The City Slam opened to a packed house at Busboys and Poets. The slam competition was just one of many riveting, educational, and free events of the DC Hip Hop Theater Festival (7/9-7/14). Masters of spoken word battled it out all night long at this event hosted by National Poetry Slam Champion, Marc Bamuthi Joseph. Audience members watched the competition wreak word havoc, and voted for their favorite poet; the winner took home a cash prize and a ticket to perform at City Paper’s Crafty Bastards Arts & Crafts Fair on Sunday, Sept. 30 in Adams Morgan.

For more information about the Hip Hop Theater Festival, check out: hiphoptheaterfest.com.