:: Philadelphia City Paper :: Philadelphia Arts, Restaurants, Music, Movies, Jobs, Classifieds, Blogs
Click Here To Join The Celebration!
ARCHIVES . Articles

May 18-24, 2006

Arts : Artspicks

All the Rage

spoken word


Michelle Myers and Catzie Vilayphonh spit fire (and foul language) like the fiercest MCs, so did Philly's spoken word/Asian activist duo ever think about just making a hip-hop CD? "If you've ever heard me freestyle out loud during a show it's because I forgot the words," says Vilayphonh. "Sure we have our influences, but spoken word poetry is our roots." Yellow Rage, which got its start at the Def Poetry Slam in Philly in December of 2000, will release its second CD of solo and combined poetry pieces, Volume 2, this weekend, and then follow it up with another one in the fall. Where their earlier stuff dealt more with personal and social issues, Myers says they've been leaning more toward the political in recent years. "I also think Catzie and I have realized that we can't reach everybody," she says. "Some people just aren't going to hear or understand what we're saying. So we try to focus on the people who do." And what's pissing them off right now? Well, besides global human rights abuses and the exploitation of children, "People who ask me to 'spit something for them' or 'kick some shit' on the spot," says Vilayphonh. "I'm not a trained dog. Plus if they were really that curious they could visit the Web site, download the MP3 or rent the Def Poetry DVD. Other than that, come to the show."

Yellow Rage, open rehearsal, Thu., May 18, 7 p.m., free; CD release and performance, Fri.-Sat., May 19-20, 8 p.m., $10, Asian Arts Initiative, 1315 Cherry St., second floor, 215-557-0455, www.asianartsinitiative.org, www.yellowrage.com.

Recent Comments
Web Exclusives
"Demolition Woman" by Anthony Rosato
2008 City Paper Fiction Contest Runner Up
"The Oldest Profession" by Shannon Frost Greenstein
2008 City Paper Fiction Contest Runner Up
Databot Listamatron
CP's 2008 Critics' Lists
Just Do It
Best of 2008 Diva Revue
Somebody Told Me
Three rounds with the Killers of Comedy — and their friend Danny Bonaduce.
Classifieds
Advertisements
 
Search Restaurants


search restaurants by name
search by neighborhood
Search
search by cuisine
Search Movies
title
theater

Search
Search Jobs
search for:
within:   of  
more jobs
(use zip or city, state)
Search
"Great vision without great people is irrelevant."
—Jim Collins, Author,
"Good to Great"
In Partnership with JobCircle
Search Events
Search For:
Category:
Search
Search DJ Nights
Date:
Search:
Genre:
Search
Search Classifieds
Category:
Keywords: Search

Search Real Estate
Search Happy Hours

ALL | MON | TUE | WED | THU | FRI | SAT | SUN

or

LOCATION:

ADVERTISEMENT