Free community activation in Leimert Park: Pep Rally followed by Poetry Slam to crown the 2026 Champion! Vendors, DJs, Party, & More!About this Event
Presented by Da Poetry Lounge, co. in partnership with the Los Angeles Rams office of multicultural affairs, the second annual RAMS SLAM experience is a community activation and invitational poetry slam comprising music, food and art, culminating with talented performance poets battling it out with powerful spoken word for the 1st place LEGENDARY CROWN and $4000+ in CASH PRIZES.
This year’s partnership is inspired by the legacy of the Fearsome Foursome:
Deacon Jones (75), Merlin Olsen (74), Rosey Grier (76), & Lamar Lundy (85).
FREE WITH RSAVP! ALL AGES, FIRST COME FIRST SERVE
Entry comes with free meal tickets for vendors.
Seating: CAPACITY 200
Pep Rally: @6:30PM
Slam: 8:30PM
Seating Options
Indoors - The Barbara Morrison Performing Arts Center - Chairs + Stage (Rug & pillow)
Outdoors - @ Plant Chica Live Stream Viewing Only
If you do not have an RSVP Ticket, you will be seated in Plant Chica as part of overflow. First come first serve until we no longer have space.
THE SLAM EXPERIENCE is hosted by the incredible Ashley August & Matthew Cuban with some of the top poets around! Sounds by DJ Faucet!
DPL x L.A. RAMS PEP RALLY right in the heart of Leimert Park. Hosted by DPL Host and 2026 Slam team member, Blu, with sounds by DJ Aye Mitch!
POETRY SLAM is a competition invented in the 1980s in which performed poetry is judged by five members of the audience and/or pre-selected pro judges. Each poet competes with a time limit (plus an allotted grace period) without the use of props or costumes presenting original work of their own creation. The judges will score each poem between a 0.0 - 10.0 Olympics style, evaluating criteria which includes: originality, creativity, performance, craft, and audience feel. The highest and lowest scores from the panel of judges are dropped and the three middle scores are added to give a poet their total score. That’s it! It is THAT simple!
Featuring vendors from Leimert Park and beyond with free food, merch, artwork, and wellness!. Scroll down for more info!
FREE TACOS & DESSERTS WITH RSVP TICKET COURTESY OF:
NAYS TACOS + SWEET RED PEACH CUSTOM CAKES & PASTRIES
VENDORS FOR THE EVENT INCLUDE:
Artwork by UNYENZ
Books and informational by WORLD STAGE
Custom Jewelry by DANA B
Chic & custom Sunglasses by CYCLOPS FRAMES
Massage & wellness by ASCENSION 21 & BIIJI WELLNESS
& more!
Agenda
🕑: 06:30 PM - 08:30 PM
LEIMERT PARK PEP RALLY
Host: Blu
Info: Hosted by DPL Host Blu, with sounds by DJ Aye mitch, featuring Leimert Park Merchants with food by Sweet Red Peach Desserts + Nay's Tacos available for free with RSVP while supplies last.
🕑: 09:00 PM - 10:30 PM
2026 RAMS SLAM
Host: Matthew Cuban
Info: 9 poets. 3 Rounds. 1 Champion. Battling for over $4k in cash prizes. Hosted by award winning poets and actors: Ashley August and Matthew "Cuban" with sounds by DJ Faucet. Competing poets: Kito Fortunte, Bay Davis, Don, Candace Nicholas-Lippman, Maestro Desean, Nate Lovell, Asia Bryant-Wilkerson, Demetri Manabat, Lady K. Calibration by: Deja Vu & Nyarae of the 2026 DPL Slam Team who took 2nd at the 2026 Southern Fried Regional Poetry Slam.
Event venue
THE BARBARA MORRISON PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, 4305 Degnan Boulevard, Los Angeles, United States
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.