In honor of National Poetry Month, Back2Besa host Besa Gordon highlighted four talented poets from the greater Seattle area. One of those poets was Joel Duran, an Afro-Latino poet born in the Dominican Republic and raised in Brooklyn, New York, who now calls Seattle home. Joel's poetry touches on themes of love, gentrification, and the complexities of city life. During the segment, Joel performed his poem "The Girl On The Bus." Be on the lookout for Joel's upcoming release of his bilingual poetry collection, "Infatuated: Un Poeta Enamorado," which explores the initial stages of love.

Sonics fans, unite! Earlier this month, the SonicsWasTaken event that took place in SoDo brought together fans from all over the city to celebrate their love of basketball, fashion, art, design, music, culinary delights, libations, and community. Host Trae Holiday from The Day With Trae caught up with Sonics to discuss why they want the team back and what the community is doing to make it happen.

In a recent segment of The Day With Trae, host Trae Holiday met with Brodrick Ryans, the director of the thought-provoking production ‘Brown Bodies on a Blue Earth.’ During the episode, Ryans delved into his journey into the world of theater and directing, offering viewers a glimpse into the inspirations and motivations behind his work.

For National Poetry Month, Besa Gordon highlighted talented poets around the greater Seattle area on Back2Besa over the weekend. One of those poets was Rhea Melina, who performed her poem “Pulling Down God Is Easy” at the Black Media Matters Studio. 

Our cameras were there as the community was brought together once again by the annual Bubblin Brown Sugar dance competition at Garfield High School. This event has been a beloved tradition for decades, uniting generations through dance and community fellowship. Dance teams from across Seattle came together to showcase their passion and talent, captivating the audience and uplifting one another in a display of unity.

In honor of National Poetry Month, Besa Gordon highlighted some incredible poets here in the greater Seattle area on Back2Besa over the weekend. One of the featured poets was Ebo Barton, who performed his poem "Freedom Cut Me Loose" at the Black Media Matters Studio.

Each One Teach One was the vibe at Washington Hall during Red Bull’s Lords Of The Floor Weekend as they hosted an exclusive dance workshop led by none other than Dyzee, a retired 13-time World Champion Bboy who continues to inspire the global Bboy community.

On April 6th, our cameras and host of Back2Besa, Besa Gordon, witnessed the vibrant energy of breakdancing enthusiasts and aficionados filled the WaMu Theatre as Red Bull's esteemed event, Lords of the Floor, took center stage. Guided by the charismatic hosting of Tacoma's own Jo Koy, and graced with a mesmerizing performance by the legendary Common, the evening unfolded into a spectacle of talent and passion.

#LordsOfTheFloor Hip-Hop music and culture were front and center during Lords of the Floor week in Seattle; it wasn’t just about dancing; it was about the art, music, swag, and legacy of hip-hop. Leading up to the day of the main event, there were workshop sessions at The W Hotel with Pete Rock, Battlecat, and Seattle Hip-Hop legends Vitamin D, and Jake One as they offered some game to those up and coming in the industry. 

Red Bull's Lords of the Floor week kicked off with a bang last at Darkalino's and Hometown in Pioneer Square. The welcome mixer set the stage for an electrifying week ahead, encapsulating the essence of hip-hop culture and camaraderie.

Red Bull Lords Of The Floor made its long-awaited return to the Emerald City after over two decades, and our cameras and Besa Gordon was there to witness it all as breaking took over the city of Seattle. It all started a few weeks ago when Graffiti artist Totem2, along with artists Charms, Graves, and Amanda, painted the Westside Wall to announce the arrival of the Lords Of The Floor.

Did you know that the night before Red Bull’s Lords of the Floor main event, there was a preliminary completion at Washington Hall, where almost 100 breaking crews came to battle it out for a shot at competing in the main event?

Red Bull’s Lords Of The Floor was a night to remember as they touched down in the Emerald City for the first time in over 20 years. See photos fro the main event below through the lens of Jordan Somers on behalf of Converge Media.

Visionary fashion designer Luis G. Vélez, the creative force behind the Guillermo Bravo brand and now the Creative Director of Sonics Was Taken, stopped by The Day With Trae to share insights into his journey in the fashion industry, the evolution of his clothing label, and the exciting upcoming event dedicated to celebrating the Seattle Sonics' legacy through fashion and design.

March 30th marked a poignant moment as N The Kutt Dance Studio in Des Moines, WA, closed its doors for the final time. The studio, along with its founder Koach "Giggz" Crosby (who is also the founder of Kutt’ N’ Up dance team), has been an integral part of the greater Puget Sound community for years, leaving an indelible mark on the lives of countless young dancers, including our own Besa Gordon.

Innovative designer and artist Neal Sotelo joined Trae Holiday for a conversation about Sonics Was Taken, a cultural movement dedicated to reigniting the passion surrounding Seattle Sonics. The movement embodies the community's collective longing to reclaim its beloved team. Scheduled for April 20th, Sonics Was Taken will orchestrate an event celebrating the illustrious history of basketball in Seattle, offering various food, music, and communal spirit featuring a pop-up store. At the heart of this gathering will be a showcase of reimagined Sonics apparel and artwork, prominently featuring Sotelo's distinctive pixelated art style—an homage to his passion for video games.

Recently, author Reagan Jackson joined Trae Holiday on the Day With Trae to to discuss her newly published book, Still True, The Evolution of an Unexpected Journalist. An author of numerous self-published works, this is Jackson's debut publication under Hinton Publishing, a publishing house Marcus Harrison Green established in August of last year.

Earlier this week on The Day With Trae, Chelsey Richardson joined host Trae Holiday to share her journey as both a poet and a writer and her dedication to imparting her passion to the next generation through teaching. Additionally, Richardson discussed the eagerly anticipated rerelease of her book, All Water Has Perfect Memory.

This Tuesday, Marcus Harrison Green, the founder of the South Seattle Emerald, sat down on The Day With Trae with host Trae Holiday to discuss the mission of Hinton Publishing, a publishing house Green established in August of last year. Hinton Publishing aims to act as a beacon of inclusivity and equity in the literary landscape, focusing on elevating and recognizing works from authors from underrepresented communities. A personal odyssey for Green, Hinton is a tribute to his grandfather, after whom the company was named, who had his own written work stolen and was never recognized in his time. 

Earlier this week, Jennifer Zeyl, the Artistic Director of Intiman Theatre, joined Trae Holiday on The Day With Trae to unveil the exciting lineup of events for March. These events are part of the Share the Love, a peer-to-peer, crowdsourced campaign to raise $50,000 for Intiman's 50th anniversary. This month, on Wednesdays, the 13th, 20th, and 27th, the Theatre will present three showcases highlighting artist responsibility during revolution and political strife. Zeyl emphasized her position as the Artistic Director when choosing productions for Intiman Theatre.