The Welfare Poets

THE WELFARE POETS have existed as a totally independent collective since the Spring of 1990, when two Cornell students came together to write poetry/rhymes of protest and calling for the human rights of all, accompanied by congas (percussions). A band was created from this union with the purpose of using culture as a tool of resistance, and in the summer of 2000 the group released their first independent album "Project Blues." The group plays Hip Hop with a fusion of various styles from the Caribbean, including Puerto Rico, Cuba and Jamaica.

Over their 15 plus years of existence, The Welfare Poets in addition to being cultural activist, have gotten directly involved in efforts for social justice, most notably against police brutality, political prisoners, the colonial status of Puerto Rico,including the U.S. Naval occupation of Vieques, environmental justice in New York City and the death penalty. Through teaching residencies and workshops, activism around community struggles and sharp-edged performances of music, The Welfare Poets bring information and inspiration to those facing oppression and fighting for liberation.




In May of 2005, The Welfare Poets released their 2nd independent album“Rhymes for Treason,” and most recently, on February 1st of 2007, put out their 3rd independent venture, “Cruel and Unusual Punishment,” a Hip Hop compilation/fund-raiser against the death penalty featuring many brilliant artists from around the country. Artists featured on compilation: The Welfare Poets - Rayzer, The Legendary MIC and Jamaki-Bo with music from Djibril and Jamaki (Harlem, BX and BK); Abiodun (of the Legendary Last Poets- NYC); HiCOUP (NJ); Blitz (Ghana/NYC); Hasan Salaam (NJ); Chosan (Sierra Leone/London/NYC); Son of Nun (Baltimore); A-Alikes (NYC); Tru-N-Livin (NJ); Warclub (Cali/Phili); Jav'lin (Amsterdam); InI Mighty Lockdown (New Rochelle); Hec-1 (NY/Chi); Rebel Diaz - Rodstarz and Lah Tere (Chi); Wordplay (Cincinatti); JuggaBlak (Mount Vernon); LemBoogie (Mount Vernon); Block McCloud (Brooklyn); Bolos (Brooklyn); Truth Universal (New Orleans) and Wise Intelligent (of Poor Righteous Teachers - NJ).



The collective has appeared in a number of newspapers, magazines and documentaries, most notably, "Nuyoricans: Puerto Ricans in New York," and can also be found on the international CD compilation to cancel the economic debt of impoverished countries, "Break the Chains." "Break the Chains" features world-renowned groups like Femi Kuti, Sweet Honey In the Rock and Israel Vibrations.

The Welfare Poets music has also been featured on numerous independent cable and radio stations like Democracy Now and WBAI in NYC and on college stations across the country and world. Last year, the group had the honor to perform at the Socialism Conference 2006 in New York City, and in August 2005, had the opportunity to attend and play at the World Youth Festival in Caracas for the1st International Hip Hop Summit. You can see footage of this performance on Youtube by searching for The Welfare Poets. There, you will also find footage of our first music video called Sak Pase off the "Rhymes for Treason Album.” The song is a social commentary about the US backed overthrow of President Aristide of Haiti in 2004. You can also find footage of the band performing in the Bronx for President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela. At the end of this footage, President Chavez joins us on stage playing the congas.



Lastly, you can log on to Youtube to check a performance we did in 2005 in Caracas at the World Youth Festival and the 1st International Hip Hop conference.

II. Special Events and Appearances

The 30th Anniversary of the Attica Uprising, MLK Center, NYC (1997) Protest against 100 years of US colonialism in Puerto Rico at the U.N (July 25th 1998) Critical Resistance Conference, University of California at Berkley (September 1998) 130th Anniversary of El Grito De Lares – San Francisco, California (September 1998) Project Blues Album Release, Clemente Soto Velez Cultural Center, NYC (June 2000) 1st performance in Puerto Rico at the Nuyorican Café (May 2001) Viequethon – opposing the Navy’s continued occupation of Vieques, Puerto Rico (May 2001) Rally against war in Iraq at the U.N with way over 250,000 protesters (Feb 15th 2003) The 40th Anniversary of Malcolm X’s death at the Abyssinian Church, NYC (February 2005) Rhymes for Treason Album Release Party, Remy Lounge NYC (May 12th 2005) Malcolm X Jazz Festival, Oakland, California (May 2005) The World Youth and Student Festival, Caracas, Venezuela (August 2005) The Point Center in the Bronx hosted President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela, (November 2005) Socialism Conference 2006: NYC at Columbia University (June 2006) International African Arts festival, Brooklyn, NYC (July 2006) 60th Birthday Celebration for Pam Africa of the Move Organization, Harlem, NYC (November 18th 2006) Cruel and Unusual Punishment Album Release Event, Remy Lounge NYC (Feb. 1st, 2007)



III. Other places the group has performed at:

Boricua College; Brown University; Buffalo State University; Central Connecticut State; Columbia University; Cornell University, CUNY – BMCC, City College Hunter, Queens College; Dartmouth University; D’youville College; Eastern Connecticut State University, Harvard University, Haverford College, Hostos, Hunter; Ithaca College, Johnson and Wales; Marymount Manhattan College; Middlebury College; Montclair State; Mt. Holyoke; New York University; New Jersey Institute of Technology; Pratt University; Princeton University; Rutgers University; Smith College; Stevenson College; Stonybrook University; Swathmore; SUNY Albany; SUNY Binghamton SUNY Buffalo, SUNY New Paltz; SUNY Old Westbury; SUNY Purchase; Syracuse University; Union College; UC Berkeley; University of Illinois (Champagne); University of Maryland; U Mass. at Amherst; University of Pennsylvania; University of St. Thomas (Houston); Vassar; Wesleyan and Yale.

IV. Contacting the Welfare Poets

main site: The Welfare Poets myspace: MySpace.com - The Welfare Poets - The Village of Harlem, New York - Hip Hop / Latin / Jazz - www.myspace.com/thewelfarepoets other myspace: MySpace.com - Cruel&Unusual Punishment Artists - Village of Harlem, New York - Hip Hop / Hip Hop / Hip Hop - www.myspace.com/deathpenaltycd