She Speaks

This charged performance infuses jazz, poetry, hip hop, and acoustic music with a Generation X twist. Narrated by artistic director E. Christopher “Cocktails” Cornell, She Speaks features Khalilah Ali, Kelly Love Jones, and Renita Walls and forges a new image of women in hip hop.  Leaving behind old stereotypes, the performers weave a vibrant, edgy story of contemporary women and the many hats they wear. They’re more than wives, mothers, lovers, providers, and friends; that’s why She Speaks.

In addition to their performances at the Victory Grill, the artists will teach workshops for students at Pearce Middle School and Travis High School.  Through these performances and workshops, the artists look at women in hip hop culture from a new perspective spreading a positive message to urban youth.

About EPeriod

EPeriod formally Live Poets Society, was founded by E. Christopher “Cocktails” Cornell in 2000. A consortium of artists, EPeriod has graced stages such as: Russell Simmons HBO Def Poetry Jam, MTV’s Road Rules, BET’S 106 & Park, V-103’s Love & Relationship Cruise, V103’s For Sistas Only, Showtime at the Apollo, National Slam Competition participants, MD Ski Express weekend, Music Midtown, Sweet Auburn Festival, and the National Black Arts Festival.

This project is made possible in part by a grant from the National Performance Network’s Residency Program. Major contributors of the National Performance Network include the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, Ford Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts (a federal agency), Altria and the Nathan Cummings Foundation.