Slam

6.864

100 minutes

10/7/1998

Overview

Raymond Joshua, a young black performance poet, is arrested and imprisoned for a petty marijuana charge in a Washington, D.C. jail. Although the confining prison walls do little to shield him from danger, it is within those walls that Raymond establishes his identity, strength, and voice and meets a prison gang leader and a prison writing teacher, Lauren Bell. Bell inspires Raymond to use the power of creative expression to free himself from the struggles and demise of the Black male as another victim of the judicial system.

Cast List

Saul Williams
as Ray Joshua
Sonja Sohn
as Lauren Bell
Bonz Malone
as Hopha
Lawrence Wilson
as Big Mike
Beau Sia
as Jimmy Huang
Andre Taylor
as China
Momolu Stewart
as Bay (Jail Rapper)
Ron Jones
as Do Wop Cop
Reamer Shedrick
as Do Wop Cop
Allan E. Lucas
as Chief C.O.
Dominic Chianese Jr.
as Officer Dom
Jerome Goldman
as Jail Class Poet 'Why'
DJ Renegade
as Party Poet 'Diminuendo in Blue'
Liza Jessie Peterson
as Slam Poet 'Ice Cream'
Taylor Mali
as Slam Poet 'Like'
Bob Holman
as Slam MC
Rhozier T. Brown
as Public Defender
Richard Stratton
as Prosecutor
Marion Barry
as Judge
Weusi Baraka
as Weed Buyer
Eddie Black
as Dodge City Crew
Harry Campbell
as Dodge City Crew
Robert Philson
as Dodge City Crew
Daniel M. Favors
as Jail C.O.
Johnny Foye
as Jail C.O.
Jesse Hicks
as Command Center C.O.
Carolyn Morris
as Hallway C.O.
Leonard A. Thompson Jr.
as Bullpen Inmate
Todd Baker
as Bullpen Inmate
Joseph A. Wilson
as Poetry Class
Talib Watson
as Thug Life Crew
Kevin Kennedy
as Van Inmate
Donnell Robinson
as Van Inmate