Russell Simmons Presents Brave New Voices

Season Finale. The finest youth poets in America are about to take center stage for the Brave New Voices National Youth Poetry Grand Slam Championship, held at the Lincoln Theatre. As introduced and encouraged by the two hosts, actor Idris Elba and past Slam champ Marc Bamuthi Joseph, each team puts their best poetry foot forward over four rounds, with a five-judge panel rating their work. The evening features a surprise disqualification that inspires a series of unforgettable performances that prove why, in the end, it's not about the points, but the poetry.

After arriving in Washington and working through last-minute rehearsals, 45 teams head to the Atlas Theater for the National Slam Poetry quarterfinals. Among the teams competing in the two-bout elimination to determine the 10 semifinal spots: San Francisco, with Ericka ready to unveil her controversial poem about eating; Philadelphia, digging deep with an inspiring poem by Noel; Hawaii, proudly bringing it with poets like Jamaica; New York, highlighted by a performance by a crutch-less Britney; Ft. Lauderdale, seeking redemption after a false start on Mirror, Mirror; and Ann Arbor, trying to rally to overcome performances they feel are underscored.