"Beautiful You" by Slim da Reazon and Audra Bryant

An amazing poem coupled with music and beautiful vocals

​It's not often that I get a poem submitted to Digital Poet and, upon viewing, I actually grab my wife to say, "Hey, you really gotta check this out!"

Matthew "Slim da Reazon" Parham and Audra Bryant put something together that I genuinely believe is special; I am incredibly proud to share and showcase "Beautiful You" on my site.

When I first watched this video I was unsure what to think for the first minute or so. My site is a slam poetry site and most of the people who contact me are doing so either to send me a slam poem or to ask for some kind of help with a slam poem; the beginning of this video did not seem very poem-ish to me.

But I was immediately intrigued with the production value and certainly assumed poetry would tie in here eventually. I'm so glad I watched the whole thing!

Before I get into what I love about the piece itself, there's an outside-the-box idea here that I've been seeing more of lately.

Traditionally when you think about slam and spoken word poetry you picture a poet on stage with a mic and that is it. No props, no music, no other enhancements - just the words themselves.

But there is something important happening in the world of slam poetry.

Let me take a step back before I reveal what it is: Spoken word has grown tremendously in the last 15 years, particularly the last 10. The scene, largely due to the internet and social media, has really caught fire and spread. There is enthusiasm about slam poetry. Its audiences are young and old, big and small, all colors and languages.

So what's happening now?

Well like any art you have to ask the question "What's next?"...the Egyptians took cave painting to the next level; early renaissance became high renaissance.

Today there is an almost natural evolution of spoken word taking place. Poets are getting more creative, more innovative. People want to stand out. Slam poets are finding ways to emerge from the norm and do something slightly different than anyone before them has done.

I've said before that there are no hard and fast rules to slam poetry and spoken word; there exists no rule book or commandments outside of the rules of any particular slam competition.

So who is to stop a poet from seeing where they can take their art and their words?

For Slim da Reazon to team up with Audra and create something so poetically profound by adding vocals and music is not breaking any rules at all - it's taking them to new heights!

Slam poetry is all about competition (and camaraderie, of course)...now you've got something new to reach for! This is part of a movement that's going to change the way spoken word is performed, produced and perceived.

Fast forward a few years from now and who knows, maybe poetry slams here and there will allow (or even be based on!) the coupling of poetry with music or vocals. Why not?!?!?!

So I will say this loud: Spoken Word paired with music is not a crime on slam poetry! To bolster onto this fact, I have to point out two pieces that were submitted to me very recently that also have music tied to a spoken word piece.

The first was "Why You Can't Kill Yourself" by Gus McArthur - a poem I absolutely love (this guy has serious talent). Second was a piece submitted to me featuring Slam Poet Jeremiah Blue. He teamed up with pop-soul artist Loren Smith to create "Break Free". So if there were ever a mold for what slam poetry is - watch out, it's breaking.
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What I Love About "Beautiful You"

​There are a lot of layers to this production (because I can hardly just call it 'a piece'). Since I am a poet, let me start there.

I'll say this again - spoken word has no rules; it's freedom of expression in every sense.

A lot of people ask about rhyme and the truth is that slam poems don't actually have to rhyme...but they sure as shit sound good when they do.

I'm a fan of rhyme, and even more than that, I'm a fan of complex rhyme schemes. I come from the Wu-Tang era, where hip hop broke a mold too. Seeing that kind of lyrical genius has always stuck with me and I personally try to use advanced rhyme in a lot of my poetry.

That said, Slim did a great job of stringing words and syllables together very carefully. I know there was a lengthy process behind doing so - these aren't the kinds of words that just flow out, they are calculated. For him to take such complex multisyllabic lines and actually have them form a concrete story is commendable. (PS, my favorite line: "I see Cleopatra in your stature")

The poem has a natural transition for me too. The first verse is almost about a crush. And what's the natural progression of that? You guessed it - the second verse is pretty erotic! I haven't heard a lot of great spoken word pieces about love and lust, so this one is a top favorite of mine.

So on the spoken word side of things, I give this an "A"

Now let's talk about some of the other elements.

I'll provide some context: I am not a musician; I've never played an instrument. I am not a singer; I could break glass easily. I am not a producer; if you gave me editing software I'd crash it.

But I have eyes and ears for these things.

The intro music kept me...actually, it gripped me.

I didn't hear a poem immediately, yet I could not turn it off. There was something unique about the riff. Then Audra came in and DAMN!! Again, it was not a poem, but her voice was magical.

It's not even my kind of music (I'm an EDM and old school hip hop guy), but I just couldn't turn it off. A minute goes by and I know that there has to be some poetry coming...I'm just glad it was as good as it was - the poetry didn't dilute the music.

In fact no single component here - the music, the poetry, the singing or the production - overcast a shadow on any of its counterparts. This was a very well rounded and well put together (song, poem, production) - not sure what to call it other than fantastic!
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What I Would Have Done Different If "Beautiful You" Was My Poem

​There is not much to say here. If this was my piece, seeing as I am a poet, there is only one thing I would have changed: I would have started with the poetry lyrics. This piece started with music, then the singing came in, and lastly was the prose. So this could be viewed as music with a poem (which may be the intention...I actually don't know). If it were my own piece I might have wanted the vice versa version of that - a poem with music. 
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Lyrics to "Beautiful You", a spoken word poem with music and vocals:

​Its you beautiful you
I‘ve waited so many moons just to Neptune into your heart
Its you what can I do?
So close I can smell your cologne 
This is where I belong for life

I admit it.
I’m unabashedly infatuated with you, Queen.
In my mind, the moment I first saw you plays on repeat like my favorite song.
You entered
Stage left
And I simply misplaced my breath. 
I was so awed by your raw beauty, tantric eyes, 
And seductive smile.
The way that loose clothing 
Couldn’t conceal that tight body.
You're stride was a smooth as your skin with it's beautiful brown hue.
Head wrapped like Badu, with an orange aura around you.
The same color as my own… 
I find that to be oddly auspicious.
As if this whole affair is serendipitous. 
Excuse me if I'm a bit lascivious,
But I don't think Cupid can cause this kind of concupiscence.

I tasted you with my eyes.
Slowly sipping 
your every curve and contour.
Drinking in your every detail.
I find you utterly intoxicating.

Its you beautiful you
I‘ve waited so many moons just to Neptune into your heart
Its you what can I do?
So close I can smell your cologne 
This is where I belong for life

I see Cleopatra in your stature, 
I see Hatshepsut in your strut.
I see Nefertiti in those titties and Josephine in that rump.
I see Isis in you eyes, and 
Twosret in your thighs.
I hear Nina in your voice and see Sojourner in your pride.
I see Madam Walker in your hair, 
I hear Maya in your speech.
I see Wilma when you run, 
And hear Angela when you speak.
I see Tamara (Dobson) in your clothes 
And hear Lauryn in your flows.
I sense Assata in your conviction but I hear Michelle in your diction.

Queen, do you know what I'd do to you with your permission?
Make your head swoon in the bedroom, 
Leave you twitching switching positions in the kitchen.
Or
Play some Thelonious and Coltrane,
Crystal chakra cleansing while giving you the whole thing, 
Satisfying your needs on both planes.
That feeling in your stomach isn't intuition.
That's me; 
Passing the walls you've built, penetrating your mystique.
Pardon the intensity of my intimacy, I just think you're unique.
In a way I can only convey in body language and not with my speech.

Its you beautiful you
I‘ve waited so many moons just to Neptune into your heart
Its you what can I do?
So close I can smell your cologne 
This is where I belong for life
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