About Us

Graffiti DC is a poetry slam series that will launch its second season on Wednesday, September 21st, 2011. Every third Wednesday, poetry lovers can find Graffiti DC right in the center of U Street’s bustling nightlife at Liv Nightclub. The Graffiti DC team consist of four poets:

Drew Law 

Drew Law is a rare breed of entertainer; branching out into several different categories of performing arts with relentless fervor, and showmanship. A Hip-Hop artist who has opened for such superstars as Method Man, Pitbull, EPMD, Biz Markie, Slick Rick, and Doug E. Fresh. He is also involved with the “Grind Time” battle league; the biggest competitive rap league in the world. Drew Law also a poet in Washington, D.C. was a member of the 2011 Beltway Slam team who finished in the top 8 in the country and 2011 NUSPA (National Underground Spoken Word Poetry Awards) nominee for “Best Performance: Male.” Drew Law has featured at venues such as “Spit Dat”, “Warm Wednesday’s, “The 11th Hour Slam”, and “Busboys and Poets”. Drew has performed in states such as New York, New Jersey, Tennessee, and North Carolina. He has also held workshops at several high schools, ranging from DC to New York. Drew Law has a background in working with at risk youth, and has worked with persons with disabilities for over six years now. He holds a deep passion for his American and Palestinian roots. Drew Law tries to approach every performance like it’s his last, and holds a deep love for entertaining, as well as community outreach.

PAGES

As a spoken word artist from the DMV (D.C./Maryland/VA) area, the same versatility upon grabbing a mic to take his audience on a journey in his pen is also embodied in his performance. Possessing Artistic Gifts Eloquently Spoken, PAGES is a poet and emcee of originally from Cameroon, Africa with numerous European and Caribbean influences. His features have included The Kennedy Center; numerous colleges and universities such as Columbia University; & BETJ Lyric Café.  He has worked in collaboration with various Words Beats Life,Inc, & D.C. Vote. He is also founder and co-president of Da Movement Poetz, a performance based arts group geared towards reaching mainly young adults, but also all people, via the arts.  In addition to winning multiple local slams, he is also the 2010 DC Grand Slam Champion, and co-hosts GraffitiDC, one of D.C.’s newest ground-breaking premier Slam Series presented by Beny Blaq Ent.

Rasheed

Rasheed Copeland is an up and coming poet raised in Washington, DC.   He has competed on the National Poetry slam level as a member of DC’s 2010 and 2011 Busboys and Poets 11th hour slam team.  As 2010 NUSPA (National Underground Spokenword Award) winner for “Best Performance Male” he has featured at various venues along the east coast including the prominent Busboys and Poet’s as well as the Legendary Spit Dat.   He is also a crucial fixture of Graffiti DC which is rising poetry slam in Washington DC.  With an affinity for justice, love, God and the city he was raised in, Rasheed uses his smooth style and his tremendous writing ability to draw in listeners.

YA-YA

HADAIYAH “YA-YA” BEY is an award winning poet living in the DC area. Originally from Queens, New York. She left her native city where she was active in youth poetry to pursue her craft full time.  Ya-Ya is an unassuming fire-baller who surprises her listeners with her captivating stories of struggle and love. Recently the 17th ranked female slammer at the 2011 Woman Of The World poetry slam; As well as the 2011 Busboys And Poets grand slam champion. When she is not slamming herself, she is coaching the DC Youth Slam Team who competed in the national youth slam competition Brave New Voices. Yaya is also very passionate about preserving the black community, working alongside organizations like One DC to raise awareness about issues such as gentrification.  Very outspoken about the ills of society and her Bajan heritage Ya-Ya lives the poems she performs.