Philip Ewell, Hunter College
6PM @ UA Poetry Center
1508 E. Helen St.

The spoken word has always held a special place in the hearts of Russians, from Alexander Pushkin’s revolutionary writings through generations of Russian playwrights, librettists, poets and bards. This vibrant oral tradition lives today in Russian rap. Artists such as Husky, Noize MC, Oxxxymiron, Timati, and Vasya Oblomov are skilled wordsmiths who advance not just the literary form of poetry, but also political and cultural messages. As true at the genre’s inception as it is in today’s oppressive political climate, Russian rap artists’ careers can hinge on taking a friendly or antagonistic stance toward government. 

Join us for a public reception at 6PM in the Poetry Center breezeway, followed by the lecture at 7PM.