Russell Simmons Presents Brave New Voices : "Change" (HBO)

[Mickis003]

15 people did not hear this entire thing but judged before hearing the end.

[serenitykemeia]

absolutely beautiful. Heartfelt, honest and compassionate. I love it

[1TiaPrincess]

i love this

he put chills through my body

[TEACHYOUTEEWHY]

B YUNG's spirit will ALWAYS BE YOUNG!!

[xxitsKrissyxx]

Ugh I Just Love This. I Write Poetry Myself But.. Sigh

[elissbern]

a guy once commented on a video i watched "black people need to get the fuck over slavery" THIS PROVES THAT MOTHER FUCKER WRONG!!!!!

[Poet2916]

I need to be friends with these people.

[XsweetstarliteX]

@Poet2916 exactly

[robertosixninesix]

its bullshit that they bleep this

[payazaiskoolx10]

Does anyone have the lyrics to this poem.

On a side note: I wish they didn't censor this poem, but overall this is a great Poem.

[mschazare]

I never seen cooning disguised so well >sooo true

[harhar9596]

i love the poem my skin is white but none of my ansestors had slave in fact some were slaves some helped slave and i am part jewish and they were killed for being who they were and i am part indian and they got their land tooken from them so i am white but my skin color is just skin deep in fact we all bleed red we all cry and say shit we dont mean we all have things we wish we never did

[SlaughterHouse113]

I've been watching this video since my 9th grade year(I'm a senior now in high school) and it is still as powerful as the first time i saw it. THIS IS ART, he is an ARTist.

[montanarain416]

@SlaughterHouse113

im the same--i've been watching this for some years now and im a year out of college....true art never changes

[jestman5]

This is some deep shit!

[MARINES8501]

WOW

[DJGiorgo18]

"i'm tired of blaming you , i'm tired of hating you, but most of all i'm tired of every one of us making you responsible for everything your ansestors put us through, had to fight off headachs cause i told myself, Black men will never pick cotton again, even if it means throwing a F***ng asprin bottle, society never wanted me to make it, so i guess the gravity isn't the only thing that has been holding me down. but i dont hate you, i don't even dispise you, infact i might even LOVE You"

[flybyboy77]

watch?v=Mouav3mat0Q&feature=re­lated

[tiffaliciously]

beautiful

[leeann19921]

I love this

[dizasterousn]

This sucks.

[HatwearingKid]

@dizasterousn can you do better?

[badgirlsclubhoe]

@dizasterousn no you suck

[walnutshellwarrior]

@dizasterousn This is a video. Videos only have a few verbs they can truly do. Sucking is not one of them. If by "This sucks." you meant the content of the poem is inadequate, then I have something to say to you; poetry is expression, this is what he feels, get the fuck over it and don't watch it if you dislike it. There's a pause function on this video, and I'm guessing your browser can access other websites.

[twloudmouth]

Don't even pay attention to @dizasterousn ....This chunky child has been trolling Brave New Voices...This isn't the first ignorant comment her ghetto ass left on a BNV vid..If you don't like the vid...Search for something FUCKING ELSE!

[JazzPoetic18]

@dizasterousn u clearly have no talent and you clearly have the intellect of a broom stick to think this poem "sucks" ...fucking moron

[truMonada]

looks like nas

[zazu7790]

this was deep man, i liked it

[CutleryPieces]

This is utterly fantastic. However, they shouldn't have censored his swearing. That is part of the poetry; part of his emotions. It lessens the impact to have that beat of silence when something should be said.

[TheRalphieBoss]

I've watched this approximately 28 times... I'm still inspired.

[Tierranelly]

very strong emotion. powerful performance

[PlayboyBxtch789]

OMG ! I lovee this poem

[niquaabaaby]

GREAT GREAT GREAT!!!!! its obvious that some people dont understand what hes saying but i got the message and its phenomenal!!

[itsDephRE]

Please check out my channel music, and poetry. i have a poem on there written by me called willie you cant lynch me.

[FeralRacingMemories]

Some of the people commenting on here don't understand that this poet's apologizing on behalf of them. I'm sorry for those eleven people who couldn't find the beauty in his words, and that apology comes from the white trash that gets judged too.

[TalentscoutJosh]

WHY CANT WE LIVE FOR TODAY AND QUIT DREDGIN UP PAST HATE COMMITED.BLACKS GOT ALL THE SAME OPS AS EVERYONE ELSE, SO, RACE IS NO EXCUSE, TEACH YOUR CHILDREN WELL..

[Alainabh]

@TalentscoutJosh You do understand that the past does affect the present, right? Have you ever heard of institutional racism? Have you ever questioned why schools in black neighborhoods have no funding and are drop out factories? Have you ever heard of the prison-industrial complex? No. Okay, I didn't think so. Educate yourself.

[lennin01]

@TalentscoutJosh

Also please do look up: Redlining,The United States Crack Epidemic, The Gullah Gechee(An African people who's languages and customs have survived the days of slavery. But it is seem as irrelevant in white history) and Scientific achievements of american Blacks that go unheard of in basic education. We learn and teach what this system gives up.

But in that same education we are in not validated. How does one gain self worth with no evidence? This is what america does to us.

[ewurabenaa]

11 people are completely retarded. #thatisall

[xxAlyiahxx]

it's hot as balls right now and i see this and i get chills <333

[NiciiRashan]

"...It's kinda hard teaching high school boys that whips and chains, and whips, and chains are symmetrical." - Deepest line.

[TheShawtStuff]

I love this poem more than any one I have ever saw. Smh!

[briemama1]

thumps up if you now the goverrment has everthing to do with the reason why we are the way we are???

[afrikanbabie789]

the 10 ppl that didnt like this obviously dont want change..white trashes

[Karcel28]

10 people are apart of the KKK...smh

[WildChildKCW]

I was starting to get annoyed for a minute, then he said he was tired of hating us and making us responsible for our ancestors actions. I'm pale skinned, I look white, even though I'm native american, and I'm so tired of anyone - black, asian, mexican, blaming me for stuff that I wasn't part of, calling me racist just because I look caucasian. Hell, being native american, I woulda been in the same position!

[livefreexvxASL]

3:00 Anis Mojgani in background?

[starlaslade1]

He reminds me of Black Ice. Really well written 

[1nfinityComplex]

"Nobody ever them that Whips and Chains, and Whips and Chains are symmetrical." Hot line. I miss BNV. 2005 was my last year competing, and I still go every year. Amazing poets, who get better as time goes on. They speak, Everyone just need to start listening.

[blueydturtle]

Powerful words! Thank you for being BRAVE enough to allow them to flow off your tongue and inspire those that are brave enough to listen.

[mzpires1]

everyone speaking on it being censored on HBO's part must have only watched it (like right now) on youtube because when i watched it... and other poems like it on HBO bnv it was not censored. NOT one word of it. Stop critiquing things that has nothing to do with the message...

[GSPRKY]

@mzpires1 I purchased the DVD off amazon. I hope the DVD is uncensored. I'm personally against censoring anything, this is his art, if he meant to say something, then leave it in. This is his vision, now ours. Just my thoughts on that.

[ceramicwings]

@33darenshaw I agree they should know what the word niger means, but they nee to hear it when it can be explained to them, not through the t.v. when the ppl they are with may not give this poem the attention it deserves as art or a learning tool. I thought that that others were refering to how it bleeped out other words, like four letter curses.

[gymshoe17]

this is rap, its just missing the beat.

[aisasweetie]

- jump stupid n#%*% holla Wow i never that about this stuff

[redhoboboe]

"everytime i Write a slave poem, my paper bleeds"

that line will be wondering about my memory for a while.

[wickednifty]

um really trying not to be weird but i think that this is one of the hottest things I've ever seen. Amazing poem

[nenlataega]

rapin wit real reason...

[Dwritewell]

A BEAST THAT TEACHES!!! WAKE UP!!! I AM TIRED 2!!! I THINK I LOVE MORE THAN HALF MY IGNORANT BROTHERS. I AM JUST SO TIRED OF WAITING... SO PROUD OF YOUNG INTELLIGENT BLACK MEN THAT DO NOT COMPROMISE!!!

[DanniBaby95]

I love how HBO will show naked women, movies with nothing but the word fuck coming out of peoples mouths and yet they cant let these poets say whats on there minds... i find that to be really funny.

[62SBC]

This dude is the realest dude in it!!! He talkn some real shit!!!  To b so young he smart as hell!!!

[NicoleSaVoy]

i love this poem it is amazing...and bring tears from the realness!!!

[nalobilt]

whips n chains and cars and bling was symmetrical

SAY WHAT?!?! Think about it!!!

[MrVarsity101]

@nalobilt i dont really get that part:--> whips n chains and cars and bling was symmetrical

[michiyo91]

@MrVarsity101 another name for cars is "whips" and another name for bling is "chains" as in jewelry. he is saying those are symmetrical to each other :)

[nalobilt]

@MrVarsity101 whips n chains is what controlled the slaves, n now "whips n chains" aka cars n bling is what controlling people nowadays......therefore 'whips n chains' is symmetrical. Something like commercialism is enslaving the next generation

[mzcokebottle9823]

i think i luv him

[718Jackson]

this is my generation of my poets..and it makes me proud

[tyeishamonae]

real shyt

[assasinwife]

I love this omgggggggggggggggggggggggggggg­ggggggggggggggggggggg intensifying

[dopemeetsreality101]

im in love with this

[Dayna154]

I'm glad my whole family came on Elise Island. No racism

[chrissyluv125]

Everytime I write a slave peom my paper bleeds... I absolutely love this peom!!

[MsJessVicious]

why do nine people NOT like this?!

[platypuss619]

@MsJessVicious because they are the discriminators

[MsJessVicious]

@platypuss619 That or they are intimidated, I mean this is talent and very raw. I love it, 9 people needed to hear this and didn't like the taste of the truth

[Existantia]

Shivers...wow

[nikkiblu2010]

H li im nikki blu this is a call out to all my poets and poetry critics I would like you to join me and my new web series brought to you by poetic fetish network we will be journeying into the minds of our poets and community through mine and othered featured poems and discussion please check it out cant wait to hear from all my poets :-)

At nikkiblu010 or poetic fetish

[AkireLotus]

Wow.... awesome. This is truth spoken straight from the heart... and it's REAL. Beautiful.

[Luvanmusiq8]

LOVE this poem .. amazing delivery

[Luvanmusiq8]

omg .. first thought - he looks like Nas ..

[stowys]

@Luvanmusiq8 For real. Sounds like him, too...so wise...

[TheNCLocal]

I truly miss this form of deep lyricism through spoken word.

[boyofmusicall]

So if he is saying he doesn't blame them but their ancestors, then switches it to apologizing for our shortcoming and saying he likes whites more than blacks sometimes, i'm not understanding who is the target here?

[mememe963]

@boyofmusicall There is no "target" and thats the BEST part about this poem he didn't empower any race above the other he simply stated that we are ALL wrong that we ALL are making mistakes and until we can see ourselves as the issue most of the time instead of the victim all of the time a change will NEVER come.

[patronesmababy]

censoring this poem is wrong... these are words of meaning to people and these words are thoughts and feelings and these words are art. so these words should not be censored just as nudity in art is not sensored.

[Shav808]

"EVERY TIME I WRITE A SLAVE POEM...MY PAPER BLEEDS"!!!!

[Shav808]

"For centuries I been fighting. For centuries I been dying. For centuries I been trying not to let this be the reason I hate. But my blood BURNS"

Wise words man!!!!

You're AMAZING!!!

[queenbeerose1]

he is so cute

[zetaschild]

This one of my top favorite poems of the entire show to date.

[StrongWord005]

"its like for CENTURIES i've been FIGHTING, for CENTURIES i've been DYING, for CENTURIES i've been TRYING not to make this the reason I hate!!!!!"

My favorite part :D

[DirtyCommunist]

Censoring this is the most ironic thing you can do. This show is a gift ... without the part that really makes it run.

[cdntamil]

I loved his poem. Only thing that caught me off guard was when he dissed obama in the end.

[MrMel16]

@cdntamil he didnt diss obama.... he was talkin about all the people over the years that said change was gonna come. that said black people would no longer be slaves to this nation. obama can't be blamed.... he's targeted with racism too....

[cdntamil]

@MrMel16

Now I see. Yes that makes sense. A lot of us are born into a system that doesn't give a damn about you. Respect!

[876latoya]

wow speechlesss gave me chill so much emotions very beautiful poem...

[princess11892]

Damn luv this poem gives me chills every time I listen to it....Favorite part: :Every time I write a slave poem my paper bleeds"...and he is fine...

[two2birds]

Could somebody explain that "tax brackets" line to me? It's the only part that I don't get.

[cdntamil]

@two2birds

I listened to that part 3 times to make sure I heard right. What he first said was they abolished slavery, then he says something that I don't understand, and then he goes on to say write us off with tax brackets and advanced clauses, and put us back on the shelves

He's referring to how the tax act manages to find a way through "advanced clauses" to tax the poor who have nothing to pay. This forces the poor to declare bankruptcy, and become a slave to the system.

That's my opinion

[labreka88]

o my gosh he RIPPED THAT UP !

[didiandditto]

the reason why you don't have the same scholarships is because of white priviledge, and if you can't say that is present then you don't deserve to be better.

[ericrener]

dude i'm white and didn't do shit. your black and are better off then me. I dare you to find scholar ships for only white people.

[NILCENTS]

@ericrener you missed the whole principle of this spoken word poetry....you will never understand if you don't look beyond yourself

“Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be. This is the interrelated structure of reality.”

~ Dr M.L K Jr.~

[xxxhottopic96xxx]

i love ths i could replay it over-and-over it has so much truth it in it its unbeliveable he needs to keep on what hes doing its great

[lyssvrollx3]

"everytime i write a slave poem, my paper bleeds”

SOOO GOOD

[WannaBAactress]

he look like nas ! :) they say eyes are a portal to a childs soul , nd every human beholds his her inner child !

[671Christina]

This is amazing!!!!!!!!!!

[TheMaskedPoet1]

That was awesome!! I love the passion you brought with that!!

[DivaHoney07]

I swear I can watch this over and over and over again. This video makes my day, EVERYDAY! Absolutely AMAZING! This is what you called GOD GIVEN TALENT!!

[MzRapStaret]

This Real !

[celissa911]

amazing... 

[The2Animated]

Oh my gosh... I cannot pull my eyes away when he tells this poem.. Amazing on the verge of tears.. Plain amazing...

[candykane313]

Awesome.....

[NeraG19]

"I've neva seen Cooning Digused so well" He betta School em!

[StudFem411]

amazing!

[Sexigurla2muchluv]

yo i swear he can reach any ones soul. what is his fist name.

[jakeE500]

@Sexigurla2muchluv brook

[Sexigurla2muchluv]

what does is is first name

[diegojauregui1]

wow this dude is fucken sick

[TacticalProductions7]

‎"Had to fight off headaches because I told myself that black men like me would never pick cotton again, even if it means through a fucking aspirin bottle."

now THAT is fucking POETRY.

[browneyezbabyface]

love dat he was so deep

[youngflash121]

He killed tht I don't care if somebody say he didn't

[cashewchick5]

so everytime i write a slave poem my paper bleeds...love that.

[LibraBoo32]

*bows down* that shit is tight. 

[owangwastewin]

wow....all i can say is amazing!

[Pariah77]

7 people are soulja boy

[kilodegan1]

@Pariah77 Yep...in all their infantile ignorance.

[lilhogie2u]

Best spoken word rip I have ever heard. When u here this boy u don't just listen u experience it. His words are so powerful and experienced for such a young man but my favorite by far.

[celissa911]

@lilhogie2u absolutly :) another great one is "Brave new voices 'that girl' " -Ayira (i think thats her name anyway.. but it's also fantastic)

[Resha07]

brotha said "everytime i write a slave poem my paper bleeds" , i love this

[livedalife1]

im speechless! this world has so many unrecognised talents!

[princess11892]

ma all time favorite poem by him love it

[Ladorise]

I love love love this poem!!

its wonderfully performed, and makes me think. lovely

[btwfjwd]

I love how poetry can not be wrong or right. They are true opinions, and what they want the world to know.

[ashleyi145]

He Is So Amazingg <333

[sweet2u09]

AINT THIS THE TRUTH!

[snowgoons0sprockets]

I think HBO is playing a role in killing the spoken word movement. It isnt about the publicity and cameras its about the poetry and the message and the bleeding of souls that happens on that microphone like we just saw. It is also about being true to what you write. I am appalled that this poem was censored. That is against everything this movement stands for. This man gets up on the mic and tears his heart open, and HBO wont let us hear it. Do not stand for this poets.

[WoWRedeemed]

@snowgoons0sprockets it's not actually censored on real HBO, for some reason it's only censored on youtube

[MrHernandez1324]

@snowgoons0sprockets they dnt censore it on hbo just on youtube so find out the facts before you speak

[ceramicwings]

@snowgoons0sprockets They only censor it because younger children could see it. Publich television has standards and everything must fall under it wheather it be a poetry slam or a documentary. Yes, they took out something that was meant to be there but I don't believe it detracted the value of what we heard. We should be a happy that this poets message is getting out to such a large audience. So, stop finding something to complain about and enjoy it.

[33darenshaw]

@ceramicwings every child should know what the word niger means if just for the sake of every child who had no choice but to learn it

[Solid6395]

@ceramicwings It did detract from what was heard. The message remains the same, yes. But the entire principal of spoken word and poetry is that it does not adhere to rules and censors and the fact that it was censored takes away from the very principal. Although I do feel like hearing this censored is better than it not being out there at all, because this is really a moving piece.

[sydneybaelovinlife]

What does whips & chains are symmetrical mean? And also what does picking cotton from an asprin bottle mean? I was a little confused on those parts but this was a GREAT piece. Seriously moving!!!

[tamasandy]

@sydneybaelovinlife - whips and chains in the slave days are symmetrical to the slang terms whips (cars) and chains (jewelry). he's sayin it's just todays way of black men being held down... also, most slaves worked on cotton plantations back then. he's just sayin that his pride is keepin him from "picking cotton" in anyway... (this is what i got from it).

[ewurabenaa]

this was sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo­ooooooooo moving! dang!

[TheMrzross]

...great write...

[waterproofeyes]

Everytime I write a slave poem, my paper bleeds!

B. Yung = B. Truth

[fullofjoy15]

chills..... if id seen this mere weeks ago i would have never broken the cress on the journal im now writing in.

"......... my paper bleeds" chills

[arockystart]

Wow, just wowed by this poem

[tinalancindy]

i love my teacher who showed me this. because i love it. it gives me chills.

[cheeeze666]

I really love how he acknowledged that it isn't the people of today's fault, but our ancestor's. That was so mature, it's really what we need. He was so passionate.

[mrsdelux]

so love it b yung love u ur biggest fan

[grey328a]

"whips n chain" that is truly deep

[esojzurc135]

I TREMBLED THROUGH THE WHOLE THING

[ThaProdigy195]

GIVE ME THE LYRICS!!!!

[a1cia]

This was reallly deep. I loved every word u spoke..

[busha2743]

can someone explain the whole half white babies thing?

[Fallenangelt14]

@busha2743 some slave owners rapped the female slaves which created mixed babies, sometimes they would kill the babies or the slave mother would keep it, the lighter slaves were aloud to work inside when the darker slaves had to work outside sometimes if your skin was lighter you were treated better it just all depended.

[Elisha2550]

That was simply beautiful, and keep holding out.....hope is the only thing each and everyone of us have in common, it's the only thing that we all have, and need. It's not fair how people are treated because of race or color, but God loves us all and he will bring the change, but we must be patient.

[manweller1]

MY paper bleeds -deep deep stuff.

[PrawdaUnia]

I wish I could find the lyrics to understand better what he is saying.

[Chycutie]

I loved this show just as much as I loved Def Poetry. And B. Yung is a major reason why. He has mad talent and strength, I love it....Simply Amazing.

[cinnamonslices]

Chills.....

Jah Bless you B. Yung,

Cinnamonslices

[Infinite454]

if u like rap and poetry look at my videos and subscribe

[Youngstarter]

jazz7148 Shoot'em up bullshyt thats what he said