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It’s time for another unforgettable night at The Poets Pit with Voices In Power. This isn’t your average open mic— this is where poetry meets vibes, & the energy is unmatched.

This month, The Poets Pit is honoring the legends— poets who’ve been shaping the culture, pushing the pen, & commanding the mic for 10, 20+ years. If you’ve been rocking with poetry long enough to know the weight of your words, this night is for you.

Here’s the deal:

Doors open at 6:00 PM, & the show begins at 7:30 PM. Start your night with music, food, drinks, & networking, plus the chance to sign up for our open mic raffle. The vibes will be curated by DJ G33k, with incredible performances from our Featured Poet Ursula Rucker, alongside other OGs in the poetry game. Expect a night filled with love, community, & powerful poetry.

We’re keeping the same raw energy, the same electric atmosphere, just with a lineup built on experience & legacy. Seven open mic slots will be raffled off, & seven poets will be pre-selected to bless the stage.

For Poets:

• We use an all-raffle sign-up process for seven open mic slots. Sign-ups open when doors open & close at 7:30 PM when the show starts. Poets must be present to sign up.

• Poets are selected randomly throughout the night and given 5 minutes for one poem.

• Signing a raffle ticket does not guarantee you’ll be selected to perform.

• This month, we’re prioritizing poets who’ve been doing this for a decade or more.

• Please respect the process & time limits to ensure the best experience for everyone.

Let’s celebrate the OGs who paved the way while keeping the mic open for those still carrying the torch.

Feature Bio:

Poet, recording artist, songwriter, activist and revolutionary Ma’at Mama, Ursula Rucker is a certified

veteran of the global music and poetry scene. A skilled writer and dynamic performer, Rucker’s rich and

textured voice is one of the world’s great, living instruments.

Born and raised in Philadelphia, Rucker began to share her poetic gifts in her 20s, performing at open

mics in the city before two standout recorded performances announced to the world that Rucker was an

emerging force to be reckoned with.

In 1994, Rucker broke out performing a memorable lead vocal for “Supernatural”, the classic House tune

by DJ King Britt side-project, Firefly. The song remains a dancefloor classic today. That same year, Rucker

would record a jaw-dropping performance on The Roots “The Unlocking”, the closer from their ground-

breaking full length Do You Want More?!!!??! Today, Rucker enjoys a standing as a respected poet,

writer and vocalist.

For nearly 3 decades, Rucker has used her fiery prose and invigorating imagery to excite and inspire

listeners around the world. In addition to her performance on HBO’s Def Poetry Jam, Rucker has

established herself as a top-tier recording artist. Her solo albums are brimming with power and wide-

ranging musical diversity, including Supa Sista (2001), Silver Or Lead (2003), Ma’at Mama (2006),

Ruckus Soundsysdom (2008), She Said (2010), and No Stranger Here, her 2011 collaboration with

Shubha Mudgal and Business Class Refugees. Rucker has built an equally impressive catalog as a

collaborator, working with everyone from The Roots, 4Hero, Jazzanova, Louie Vega, Doodlebug of

Digable Planets; and many more. A versatile artist, Rucker can be heard on dancefloors across the world,

as the voice of many House and Dance music classics. Rucker currently has over 300 tracks on the

Beatport charts and was selected as a Top vocalist of 2020 by the popular Dance music site Traxsource.

In 2013, Philadelphia’s Mural Arts Program commissioned the artist Jetsonorama to create You Go Girl,

a massive, building-sized portrait of Rucker and in 2021, her new mural entitled “We Still Here”, also by

Jetsonorama, was dedicated in her own Germantown neighborhood. She has toured with her live

performance memoir, My Father’s Daughter, which she describes as “90 minutes of self-truth and

discovery.” She is a recipient of the prestigious fellowship award from The Pew Center for Arts &

Change. In 2020, she released big/small poems for pockets, a chapbook of haikus. In 2021, Ursula

collaborated with artist Vince Fraser on his exhibit Ase Afro Frequencies which debuted at Artechouse

Miami.

At the close of 2022, Ursula had the distinct honor of being selected for the Philadelphia Cultural

Treasures Fellowship, recognizing her continued commitment to the advancement of art, and artist

advocacy, and an endorsement from her community that her legacy is essential to the cultural fabric of

Philadelphia.

Whether she’s on the stage, in print, or on record, Ursula Rucker is an artistic force of nature.

Details:

• City: Philadelphia

• Date: April 15, 2o25

• Host: Jovan The Poet Bul

• Feature: Ursula Rucker

• Location: World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19104

• Doors Open: 6:00 PM

• Show Time: 7:30 PM

• Seating: Most locations have limited seating, & it is first come, first served, with the exception of venues like World Cafe Live. Plan accordingly.

• Food & Drinks: Will be available for purchase from World Cafe Live.

Parking:

Parking varies by venue. Please check the venue details or plan ahead for nearby parking options.

Vendors, Live Painters, Photographers, & Videographers:

If you’re interested in vending, painting, photographing, or creating recaps at our events, send an email to findus@voicesinpower.com.

Partnerships & Media Opportunities:

For sponsorships, partnerships, or media/publication opportunities, please reach out to us at findus@voicesinpower.com.

Consent & Recording Policy:

By purchasing a ticket & entering the venue, you acknowledge that this event will be filmed & photographed. Voices In Power reserves the right to use this content for promotional purposes across platforms.

A few things to keep in mind:

• Voices In Power is a poetry-only open mic. No music, comedy, or singing performances are allowed, unless otherwise mentioned.

• Tickets are non-refundable, but credits may be offered if requested 48 hours before the event.

If you have any questions, hit us up at findus@voicesinpower.com, & follow us for updates on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, & YouTube.