G. Yamazawa: Stories Through Spoken Word

George Yamazawa, referred to as “G,” for short, performed last Saturday in the Assembly Hall. Yamazawa also worked in several MLK Day workshops this past Friday, which explored his own identity as a Japanese American raised in the South.The event kicked off with poems from lower Maria Heeter, senior Annie Ning and upper Meghan Chou. Heeter’s poem spoke of her experience cutting her hair for cancer awareness; it raised the struggles of insecurity and how the opinions of others can have monumental effects on a person’s identity.Ning composed a love letter to her mother, and more specifically, addressed the pain that her mother goes through because of her spine. Chou emphatically spoke of her relentless father and his journey of immigration. All three performances received ecstatic reactions from the crowd.Saying that Yamazawa, one of the most highly acclaimed spoken word artists in the country, knows how to get a crowd going, is an understatement. Yamazawa was awarded as the 2014 National Poetry Slam champion, 2011 Southern Fried Individual champion and 2010 Chapel Hill Youth Grand Slam champion. Additionally, his poetry has been published in a handful of magazines.

“I noticed that words have gravity. I’ve seen them crush people from a first-person perspective.”

Bluz Rogers, spoken word artist and Slam Master of SlamCharlotte said, “In this ever changing world of poetry, it’s assuring to know that good writing, crafted thought and gifted performance are still a standard for some poets.Yamazawa embodies these standards and raises their level to the point of being an inspiration to not only fans but his peers and colleagues.” With his unique hip-hop style and insight as an Asian American, Yamazawa’s work stands out among a new generation of slam poets. “To simply state it, G Yamazawa is sho’ nuff hella dope,” Rogers said.During Yamazawa’s performance, he recited a number of memorable lines, one of which went like this, “A wolf will be friends with sheep, as long as its kindness leads to something it can dig its teeth into.” This line related to his thoughts on identity, a prominent component to Yamazawa’s act.In high school, Yamazawa found himself caught in the wrong crowd. He turned to selling drugs. He commented, “No matter what it is, it feels good to be attached with an identity.” However, when Yamazawa was expelled, he realized who his real friends were and created a new identity through poetry.Yamazawa was bullied as a child. “I noticed that words have gravity,” he said. “I’ve seen them crush people from a first-person perspective. I felt a phrase fall out of my mouth like an atom bomb without knowing that the effects will radiate for years.”As a coping mechanism, Yamazawa would turn racial stereotypes into positive reinforcement with lines like, “I don’t rap like you, cuz dawg I’m Asian, I eat cats like you!” He found comfort in words, which he initially used as a defense mechanism but which quickly evolved into something he came to love, along with the arts in general.Growing up in cultural America is like straddling a crack in the Earth, according to Yamazawa.Yamazawa also discussed the utilization of names in America. In Japan, the surname comes first, which emphasizes the respect of family; on the other hand, in America, nicknames come first for accessibility.In his performance Yamazawa rapped, “My name [George] was not given to me but rather to the country so that I wouldn’t get torn apart.”Yamazawa ended Saturday night’s special event with his poem “Dear Grandma,” a tribute to her struggles and her strength that has allowed her to remain resilient throughout her life.On a broader note, through his experience as a poet, Yamazawa has put together a message to pass onto his listeners.“If there’s one thing that I’ve learned about being a poet, it’s that it’s not about what you have to say in your poem. It’s about what you have to say when your poem is done,” he said.