The Spoken Word is a rapidly growing format in hip-hop culture. Originally an underground art form, the DVD titled The Ill List Vol.1 from WordGroove Studios; is helping to bring this art form of hip-hop to the main stage. Like ‘good’ rap but with out a beat, the artist perform acapella.

Most ‘rap’ artist today are carried by the beat that accompanies their spit, but in spoken word, the poetry, flow and the delivery is what matters.

The Ill List vol.1 DVD gives a unique insight to spoken word ‘battles’ and it is a very enjoyable look.

The emotion that is present in this DVD ranges from political to race issues to personal issues. And each artist has their own delivery and emotion which makes this a unique event.

Race is not a factor, as in the way of true hip-hop, every culture is represented. The unique mix of artist offer many thought provoking issues and some even touch you so hard with their emotion that you can feel their pain , their joy, their words as they penetrate your thoughts.

Edited in a fashion that you have an all around look at each performer and their facial emotion speaks volumes of the words they speak.

Being able to see all three rounds of this competition shows the stronger and the weaker aspects of each artist’s presentation. But really there are no losers here because the line up of artist all contribute and all are enjoyed in this exceptional presentation of the spoken word.

The Ill List Vol.1 DVD is the first in a series of DVD’s planned by WordGroove Studios. The next installment in this series Ill List Vol.2 DVD is scheduled for a spring release of 05, so watch for it to.

TLA