Poetry
“Why ask mum? Mum doesn’t have a six pack”: Sky Yang on teen Google entanglement
Dear Google — The ESEA filmmaker’s latest piece explores coming-of-age in the information era, along with the added tension of racial dynamics in a predominantly white world. Here, he explains how and why he made it.
Written by: Sky Yang
Together for Palestine was a celebration of solidarity, art and life
Unity and protest — Part gig, gallery, stage show, poetry reading and demonstration, Together for Palestine felt like a unique beacon of hope and solidarity, even if the bigger picture remains horrific.
Written by: Isaac Muk
Kojey Radical will never look down
More than a rapper — From his days skating around East London and charming local grassroots venues, the multitalented emcee, poet, singer and visual artist has emerged as a one-of-one creative force and storyteller. On his latest album Don’t Look Down, he continues to lay his own path.
Written by: Joseph ‘JP’ Patterson
Three heart wrenching poems from Gaza
Writings that narrate — With Gaza’s population facing starvation, we are handing over our website to Yahya Alhamarna, a displaced poet and student in Gaza, who shares some of his recent poetry, and explains why writing is so important to him.
Written by: Yahya Alhamarna
James Massiah: “As much as the social contract is lost, there’s a freedom with that”
Bounty Law — With the release of his latest album, we sat down with the rapper-poet to chat about his new sonic Western, the boom in alternative poetry events, and whether the social contract is broken.
Written by: Isaac Muk
In the ’60s and ’70s, Greenwich Village was the musical heart of New York
Talkin’ Greenwich Village — Author David Browne’s new book takes readers into the neighbourhood’s creative heyday, where a generation of artists and poets including Bob Dylan, Billie Holliday and Dave Van Ronk cut their teeth.
Written by: Cyna Mirzai
“A party is a microcosm of a nation”: Caleb Femi on the decline of the house party
To celebrate the publication of his new collection of poems, ‘The Wickedest’, Isaac Muk caught up with Femi to talk more about the work, the future of the shoobs, and discuss why having it large on a Saturday night should be cherished.
Written by: Isaac Muk
The poet & #Merky Books winner uplifting a generation
Monika Radojevic in conversation — After co-winning Stormzy’s publishing imprint’s inaugural New Writers’ Prize, the 25-year-old is gearing up for the release of her debut poetry collection – an urgent book about identity, ancestry and history.
Written by: Beatrice Tridimas
Caleb Femi and Athian Akec in conversation
Voices of a generation — The 17-year-old activist and politician Athian Akec speaks to Caleb Femi about his book, 'Poor' – a collection of poems exploring the strife and joys of young Black boys in 21st century Peckham.
Written by: Athian Akec
The Black poets breathing life into contemporary Britain
True to word — Lola Christina Alao explores the Black British poetry scene, looking at how a generation of young voices are making sure their experiences are heard.
Written by: Lola Christina Alao
‘UK punk got politicised and became rubbish very quickly’
John Cooper Clarke on NYC — A young wordsmith fascinated by American culture, John Cooper Clarke couldn’t wait to get to New York. Today, the 70-year-old poet looks back on his time there – from the performances to the drugs.
Written by: Jonathan Turton
Sylvia Plath’s visual art is celebrated in new exhibition
Uncovered treasures — The poet’s secret artistic talents are unearthed for a new show at Washington D.C’s Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery.
Written by: Dominique Sisley
