J. Ivy Hosts Poetry Uncut Part III, Feb. 17 Featuring Def Sound and Sunni Patterson

On Saturday, February 17th, Poetry Uncut, a four-part series of curated poetry and music, continued with Poetry Uncut: Part III as Grammy Award-winning artist J. Ivy hosts an evening with performances by Los Angeles artist Def Sound and the poet and author Sunni Patterson. The evening also featured Emmy Award-winning DJ Niéna Drake. It opened with Get Lit, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit working to increase literacy, empower youth, and energize communities through poetry. This special night was held at the Nimoy Theater in Westwood.

Following the opening poets was a liberating performance by Def Sound, a Los Angeles native who shared several poems filled with inspiration and hope about releasing your gifts through your artistry and knowing your self-worth. He performed a special poem, Dedication, that told the story of an inspiring artist showcasing their talents for their community, family, friends, and mostly themselves. As he delivered his poetic greatness, some previously written and some free-styled, he referenced the unique vest that he wore adorned with books, which he referenced was "Book-et Proof."

J. Ivy performed a poem when he visited a group of people going through an immense amount of hardship. The performance, lyrics, and emotion were felt by everyone, proving to be very moving and heartfelt. Hailing from New Orleans was native Sunni Patterson, coined as a poet's poet. She recited poetry that spoke of Black history and New Orleans culture. She wove her affirmation cards into her performance, allowing the audience to select cards that she repeated to the audience. Her subject matter also spoke on self-love, relationships, and intimacy.

The CAP UCLA 2023 winter programs continue on Thursday, February 29, with Nico Muhly and Alice Goodman's The Street. The UCLA Nimoy Theater is located at 1262 Westwood Blvd. For information, call (310)825-2101, or visit cap.ucla.edu.

The UCLA Nimoy Theater is located at 1262 Westwood Blvd. For information, call (310)825-2101, or visit cap.ucla.edu.

Def Sound is an Afro-Caribbean transdisciplinary artist and a nonbinary Grammy Award-considered contemporary hip-hop artist, producer, poet and award-winning academic. Def's poetry work has been included in Saul William's anthology Chorus. Their music has been featured in Season 4 of ABC's Grownish, LA Weekly, LA Record, The Los Angeles Times, The Frieze Art Fair, LACMA's Poetry series Poetry In Color, the art exhibition The Black Index curated by Bridget Cooks, the Emmy-nominated television series Music Diaries and the Emmy- winning arts and culture series Artbound on KCET. Def teaches Hip Hop/Black Critical Theory at the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts).

Sunni Patterson is an internationally acclaimed poet, performer, certified Spiritual life coach/consultant and an initiated priestess and minister. Armed with an engaging story and

voice, Patterson uses art, poetry and praise (ancestral remembrance) to encourage dialogue, connectivity, spiritual awareness and healing. Her performance at The Nimoy explores the poetic and spiritual traditions of her native New Orleans. Patterson is a 2020/2021 John O'Neal Cultural Arts Fellow and serves as a Resident Artist for the City of New Orleans' Claiborne Corridor Cultural Initiative and Junebug Productions. Patterson is also co-founder of Environmental Arts and Public Health Organization, Breath is Lyfe.

Niéna Drake is a highly respected Emmy Award-winning executive producer, director, founder, philanthropist and DJ. Her media and television work includes on-camera appearances, hosting, developing and producing for ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, OWN, Disney, Showtime, Paramount, Apple, Netflix, Complex Media, iHeart Media and many more. The Chicago Tribune named her one of the most influential Chicagoans. Drake stars as the official DJ for the new TV show Celebrity Squares hosted by DC Young Fly on VH1, including celebrity guests Babyface, Bobby Brown, Tiffany Haddish and Taye Diggs.

Selena Hughes, the imaginative force behind sittingprettywithselena.com is an artist, writer, and wellness advocate. Through her unique blend of creativity, personal narratives, and a focus on self-care, she creates an inspiring space for authenticity and well-being. https://www.sittingprettywithselena.com/category/woman/life-style/