Black Soil Film Festival, Hiphophuis, and House of Knowledge facilitated a conversation with The Last Poets. Guided by moderator Tasha Slagtand, we created space for open dialogue, exchange, and shared reflection.
The Last Poets are recognized worldwide as the spiritual forefathers of hip-hop and spoken word. Since the 1960s, they have used poetry as a political tool and cultural compass. Their work gave voice to Black communities during the Civil Rights Movement in the United States and has influenced generations of artists, activists, and thinkers. Their impact is also felt in the Netherlands in the work of spoken word performers, community organizers, and all who live hip-hop as more than music but as a way of life.
This public gathering in Rotterdam focused on themes such as social justice, diaspora, language as resistance, and the role of art in times of oppression. In a world where global inequality and political repression persists from Congo to Gaza to the Dutch constitution. The Last Poets reminded us why it remains essential to create space for voices from below.
These conversations are not a luxury, but a necessity. They offer space for healing, awareness and connection and values that lie at the heart of hip-hop. Hip-hop was born out of necessity, shaped by anger, but also by hope. The presence of The Last Poets was not only a moment of recognition but also one of urgency. Their words echoed not only the past, but pointed toward the future.
