Product Details

• Actors: Mos Def, Russell Simmons, Reggie Cabico, Talib Kweli, Lemon
• Producers: Mos Def, Russell Simmons, A. Ty Risby, Allen Kelman, Danny Simmons
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo)
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Hbo Home Video
• DVD Release Date: April 5, 2005
• Run Time: 175 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0007GP5WA
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #66,790 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Def Poetry - Season 2" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

RUSSELL SIMMONS DEF POETRY SEASON 2 - DVD Movie

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Show for our generation, April 7, 2005

By 

Dorrie Wheeler - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Def Poetry - Season 2 (DVD)

Def Poetry is an entertaining HBO series that is far from a regular poetry reading. These poets all have a unique style of poetry. They hit the stage and run through their monologue like they are seasoned stage performers and some have the presence of actors and comediennes. Always mixing things up, the poets that hit the stage are of all races. In episode one an Asian poet hits the stage and runs through a monologue about the Asian race. White men and women hit the stage as well as African-American poets. This poetic melting pot is a groundbreaking show because the poets have the freedom to express themselves with limited boundaries as it seems no topic is off limits. At any moment you can see a poet talking about race issues, sexuality, infidelity, abortion, abuse, issues of the day, politics, and of course 9-11. Curse words are not bleeped, being that this is a cable series, the poets get wild. The most common topic it seems is race.

Def Poetry is a show for our generation. The show is hosted by rapper/actor Mos Def. Mos spits his own little monologue at the beginning of some episodes and he introduces each poet. Oscar winner Jamie Foxx performs in episode one of Season 2. He has a funny little poem called "Fashizzle My Nizzle," where his monologue is about getting with a woman who three days later gives him something to think about. Every poet has their own style and one poet whose monologue is based around 9/11 hits the stage with a book and reads. His monologue about a terrible event in U.S. history is performed so innocently that it brings a few chuckles from the crowd.

Def Poetry won a Peabody Award. Celebrities that drop by during season two include Jamie Foxx, Danny Hoch, Taylor Mali, Black Ice, Erykah Badu, and Malcolm Jamal Warner.

Erykah Badu is classic in her monologue about fans.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Yet, March 19, 2007

By 

Alphanso "Nyack" (Brooklyn, NY) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Def Poetry - Season 2 (DVD)

I own all 4 seasons of Def Poetry released to date (03/19/07) and season 2 is the best season I have watched. I do enjoy watching all 4 seasons and have watched them several times, but if you buy any season of Def Poetry, season 2 is one to buy. Five stars all the way!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars THERE IS A BUT...., May 5, 2005

By 

R. Saethang "A Beautiful Ordinary" (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Def Poetry - Season 2 (DVD)

The DVD is AWESOME. Inspiring, heartfelt, and passionate, the artists, scholars, and poets that grace the stage create for a unique experience. If you are a fan of spoken word, this is a must for your collection. They also improve on this DVD by separating the chapters by both episode and by poets. It makes it so much easier to find exactly what you want. My only qualm is that they edit out some of the performances I was looking forward to seeing. Specifically, the performances of Talib Kweli and Rakim were taken out. Why? I don't know. But the reason I bought the DVD was to disregard my old tapes of the season that I home recorded, but since these performances are not there, I have to go to my VCR to find them. Otherwise, a great pick up.