown Mic Drop Slam(13) Rain City Slam2016 ABQ Slams (2) Dada Poetry Slam(3) Burlington Ontario(4) Northampton Poetry(5) Freshwater Wordsmiths(6) OM Center Poetry Slam(7) Alchemy Slam(8) Union Square Slam(9) Nuyorican Poets Café (10) Hear Here / Houston Poetry Slam / Puro Slam (tie)2015 Austin Poetry Slam (2) Palo Alto(3) Austin Neo Soul(4) Slam Charlotte(5) Atlanta Art Amok(6) Rain City(7) Lizard Lounge Poetry Slam(8) Fort Worth(9) Portland Poetry Slam(10) Seattle Poetry Slam2014 Hear, Hear! Poetry Slam (2) Austin Neo Soul(3) WU Slam (St. Louis)(4) Philly Pigeon(5) Palo Alto(6) Verbal Slap(7) Lethal Poetry (Chicago)(8) Denver Mercury(9) Battle Born (Las Vegas)(10) Boise Poetry Slam2013 Austin Neo Soul / Intangible Slam (tie) (3) Java Monkey / Houston VIP (tie)(5) Hear Here (Colorado Springs)(6) Battle Born (Las Vegas)(7) Seattle Poetry Slam (Seattle)(8) Dallas Poetry Slam (Dallas)(9) Salt City Slam (Salt Lake City)(10) Sedona Poetry Slam (Sedona, Arizona)2012 Austin Neo Soul (2) Bull City Slam(3) ABQ Slams(4) Dallas Poetry Slam(5) Piedmont Poetry Slam(6) Burlington Slam Project(7) Jersey City Poetry Slam(8) Loser Slam(9) Vancouver Poetry Slam(10) Urbana2011 ABQ Slams (Other finalists: Austin Poetry Slam, The Intangible Slam (New York City), Dallas Poetry Slam, Elevated! (San Diego), Houston Poetry Slam, Knoxville Poetry Slam, Austin Neo Soul, Houston VIP, and Eclectic Truth (Baton Rouge))2010 Slam New Orleans (Other finalists: Pomona, Santa Cruz, Oakland, Vancouver, Minneapolis, Fort Worth, Ocotillo, Seattle, Urbana, and Toronto)2009 Berkeley Poetry Slam (2) Seattle Poetry Slam(Other finalists: Fort Worth Poetry Slam, West Palm Beach - The Stage, Atlanta - Art Amok, California- Life Sentence Slam, New Jersey - Loser Slam, Toronto Poetry Slam, Salt Lake City - Salt City Slam, and Amarillo - Slamarillo)2008 NYC-Urbana (2) Slam Nahuatl Richmond VA(3) Killeen Texas(4) Cleveland(Other finalists: Atlanta, Philadelphia, Charlotte, Honolulu, Chicago-Green Mill, Phoenix, Lincroft, Seattle, and Fort Worth)
National Underground Poetry Individual Competition (NUPIC) Champion Year Winner Runner up 2018 (TIE)Lindsay YoungGabriel Ramirez 2017 Raych Jackson Black Chakra 2016 Roya Marsh Ashley Davis 2015 Will Giles Imani Cezanne 2014 Danez Smith Tim "Toaster" Henderson 2013 Dominique Ashaheed Jared Singer 2012 Marty McConnell Mckendy Fils-Aimé 2011 Rachel McKibbens Carrie Rudzinski 2010 Eboni Hogan Omoizele "Oz" Okoawo 2009 Rudy Francisco J. W. "Baz" Basilo
Individual World Poetry Slam (iWPS)
Women of the World Poetry Slam (WOWPS)
See also Individual World Poetry Slam List of performance poets Oral poetry Performance poetry Poetry Slam Poetry Slam, Inc. Spoken word Women of the World Poetry Slam
References
External links