Overview of Russell Simmons Presents Brave New Voices

'Russell Simmons Presents Brave New Voices' is a captivating television series released in 2009. The show shines a light on spoken-word poetry, centering around a national competition held in the U.S. that involves various talented teams originating from different cities. Expressed through powerful words, rhythm patterns, and dynamic performances, the series uncovers real-life stories and a multitude of emotions unveiled by young, budding poets. It effectively captures the spirit of a generation aimed at proving their talent.

Making / Production

The series is a product of collaboration between Home Box Office (HBO) and executive producers Stan Lathan, Russell Simmons, and Kamilah Forbes. It dallies between being a reality show and a drama, where the participants' raw talent and inner turmoils contribute to the series's captivating appeal. The poetic performances are interwoven with personal narratives and the journey of the performers.

Actors

• The Contestants: The stars of the show are young, up-and-coming poets from diverse backgrounds. Each delivers their performance with a sincere and passionate representation of their unique narratives. The names of the participants, however, vary with each episode due to its format.
• Hosts and Judges: The show is hosted by various celebrity poets and artistes who also serve as judges, providing constructive criticism to the performers and guiding them throughout their journey.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• 'Russell Simmons Presents Brave New Voices' was part of HBO's campaign to promote youth and arts education.
• The show is an offshoot of Youth Speaks' Brave New Voices National Youth Poetry Slam, an annual competition for young poets in America.

Music, Soundtrack

• The series does not have a traditional soundtrack. Instead, the music of the show comes from the rhythm of the spoken word performances of the contestants.