music, poetry, and performance with bonafide rojas

Written By Narrative Media Co.

Bonafide Rojas is a poet, musician, and proud Nuyorican Bronx native. Bonafide is the author of four collections of poetry, including Pelo Bueno: A Day in the Life of a Nuyorican Poet, When the City Sleeps, Renovatio, and Notes on the Return to the Island, and most recently, Excelsior: New & Collected Poems. 

A former slam champion and Def Poetry Jam performer and lead guitarist of the rock group Mona Passage, Bonafide walks us through his journey and artistic evolution in writing and music, some hot takes on the early days of Hip Hop and where we’re at today, his vision for the future of Nuyorican poetry, and so much more.

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  • 1:38 Bonafide talks growing up in the Bronx and early influences

  • 5:45 Wu-Tang and the evolution of Hip Hop

  • 13:10 What it is to be Nuyorican

  • 24:55 Music vs. poetry and overcoming imposter syndrome

  • 32:05 His new book Excelsior, and publishing books over the years

  • 40:10 performing live on some legendary stages

  • 49:45 advice for emerging musicians, poets, and performers

  • 53:51 some of Bonafide’s favorite things

Connect with Bonafide Rojas:

Narrative Media Co.
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