From the stage to your stereo, not many artists can accomplish what RAFAEL “A.D.†CASAL out of the Bay Area, California can. He has definitely proved Himself a force to be reckoned with throughout his young life, winning Spoken Word Competitions all over the country, repeatedly featured on HBO, and having his written work printed in numerous different national publications. At fifteen he had already became one of the Bay area's top young competitors in a rising underground culture of competitive spoken word called SLAM. By sixteen he had represented the bay area at the National Youth Poetry Slam, and by 19 had two national Finalist titles under his belt, been featured on season 4 and 5 of Russell Simmons' Def Poetry on HBO, and inked his first deal with def jam mobile.
Over the years Rafael has shared the stage with the likes of Common, Talib Kweli, Mos Def, KRS-ONE, Floetry, Kanye West, Saul Williams, Alanis Morissette, De La Sol, Dead Prez, & numerous others, performing in front of crowds of up to 30,000.
He is currently finishing up his debut record EP to be launched under his crew THE GETBACK, Working with Marc Bamuthi Joseph’s THE LIVING WORD THEATRE COMPANY, Creating music with legendary Bay Area Producer ONE DROP SCOTT (3xcrazy, Too Short, E-40, Mac Mall, Mac Dre, Scarface, etc. etc.), producing music for upcoming bay area artists, and airing on the SIXTH season of Russell Simmons Def poetry on March 2nd of 2007. Stay tuned!
Check him out on the Pilot for the new season with Mos Def and Talib Kweli at HBO.com!
- HBO Presents Russell Simmons Def Poetry SEASON 6 PROMO -
Meshell Ndgeochello, KRS-ONE, Common, Mos Def, Dead Prez, Goapele, Saul Williams, John Legend, Kanye West, Marc Bamuthi Joseph, Floetry, Beau Sia, Suheir Hammad, Michael Franti & Spearhead, De La Sol, Alanis Moursette, Blackalicious, Lyfe Jennings, George Clinton, Zion-i & many more.
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