04/02/2026
🍎NYC Sunday April 19th 6PM City Winery NYC The Loft
is your NYC night out — the perfect mix of poetry, spoken word, Hip-Hop, DJs, wine, and dinner, celebrating National Poetry Month all in one room. Headlining Abiodun of Last Poets!
❗️🎟️LOW TICKET ALERT!> https://tickets.citywinery.com/event/poetry-vs-hip-hop-national-poetry-month-tour-wit-t5hye9?_gl=1*1nopg6l*_gcl_au*MzQxMzI0MzY3LjE3NzIyMTQwNTM.*_ga*MTU2NjE3MzQ0My4xNzMxNjg5MjI3*_ga_4QGPZ6P9NP*czE3NzUxNDc2OTQkbzMxMSRnMSR0MTc3NTE0Nzc0NiRqOCRsMCRoMTQ5NDU5MDIyMA..
Doors open early so you can turn your Sunday wind down into a full date night experience — good food, great wine, live music, and powerful poetry writing brought to life on stage.
If you’ve been looking for something different to do on a Sunday in New York… this is it.
SUNDAY APRIL 19 | CITY WINERY Pier 57 – The Loft Presents
Poetry vs. Hip-Hop® – National Poetry Month Tour
National Poetry Month comes alive in New York City as the nationally touring Poetry vs. Hip-Hop® showcase arrives at Pier 57 – The Loft for a powerful night of Spoken Word, Hip-Hop, and the battle for cash & prizes — and YOU, the audience gets to decide the winner!
Due to high demand, the evening will feature two performances:
1st Show: Doors 5:00 PM | Show 6:30 PM
2nd Show: Doors 9:00 PM | Show 10:00 PM (added once the first show sells out)
YOUR HEADLINERS!
Abiodun Oyewole (of The Last Poets)
Abiodun Oyewole is a founding member of the legendary The Last Poets, widely recognized as one of the foundational groups that helped give birth to hip-hop. Formed in Harlem in 1968, The Last Poets fused poetry, rhythm, and political consciousness to create a new cultural language that would influence generations of artists.
Their work has inspired countless hip-hop legends including Nas, Common, Public Enemy, and Tupac, cementing their legacy as pioneers of spoken word performance and lyrical activism.
Queen Sheba is a 2026, 2025 & 2024 /three-time Grammy®-Nominated Spoken Word-Poet (2024, 2025 & 2026), 2025 TEDx Speaker, 2x NAACP Image Award-Nominee, and founder of Poetry vs. Hip-Hop®, one of the most dynamic touring platforms for poets and emcees in the country. A Creative Loafing People’s Choice Award winner for Spoken Word Artist of the Year, Sheba has appeared on Verses & Flow, 106 & Park, Married to Medicine, and The Apollo Theater and has curated live poetry showcases for more than two decades at Atlanta’s legendary Apache Café and City Winery Atlanta.
Malik Yusef
Chicago’s Malik Yusef is an 8x Grammy Award–Winning Artist and a Grammy-nominated spoken word poet! Songwriter and cultural architect whose work has helped shape modern hip-hop.
A longtime collaborator of Kanye West, Yusef has worked alongside artists including Beyoncé, Jay-Z, and Common, helping bridge the worlds of poetry and hip-hop while inspiring a new generation of lyricists.
FEATURED ARTISTS
Yex (NYC)
New York City poet Yex represents the next generation of spoken word voices emerging from the city’s vibrant poetry scene. She has performed at the famous Apollo Theater and has opened for several including The Last Poets. Known for dynamic stage presence and layered storytelling, Yex blends performance poetry with contemporary urban narratives rooted in the rhythm and pulse of New York.
Michael “Chief” Peterson
Michael “Chief” Peterson, the Poet Laureate of Connecticut, is an internationally respected spoken word artist, educator, and community leader. His work explores themes of identity, masculinity, healing, and culture, and he has performed across the country sharing poetry that bridges activism, storytelling, and personal truth.
YOUR HOST - ButtaFlySoul
The evening will be hosted by ButtaFlySoul, a beloved voice in the spoken word community known for his electrifying stage presence and ability to guide audiences through unforgettable poetry experiences. Hold on for the ride!
THE EXPERIENCE
The show begins with a short selected open mic, offering a few poets from the audience the opportunity to perform before the headlining showcase.
The night culminates in the signature Poetry vs. Hip-Hop® Lyrical Battle, where two poets and two MCs compete live on stage for cash and prizes!
There are no judges and no scorecards — the audience decides the winner, who takes home cash prizes and bragging rights.
Since launching in 2015, Poetry vs. Hip-Hop® has grown into a national cultural movement celebrating lyrical excellence, community, and the powerful connection between poetry and hip-hop.
Choose a side 👀
or
Not just a show — a whole vibe.
Live DJs.
Spoken Word that hits.
Hip-Hop that moves you.
A room full of energy you can feel.
Whether it’s a date night, a link-up with friends, or a solo NYC night out, this is where you want to be.
Come eat. Come sip. Come experience live poetry + Hip-Hop in NYC the way it’s supposed to feel.
