Free Verse

Having blazed the National Poetry Slam in 2011 to be crowned as champions with Denver’s SlamNUBA team, this harmonic pair takes performance poetry beyond the limits with awe-inspiring content and incredible vocal arrangements. Being prolific in the art of lyric and song, Ayinde Russell and Dominique Ashaheed leave no heart unmoved when they take the stage.
The two have collectively performed for thousands internationally, making impacts across genres and leaving a trail of beauty hard to go unnoticed. Dominique was featured as a vocalist at the 1996 Summer Olympics and has shared stages with legendary jazz pianist Joe Bonner, the Flobots, spoken word artists Saul Williams, Staceyann Chin, NBA standout Etan Thomas and more. She’s been published in various anthologies and literary journals, including the American Literary Review and Ohio State Press. She has also earned a Master’s degree in Education, and another in English Literature and works as a director for the non-profit organization PeaceJam.
Ayinde has opened for and worked with well-known recording artists and HBO Def Poets including: Gil Scott Heron, Eric Roberson, Dead Prez, Fred Hammond, The Last Poets, Georgia Me, Tommy Bottoms, and Black Ice. From the US, to Thailand and Russia, Ayinde has delighted audiences with both poetry and voice. He has been grand slam champion for both Denver slam teams, the Mercury Café and SlamNuba. He holds a Master’s degree in Pastoral Counseling, and works as program manager for A Promising Future, a success development educational program out of Denver. As a motivational speaker, he has impacted thousands of teens in conferences and events nationwide.
Dominique and Ayinde were honored to win the National Poetry Slam Championship of 2011 with Denver SlamNUBA. Having reached that amazing objective, they continue to inspire and create. This triumphant duet produces work covering everything from our own backyards to the happenings in our global community. With trained insight and street savvy, these two have a multi-cultural awareness and personal transparency that translates entertainment into transformation!