Urban Lyrics

Spoken word has always been a prominent art on SUNY New Paltz campus. For years, the representation of poetry/spoken word was led by the SUNY New Paltz Slam Team and Rap Poetry and Music organization. The representation for artists voices from people of color was evident but in later years was rare to find from both organizations. Former 2007-2008 New Paltz Slam poetry members, Fredrick Fernandez and Latosha Belton youngest ones on the team that year along with fellow poet Shanaika Phillips sought out to create a spoken word team. In their undergrad years, all have had featured performances on campus but on a larger scale wanted more. In late December after months of talking, Urban Lyrics was created and recognized as a official organization in January of 2011. Recruiting another fellow poet, Kevin Cavana and two others, the organization looked to make a name for them in New Paltz. Starting off with a slow start with several minor performances around campus, Danit Ianovici joined Urban Lyrics in late February. The focus was to have a voice for spoken word artists of color, a voice not represented by the larger poetic bodies in New Paltz at the time. Urban Lyrics later made a foundation to where the organization was asked from both outside venues and campus events to perform. In May 2011, founding member Fredrick Fernandez graduated leaving Danit Ianovici to take the rings with Kevin C, Latosha B, and Shy P. returning to take the team to a new level. The team is named urban lyrics for two simple reasons. Majority of the voices on the team were born from areas within the inner cities and are main weapon has been our lyrics to tell our stories, our ideas and our culture. Urban Lyrics is not just a spoken work team but a family, a movement to which art can be viewed in its essence. Past, present and future members who have grace Urban Lyrics are the very foundation and bricks that brings the organization to life.