Hip-Hop Artist Common Rehearsing for Def Poetry Jam

Hip-Hop artist Common wows media and others during a sound check for Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry

What's The 411 attended a media event for Def Poetry Jam, and captured spoken word artist, poet, and actor, Common, during a rehearsal/sound check for an episode of Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry, better known as Def Poetry Jam.

Def Poetry Jam, a spoken word poetry television series hosted by Mos Def, featured many established and up-and-coming poets and spoken word artists and aired on HBO from 2002 through 2007. Mos Def completed his sound check earlier.

Just prior to the rehearsal/sound check, Uncle Rush was on hand earlier for a photo opp with Alicia Keys and John Legend.

What’s The 411 producer Ruth J. Morrison, got an exclusive interview with Russell Simmons, who spoke about the value of poetry and spoken word.