REVIEW: Dahlak at Delta College

By Phalary Long / 209Vibe street teamPosted May 12 at 08:13 AM

Spoken word poet Dahlak took the stage May 8 at San Joaquin Delta College and told the crowd to get ready for some funk.

“That’s what’s going to happen to the word," the Sacramento poet and Def Poetry Jam alumni said.

What followed was less of a spoken word performance and more a hip-hop show. Dahlak used call-and-response and a lyrical flow to address topics like the effect of corporations, police brutality and hip-hop.

“It’s the movement, move men, inspire me DJ, CNN ain’t seeing us,” he said.

Dahlak also explored the controversy over the n word.

“It’s confusing, it seems, what are the rules? Let’s get into burned churches, slaves, chains, and cotton,” he said.

Dahlak kept the crowd entertained and the audience constantly wanted to hear more from the acclaimed poet. His last poem was the “I Know Some of These Negroes Hope Obama Don't Get Elected.”

The crowd responded with a standing ovation. It was a short set but nonetheless spectacular.