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The Best Episodes of Def Poetry

Every episode of Def Poetry ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of Def Poetry!

Def Poetry, also known as Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry or Def Poetry Jam, which was co-founded by Bruce George, Danny Simmons and Deborah Pointer,...
Genre:Documentary
Network:HBO

Best Episodes Summary

"Episode 1" is the best rated episode of "Def Poetry". It scored 8.4/10 based on 5 votes. Directed by N/A and written by N/A, it aired on 1/18/2002. This episode scored NaN points higher than the second highest rated, "Episode 2".

  • Episode 1
    8.4/105 votes
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    #1 - Episode 1

    Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 1/18/2002

    Steve Colman, Nikki Giovanni, Suheir Hammad, Vanessa Hidary, Black Ice, Lemon, Georgia Me

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Episode 2
    NaN/100 votes
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    #2 - Episode 2

    Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 1/25/2002

    Flowmentalz, Kayo, Jewel Kilcher, Taylor Mali, Sonia Sanchez, Dawn Saylor, Shiham, Yellow Rage

    Director: Stan Lathan

    Writer: N/A

  • Episode 3
    NaN/100 votes
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    #3 - Episode 3

    Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 2/1/2002

    Cedric the Entertainer, Kevin Coval, J. Ivy, The Last Poets, Willie Perdomo, Beau Sia

    Director: Stan Lathan

    Writer: N/A

  • Episode 4
    NaN/100 votes
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    #4 - Episode 4

    Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 2/8/2002

    Amiri Baraka, Dave Chappelle, Jessica Care Moore, Liza Jessie Peterson, Poetri

    Director: Stan Lathan

    Writer: N/A

  • Episode 1
    NaN/100 votes
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    #5 - Episode 1

    Season 2 Episode 1 - Aired 6/7/2002

    Jason Carney, Jamie Foxx, Marty McConnell, Thea Monyee, Beau Sia, Sekou Sundiata, Twin Poets

    Director: Stan Lathan

    Writer: N/A

  • Episode 2
    NaN/100 votes
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    #6 - Episode 2

    Season 2 Episode 2 - Aired 6/14/2002

    Erykah Badu, Dante Basco, Maggie Estep, Danny Hoch, Black Ice, Patrica Smith

    Director: Stan Lathan

    Writer: N/A

  • Episode 3
    NaN/100 votes
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    #7 - Episode 3

    Season 2 Episode 3 - Aired 6/21/2002

    Reggie Cabico, Talib Kweli, Lemon, Haki R. Madhubuti, Taylor Mali, Rat Sack

    Director: Stan Lathan

    Writer: N/A

  • Episode 4
    NaN/100 votes
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    #8 - Episode 4

    Season 2 Episode 4 - Aired 6/28/2002

    Oscar Brown Jr., Caridad 'La Bruja' De La Luz, Anthony Morales, Amalia Ortiz, Ishle Park, Rakim, Shihan

    Director: Stan Lathan

    Writer: N/A

  • Episode 5
    NaN/100 votes
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    #9 - Episode 5

    Season 2 Episode 5 - Aired 7/5/2002

    Craig muMs grant, Felipe Luciano, Amanda Seales, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Malik Yusef

    Director: Stan Lathan

    Writer: N/A

  • Episode 6
    NaN/100 votes
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    #10 - Episode 6

    Season 2 Episode 6 - Aired 7/12/2002

    Steve Connell, Georgia Me, Jessica Care Moore, Keith Murray, Louis Reyes Rivera, Sekou Torbet

    Director: Stan Lathan

    Writer: N/A

  • Episode 7
    NaN/100 votes
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    #11 - Episode 7

    Season 2 Episode 7 - Aired 7/19/2002

    Staceyann Chin, Reginald Gibson, Goldie, Joy Harjo, Wood Harris, Linton Kwesi Johnson, Dennis Kim, Big Rube

    Director: Stan Lathan

    Writer: N/A

  • Episode 1
    NaN/100 votes
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    #12 - Episode 1

    Season 3 Episode 1 - Aired 4/4/2003

    This week's episode featured non-stop verbal stylings of Black Ice, Suheir, Bassey Ikpi, Helena D. Lewis, Rives (who sign-languaged his piece!), Daniel Beatty, Rupert Estanisiao and Poem-cees who offered poems equipped with beat-box effects. Songstress Jill Scott and actor/poet Mutabaruka added their poetic fuel to the space for an extraordinary performance.

    Director: Stan Lathan

    Writer: N/A

  • Episode 2
    NaN/100 votes
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    #13 - Episode 2

    Season 3 Episode 2 - Aired 4/11/2003

    Hip Hop and Spoken Word Artist Common performed. Also featured were Mayda De Valle & Lemon, Flaco Navaja, Ursula Rucker, Michael Ellison, Ras Baraka, Dayna, Ishle Park and Gemineye.

    Director: Stan Lathan

    Writer: N/A

  • Episode 3
    NaN/100 votes
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    #14 - Episode 3

    Season 3 Episode 3 - Aired 4/18/2003

    Poetri kicked off this episode with his funny and honest take on Krispy Kreme doughnuts. Other performers ripping the stage were, Emanuel Xavier, Marc Bamuthi Joseph, Richard Montoya, Vanessa Hidary, Danny Hoch, Bassey Ikpi, Lemon and Steve Colman.

    Director: Stan Lathan

    Writer: N/A

  • Episode 4
    NaN/100 votes
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    #15 - Episode 4

    Season 3 Episode 4 - Aired 4/25/2003

    Black Ice and Staceyann Chinn, Rock Baby, Alix Olson, Mike 360, Shappy, Jonzi D., Amalia Ortiz and Jimmy Santiago Baca kept the stage and audience warmed up. Hip-Hop legend Salt also gave an electrifying performance.

    Director: Stan Lathan

    Writer: N/A

  • Episode 5
    NaN/100 votes
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    #16 - Episode 5

    Season 3 Episode 5 - Aired 5/2/2003

    On the mike this time were, Roger Bonair-Agard, Fenchi, Geoff Trenchard, Chinaka Hodge, Dufflyn and Kevin Coval. Also appearing were Beau Sia (from Def Poetry on Broadway), actor/poet muMs (HBO's "Oz"), and Quincy Troupe (writer/educator).

    Director: Stan Lathan

    Writer: N/A

  • Episode 6
    NaN/100 votes
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    #17 - Episode 6

    Season 3 Episode 6 - Aired 5/9/2003

    Poets doing their thing this included Kanye West, Shihan, Jason Carney, Gina Loring, Jamie Kennedy, Bao Phi, and Roscoe P. Coldchain. Maya Del Valle returned while musicians Lou Reed and Buju Banton graced the stage for the first time.

    Director: Stan Lathan

    Writer: N/A

  • Episode 7
    NaN/100 votes
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    #18 - Episode 7

    Season 3 Episode 7 - Aired 5/16/2003

    The final episode of Season 3 closed with perfomances by Maggie Estep, Malak Salaam, Joel Chmara, Flowmentalz and Deb Young. Georgia Me graced the screen while Saul Williams and R&B legend Smokey Robinson also performed.

    Director: Stan Lathan

    Writer: N/A

  • Episode 1
    NaN/100 votes
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    #19 - Episode 1

    Season 4 Episode 1 - Aired 7/18/2004

    Returning def poet Rives warmed the lovers in the crowd with his ode to post-passion bliss. Nafessa Monroe, Mark Gonzales and Zena Edwards all brought their fiery lyrics, while Black Ice (his second appearance on the series) also performed. Legendary writer and musician Oscar Brown, Jr. performed "Children of Children" and rap artist MC Lyte rounded out the show with "I Was Born".

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Episode 2
    NaN/100 votes
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    #20 - Episode 2

    Season 4 Episode 2 - Aired 7/25/2004

    "Multi-tasking" takes on a whole new meaning when Rachel and George McKibbons perfom this dynamite poem. Def Poetry returnees Gemineye, Flowmentalz and Suheir provided extra energy. Litereary icon Nikky Finney gets onto the "Girlfriends Train" while Hip-Hop artist Kanye West shares his "18 years" with the audience.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Episode 3
    NaN/100 votes
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    #21 - Episode 3

    Season 4 Episode 3 - Aired 8/1/2004

    Educator and political activitst Michael Eric Dyson advised the audience on being an An "Intellectual MC". Will Bell, Dawn Saylor, Tish Benson, Kelly Tsai, Morris Stegosauraus and Bassey Ikpi also performed while actor Tracy Morgan entered the stage to describe his experiences of "Feeling F&%#ed Up" Hip-Hop legends KRS-One and Doug E. Fresh pooled their talents for a scorching performace of a new piece.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Episode 4
    NaN/100 votes
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    #22 - Episode 4

    Season 4 Episode 4 - Aired 8/8/2004

    Beware of "Danger", Amir Sulaiman cautioned. Ishle Park, Taylor Mali, Kevin Coval and Yolanda Wilkinson provided musings on a host of feelings. Julian Curry pondered the "N" word, Poetri relinquished herself to herself and the duo Floetry does just that, flow with words and sounds making sure that "Everybody Heard" with their amazing performance.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Episode 5
    NaN/100 votes
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    #23 - Episode 5

    Season 4 Episode 5 - Aired 8/15/2004

    Heavy-hitters all around in this episode. Actress Kim Fields asked the important "How Come" question many women ponder. Nobel poet laureate Rita Dove invited us to experience "Black on a Saturday Night". Dana Gillmore, Rafael Casal, Regie Cabico and Broadway "Def Poetry" alumn Lemon, provided searing words to the show. Icon Reg E. Gaines taught the other side as he explained how "I Don't Feel Like Writing" and Talib Kweli explained the pain of "Lonely People".

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Episode 6
    NaN/100 votes
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    #24 - Episode 6

    Season 4 Episode 6 - Aired 8/22/2004

    Def Poetry alum Flaco Navaja wanted a "Revolution". Michael Franti wanted to "Rock The Nation". Besskepp, Laura "Piece" Kelly, Triple Black, Robert Karimi and Liza Jessie Patterson continued the poetic ponderings. Actress legend Ruby Dee urged us to consider the life of "Tupac".

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Episode 7
    NaN/100 votes
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    #25 - Episode 7

    Season 4 Episode 7 - Aired 8/29/2004

    Actor Mike Epps schooled the audience on why "I Love The Hood.". Jus Cus pondered on the relevance of "Homeland Security" while Georgia Me and J. Ivy offers their insights. Marlon Esquerra, Marvin Tate and Martin Esapada each shared personal stories of lives in motion and musician Ani di Franco warned the world of what's "Coming Up".

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A