For four days, the best of the best spewed the most gut-wrenching and heart-clenching poetry LA has heard in a while. Eight teams, four east coast and four west, stood in Greenway Court Theatre’s spotlight, passionately reciting timed poems they undoubtedly spent weeks and months rehearsing. The theme was social consciousness, and no team failed to deliver, battling with fervent and flawless delivery for five grand in cash prizes.

Come Saturday night, four teams, SLAM Charlotte, Bay City All-Stars, Elevated, and Empire MindState, were left standing. Though I was pulling for the San Diego team Elevated, it was SLAM Charlotte’s Tavis Brunson, Bluz, Quentin “Q” Talley, and Twenty20 who wowed the five judges and packed theater.

To read more about the event and the winning team click here for Sophie Kipner’s article.

Video by Sean McWilliams.