Poetry VS HipHop "National Poetry Month Tour"
City Winery Philadelphia presents Poetry VS HipHop "National Poetry Month Tour" Featuring Queen Sheba, Malik Yusef, and Just Mike The Poet live on April 29th at 7:30pm.
National Poetry Month comes alive in Philadelphia as the nationally touring Poetry vs. Hip-Hop® showcase arrives at City Winery Philadelphia for a powerful night of Spoken Word, Hip-Hop, and the battle for cash & prizes — and YOU, the audience, gets to decide the winner!
YOUR HEADLINERS!
Philly’s Own - Just Mike the Poet
Just Mike the Poet is one of the most compelling spoken word voices emerging from Philadelphia’s powerful poetry community. Known for his commanding stage presence and emotionally charged storytelling, Mike’s performances blend vulnerability, social commentary, and lyrical precision that leave audiences both moved and inspired.
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.
Queen Sheba
Queen Sheba is a 2026 / three-time Grammy®-Nominated Spoken Word-Poet (2024, 2025 & 2026), 2025 TEDx Speaker, and two-time NAACP Image Award Nominee, as well as the 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.
FEATURED ARTISTS
Lady Syren - A dynamic and fearless voice in spoken word, Lady Syren is known for her powerful performances that fuse personal truth, storytelling, and poetic fire.
Gary The Storyteller brings humor, wisdom, and unforgettable narratives to the stage, captivating audiences with vivid storytelling and powerful life reflections.
Philadelphia poet Rich Flow delivers high-energy lyrical performances rooted in rhythm, culture, and authentic expression.
YOUR HOST
Ken Jones Comedy - The evening will be hosted by Ken Jones Comedy, bringing Philly energy, humor, and crowd control to guide the audience through an unforgettable night of poetry and performance.
RANDOM DRAW OPEN MIC
The show begins with a Random Draw Open Mic, where poets from the audience will be selected live to kick off the night.
Step up to the mic and let Philly see what you got.
THE EXPERIENCE
The evening 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.
Founded by three-time Grammy®-Nominated Spoken Word-Poet Queen Sheba, Poetry vs. Hip-Hop® is a nationally touring stage show that brings together poets and emcees for a high-energy lyrical showdown where the crowd determines who wins the night.
The Philadelphia stop features powerhouse performances from nationally recognized poets and rising voices from the city’s vibrant spoken word scene.
🍽️ We provide food and beverage service directly to your table in the venue. Or, for an expanded menu and more relaxed experience, arrive early and enjoy a meal in our restaurant before the show. When dining in the restaurant, reservations are encouraged and can be made via Resy starting one month before the show. View Our Concert Dining Menu.(opens in a new tab)
Reserve your preferred wine by filling out this form(opens in a new tab) and have a bottle waiting at your table when you arrive at your show. No more waiting for your first drink! We will save your wine preference and have a bottle at your table for all future shows. When you want to change your wine, come back to this form and update your preference.
🎶 Kindly note there is a 2 item per person food & beverage minimum in the concert venue. Food and beverages ordered in the restaurant also count towards the minimum.
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