Wakefield leaves a thoughtful and intentional mark on every event he does.

I was also blown away by Wakefield’s poetry and performance. Reminded me of Amiri Baraka, one of my favorites. Wakefield was without the jazz, but, man, he “blew as deeply as you’re gonna blow” (Kerouac). So glad I had the chance to listen in

— Zsolt Alapi

WAKEFIELD BREWSTER | aka: da lyrical pitbull

“I have been an active Poet, Participant, Producer and Promoter in Canada’s Poetry and Spoken Word Communities since my very humble beginnings in Toronto in 1999. 21 years is almost half of my life that I’ve spent fiercely and ferociously spearheading Poetry and Spoken Word into every single circle of society I can infiltrate.

“I state that with conviction as Poetry has almost forever been seen and viewed as a ‘thing’ for Poets and Poetry Appreciators alone, and that is simply incorrect. I say that I infiltrate societal circles with Poetry because that description is apt and accurate.

“I have taken Poetry hostage from the stage, kicking and screaming, and I have effectively wrestled it to the floor, where all of the People are standing – ALL of the People.”

The following selection of testimonials are from high school students, ages ranging from 14 to 18.

The ideas that came out of his poems really got a person thinking I also felt that the answers he gave to questions were very descriptive. They weren’t typical one-word answers that most presenters give the audience….that kind of talent should not be put to waste. He expresses the way he sees life through his poetry. The way he says the poetry with so much compassion is just incredible.

Student
“It was nice to hear modern poetry that was gritty and inspiring….I love how he talked to us as a bunch of friends rather than hiding himself for the sake of our age and that we’re students”.

Student
Usually the poetry unit is boring, but seeing a slam poet sparked my interest in poetry… the messages of good attitudes towards women and respecting the earth that were put into ‘hip’words (for lack of a better word) were great. I also like how he had such great answers for every question. The beard is epic.

Student
I have never respected an artist CHS has brought in until now. From Biblical references to the lunar landing, Wakefield brought something my subconscious has been screaming for; intelligence. His own story of ADHD showed me that we can apply ourselves in unconventional ways, to use our own strengths in ways I never thought possible. I saw students involved with his actions that would normally not care.

Student
I love how he captivates the audience with tempo, different volumes of his voice and his use of accents. After watching him today, I found him very candid. He doesn’t pretend to be something he’s not. ‘If you want the world to listen to you, you have to listen to the world first.’

Student
At first I was caught off guard by Wakefield’s form of ‘poetry’. To me, it just sounded like all the rap on the radio and I’m not too fond of rap. When I started to truly listen to his lyrics, it became obvious to me that it was not rap. His poems were full of meaningful concepts and ideas that make you stop and think. The rhythms and beats complemented his words in an odd way but it seemed right….When he was finished, I decided I like slam poetry. It makes sense, because it isn’t a riddle, it’s the truth.

Student