#billy tuggle

[buttonpoetry]

I could sing with this last breath.

Billy Tuggle, “Marvin's Last Verses”

[bostonpoetryslam]

I am greatly inspired by youth poets and artists. I was them and did not have the same broad avenues of expression and want them to all grow up and destroy those who came before them. Metaphorically of course, with love and humor like we did!

Billy Tuggle, interviewed by Jocelyn Mosman for Odyssey

[behindthediva]

Page Break 

Poet interview series for NaPoWriMo

By Leslie D. Rose

April 28, 2015 (28/30)

B-Boy Poet Billy Tuggle (Chicago) discusses how hip hop culture influences everything for him - from his poetry to his parenting.

Had Billy Tuggle never been a B-Boy, he may have never become a spoken word poet.

The four-time Chicago Grand Slam champion is the co-host of the open mic “In One Ear” and the co-founder of the Chicago Four Star Poetry Club. His involvement in spoken word and performance poetry began in 1994, an extension of his love for hip hop.

“I am inspired by hip-hop culture as a whole,” Tuggle said. “I came into it as a breaker, origin of the term ‘B-Boy/B-Girl’, and graffiti artist as well as a fan of the music, and friend to many on my local scene, so inspiration is limitless.

The culture’s evolution to institutions like museums, schools, fashion, sport and more reflects that, but the roots are always where new ideas are. It is why all of hip-hop’s tools are so relevant and accessible for decades.”

A member of ten National Poetry Slam teams, Tuggle said that he believes the main similar trait of poetry and hip hop culture is observation and image.

“My M.O. is to describe the kid from the block and his growth in his environment and how art helps to cope and evolve, especially when creative and sustainable,” he said. “Rappers rap about their surroundings, I do it without a beat or, usually now, without a marker or spray can - I speak of and from these same spaces.

I try to enact the positivity of the culture that was taken for granted when it was embryonic. I keep faith in the breakthrough of new artists true to advancement of style and consciousness.”

Tuggle, who is the author of the poetry collection and educational sketch “The Way of the B-Boy”, said he has noticed the re-emergence of the ‘B-Boy’, noting that while there are some important similarities between the hip hop culture of the 2000’s and that of the 1980’s, the unity is lacking.

“A lot of people are rap fans and forget that it was about unification in the name of progress and fun,” he said. “The culture from DJs and MCs, dancers and graphics to independent business needs to double down on support of local and underground artists, including hiring them as educators. The myth of corporate takeover only becomes true when we don’t pass these arts on.”

These days the ‘B-Boy Poet’ is still heavily immersed in poetry, but his full-time job is being a stay-at-home dad. He said the original hip hop culture greatly influences how he rears his daughter, as he presents her with some of the culture’s golden moments – like self expression tools.

“I think that I give her tools to discover herself in the rest of the world,” he said. Teaching self expression builds self-esteem and knowledge.

At two-and-a-half, she has already been to big poetry festivals, even sat in on slam team practices; sings Sly Stone, Pearl Jam and Erykah Badu songs with me, along with “Twinkle Twinkle”.  She loves coloring, pretend, dancing, books and sword-fighting with paper towel tubes.

I just want her to be able to express herself in all that she does.”

Click for more information about Billy Tuggle.

[hillarykobernickpoetry-blog]

If graffiti is vandalism, what is a child's name on a tombstone?

Haiku by Billy Tuggle

[victorinfante]

And we finish out the first sequence of the #Bullying series with a bit of defiance from Billy Tuggle:

[litvideos-blog]

Billy Tuggle performs "Bush Doctor."

[hawkandanimal]

Issue #1, Nov. 2012: Billy Tuggle - Battle of The Belts

The camera red light shined Like a warning not to blow the payday on the horizon A warning to stop and think when the network reporter asks you “Is professional wrestling fake?” In the old days of smoky vermin ridden fight clubs, In the freak-filled side shows of carnivals, The strongmen often had to answer challenges Of their manhood from the toughest brawlers in the state The baddest men standing would join up with the circus Taking on new challengers across the land Being King of the ring put food on the table Champion equaled privilege and responsibility Now the popular guys, the guys that the crowds came to love Or love to hate, the seat fillers The charismatic characters bending stereotypes for crowd heat Brought more coin to the coffers Promoters began to handshake title belts to fan favorites Script or no script, the champion was still a franchise player Often a promoter himself behind the curtain When he walked that aisle, was champ That belt was a harness for the company he carried on his back When he was hot, the house sold out These houses went from circus tents to ice rinks and concert halls It was like bringing out 10,000 screaming locals For a battle in the big barn But big city money was ruling And when the champ sold out the house Everybody got paid You ask is pro wrestling real? As real as the pay envelope at the end of the night Only the finish is really discussed Every takedown, every throw Every bump comes from training, paying dues on the ring crew If you don’t have family in the biz you better be tough You better be a good apprentice And take the no-pay with the ‘OK’ and love it Do what you do best, big power moves Classic holds, find a signature Your characters are your inner caricature Nasty biker, psycho sub-human, xenophobe brute get the cheap heat The pretty boys, acrobats and athletes who can command the mic Are who got the push, who the belts fit best But you gotta be a winner, play hurt Be that pro between arenas and interviews and a showman between bells It’s as real as “good guys vs. bad guys” Some of these promoters demand bigger for better Bigger men for gladiator image, epic clash Epic theater equals mammoth payday Some of the boys maximized muscle artificially Costing them the chance to grow old Or to reminisce in a rocking chair about when they ruled the business Is sad but we’re giving up our bodies nightly anyway right? Is it fake? You give or take a suplex off of the 2nd rope Take a submission hold for an extra few minutes from some guy with a grudge And the referee is looking at both of you like “Is this it?” You might be champion but the promoter is boss If you have designs of overstaying the script, he will call in a shooter, an enforcer A legit tough-guy who can take it back to the ‘30’s on you in the snap of a wrist This is how I got to this, #1 contender for 6 months Of top rated pugilist thespianism Low blows and high-fives Right before you stuck that camera in my face The promoter sent a guy over to whisper “Tonight’s the night, walk that aisle and soak it in because you are coming back as “The Man” The soon-to-be ex-champ trained me Knows my family and how important the raise will be with a kid on the way I gave up a college football scholarship for this and you STILL ask "Is wrestling fake?" The 'work' is real... The check is as real as the tax man The living is as real as a soap opera star’s The pain is as real as an All-Pro linebacker finishing a play And his day in the ice tub It’s as real as the top of a mountain, as television ratings, dollar signs As real as that belt Now excuse me while I walk… that… aisle!

[buttonpoetry]

Billy Tuggle - "Marvel Girl"

Billy Tuggle is one of the undersung greats of slam, a long time champion hailing from Chicago's Mental Graffiti. This performance is from prelims at Rustbelt 2012.