Slam Jam

Slam poetry is an interactive movement where the poet presents their original work to the audience – be it political, emotional, or musings on everyday life. “It’s like hip-hop, but with more thought put into the words and sans music,” says Hannah Baynham, who has been slamming for six years. “And it’s less boring than traditional poetry.” The movement began in Chicago in 1984, before being adopted by the French in the 90s. And now it’s officially arrived here. Anyone can become a slammer once they take over the mic, and audience participation is especially encouraged, their presence being part of the poetry. But what is slamming all about? We talked to two slammers, Leonor Aublin and MC Yan.

Leonor Aublin

Leonor Aublin spent her teenage years in Hong Kong before returning to France, where she discovered slam poetry. Inspired, she returned to Asia and is now the Art Director for Urbn-buzz, co-organizer of “Slam Connection.”

The French slammer views the form as a “bare language,” without the dressings of costume or music. “When you slam, you’re there. You stand in front of your audience. It’s now. It’s real-time, not recorded.” Aublin believes slam poetry is something that exists for the moment and no preparation is necessary, though she admits she tends to think about what she’s going to say.

The spontaneity of slam poetry means that there is little concern for offensive speech. “There is no censorship. There are no cops,” Aublin explains. “The audience are the censors. The public will react.”

Aublin calls slam “urban poetry.” She believes it to be inclusive, rather than exclusive for young people. “We even have old professors doing their traditional poems.” She recalls her experiences in France. “That’s how people who would otherwise never meet in life came together.” But do you at least have to rhyme? Thankfully, Aublin says: “No restrictions. No way.”

MC Yan

MC Yan, or Syan, is better known as the rapper-lyrist for the former local hip hop group LMF, but he now calls himself a “cultural activist.” Having studied in France and being internationally recognized as one of the pioneers of Chinese hip-hop, MC Yan now speaks fluent French and other f-words.