SU poets highlight new show

Starting this fall six Southern University students are to be featured in new local show spotlighting poetic talent in the south.
The students will appear on O.N.S Entertainment’s Rhythmic American Poetry TV or RAP TV. The featured students will include Donny Rose, Ronald Nicolas Jr., Ramona Webb, Dorian Herbet and graduate Clifford Young.
RAP TV is sponsored by Max 94.1 and will have a thirteen-week season on WBTR cable channel 22, basic channel 19.
Even though the show is mainly local many of the artists spotlighted are from other states such as Webb who is from Kentucky, said Southern University alumni, executive producer and co-host of RAP TV Jennifer “Milky” Carter.
“The focus right now is Louisiana but it is not limited, the show is about the art of words, though we are also trying to get rid of the “backwoods” stereotype that Louisiana has,” Carter said.
Filmed in various locations the show features a number of different backgrounds around the Baton Rouge area.
“We tried to catch the poets in their nature environments, ” Carter said, ” we filmed anywhere from clubs, to Barnes Nobles and even a number of area parks.”
The show, which started its production process two years ago, is geared to the family audience.
“As an artist myself I hate censorship but kids need to see that (poetry) and be exposed to the art of words,” Carter said.
O.N.S expects the show to be statewide by the end of 2001, regional by spring 2002 and national by the end of 2002.
O.N.S. and Max 9.41 are now having open Mic poetry slams on Tuesday nights at Celestine’s Cafe on Florida Boulevard for artists to express themselves.
The winner of the slam will be featured on RAP TV and on Poetic Thursday on Max 94.1.
Interested artists can also summit a tape at Max 9.41 or mail it in to O.N.S. Entertainment at P.O. Box 64553, Baton Rouge, La 70896.
RAP TV airs Friday’s night at 10:30 and Saturdays at 1 p.m.