Chorus: A Literary Mixtape

by Saul Williams (Editor), Dufflyn Lammers (Editor), Aja Monet (Editor)

CHORUS is the anthem of a new generation of poets unified by the desire to transcend the identity politics of the day and begin to be seen as one. One hundred voices woven through testimony and new testament. It is the cry of the unheard. The occupation of the page itself. It embodies the “speak-up” spirit of the moment, the confidence propagated through hip-hop, and the defiant “WTF?” of the now. It is the voice that comes after the rebellious voice that once cried, “I want my MTV!” branded back to where punk was, slammed up and beyond it. A combination of trash, heart, and craft. An anthology in rant.

CHORUS is what all modern-day losers chant.

Genres: Poetry

210 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 4, 2012

About the author

Saul Williams is an acclaimed American poet, musician, actor, and filmmaker whose work fuses raw political insight, lyrical intensity, and a bold disregard for genre boundaries. Widely recognized for his dynamic presence in both spoken word and alternative hip hop, Williams emerged in the mid-1990s as a vital voice in contemporary poetry before expanding into music, theater, film, and literature.
Born in Newburgh, New York, Williams studied acting and philosophy at Morehouse College and later earned an MFA from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. It was in New York's vibrant poetry scene that he honed his distinctive voice—fusing personal narrative, political urgency, and rhythmic precision. His breakout came in 1996 when he was named Grand Slam Champion at the Nuyorican Poets Café. He soon co-wrote and starred in the film Slam (1998), a bold meditation on incarceration, art, and resistance. The film won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance and the Camera d’Or at Cannes, launching Williams into international prominence.
Williams has published several collections of poetry, including The Seventh Octave, Said the Shotgun to the Head, and The Dead Emcee Scrolls, which reflect his ability to merge the cadence of hip hop with spiritual and philosophical inquiry. His writing is known for its fierce social critique and experimental form, often pushing beyond traditional poetic boundaries to embrace typography, performance, and digital culture.
As a musician, Williams has created a genre-defying body of work that blends hip hop, punk, rock, electronic, and spoken word. His debut album Amethyst Rock Star (2001), produced by Rick Rubin, was followed by the critically acclaimed self-titled Saul Williams (2004). He collaborated with Nine Inch Nails’ Trent Reznor on The Inevitable Rise and Liberation of NiggyTardust! (2007), a provocative, pay-what-you-want release that challenged music industry norms and addressed race, identity, and digital freedom. Later albums such as Volcanic Sunlight, MartyrLoserKing, and Encrypted & Vulnerable further showcased his global perspective and political urgency, incorporating influences from African rhythms, industrial noise, and cyberpunk aesthetics.
In theater, Williams originated the lead role in Holler If Ya Hear Me, the Broadway musical inspired by the lyrics of Tupac Shakur. As an actor, he has appeared in films like Today, Akilla’s Escape, and Neptune Frost—the latter of which he co-directed with Anisia Uzeyman. Neptune Frost premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and exemplifies Williams’ vision of “sonic fiction,” combining sci-fi, Afrofuturism, and social commentary in a deeply poetic cinematic language.
Williams is also known for his global activism, his commitment to nonconformity, and his exploration of identity. He describes himself as queer and has consistently used his platform to advocate for justice, equality, and creative freedom. His life and work reflect a boundary-crossing ethos, uniting the spiritual and the political, the poetic and the revolutionary.
Across all mediums, Saul Williams defies categorization. Whether through verse, film, or song, he invites audiences to question, to imagine, and to awaken. His artistry continues to inspire new generations of poets, musicians, and thinkers worldwide.

Reviews

[J. · Rating 3 out of 5]

(2 1/2 stars in reality) I wanted to enjoy it in the form it was presented, but it wasn't long before I had to go through and put in the titles and author names by hand. There are about 20 good poems here, 5 of them jaw-droppingly good, so it's pretty standard for an anthology. Therein lies the problem--I expect so much more from Saul and his sensibility. Most of the work here is that type of poetry that relies on the poet's personality or sensuality to create an effect. Even if I didn't hate that kind of poetry with the blazing anger of a thousand suns, the poets aren't present here to provide their "aura" to drive the poem home. I would love to see a book like the one Saul set out to create (as he says in the introduction) but this is not that book.

[Tree Olive · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book a lot but the fact that there is no table of contents of poet bios is stupid. like way stupid.

[chantel nouseforaname · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this. I think there's a magic in anonymity and a beauty that exists between lines strung together without trying to fit worlds into themes. Though themes could shape this Chorus into a song, and I'm curious to see what that would have looked like, I'm glad that this work exists in a semi-shapeless format. It feels open and like anything could happen with every page flip and anything and everything does happen, is said, is spoken about and is shared with us, the readers.

I love that you get to find out who everyone is after the fact; you get the opportunity if you'd like, to delve deeper.

Highlights include to me: 28, 37, 40, 41, 44, 52, 76, 78 & 80 - so many multilayered conversations about various aspects of the human condition as it pertains independently to each human.

There's something for everyone in this Chorus and as an editor, Saul Williams strings it together in a way that births a bumpy, spastic, varying and uniquely cohesive, textured mosaic.

[Kyo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some poems (part of the poem?) were definitely better than other ones, but overall it was a great read and some lines were absolutely exquisite, so 4 stars!

What this almost-spoken-word-poetry book has caused is the fact that even the most mundane actions are narrated in my head as if it were spoken word poetry, which is really weird to be honest.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

brilliant poetic experience

[Diana Lynn VanderMeulen · Rating 5 out of 5]

11 years after publishing this feels incredibly relevant to current global affairs - particularly by touching on queerness, politics, war. I really liked the format of the mixtape in literary form - uncredited, untitled pieces blend from one to the next with a track listing style credit at the end.

[shaz rasul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Saul Williams' Chorus (a literary mixtape) is in the category of "I like it. And I like what it stands for."

To be fair, I'm a fan of Williams, especially his writing (I'm much more apt to criticize a decision he's made with an album than I am anything that he's written). I've read almost everything he's published and liked just about all of it.

Chorus is Williams-esque in that it's challenging and dark and emotionally charged and smart and playful all at the same time. What's utterly fantastic is that it's a collaboration of many poets, and styled not as an anthology, but rather as a mixtape - with the poems arranged to flow seemlessly from one to another. Certainly there's some varience, but on the whole it's all very good.

100% worth checking out.

[Cameron Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

A poetic mixtape, as the name suggests. Saul, and his team, creatively webbed together ninety-two works of art into once incredible story. Although assembled in 2012, this collective (because calling it a book would be an injustice) is just as relevant today, continually showing us how poetry is timeless.

My advice to you, who decide to open your mind and experience this piece of pieces, is read with a pen and paper. You'll see why.

[Scotty · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really solid collection from a varied array of poets. Now, going into this, I didn't realize that. I've read and listened to a lot of Saul Williams, and I saw his name, so I just thought, yeah, I'm into it. It wasn't until about halfway through that it occurred to me that these were not Saul's poems. I was reading these in his voice and everything, and it just worked. That being said, I think that speaks VOLUMES for the quality of these young poets featured.

[Andrew Stiles · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderful collection of poems. My only gripe is that the various poets aren't credited clearly in the index. The titles of there poems are given but throughout the book each poem is just numbered.

[Deandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

While it's not "an anthology", it all reads with Saul's voice. What a mix (tape)!

[Nick · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't read much poetry, so I don't have much to compare this book to, but I did enjoy it. Saul Williams is incredibly talented, and love listening to his albums. I read these poems in his voice, and that largely "worked". It seemed like many of the themes and expressions and word choices in this book line up closely with Saul's lyrics, and I wonder which direction those sorts of ideas flowed - I'm sure both ways, and to and from many other same sources as well.

Anyway, this was a nice read. As is to be expected, the appeal of the individual poems, to me, varied, but I think they all went together well. And it was cool to have the poem picked out running through them all, though this is naturally a bit harder to read, it has a bit less flow.

[Tom Davenport · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 1/2 stars. Great anthology. Missed a half point because some poems weren't overwhelming. This man is a genius poet the likes of which you rarely see. His struggle with Islam and homosexuality was fascinating. The fear of rejection is the basis of religion and hate and breads the demons of hell. He is right, love- no matter if you feel it after a loss it never goes away. Like any energy, it can transform into rage, hate, fear, depression and death! It can also place you in the highest echelon of heaven. Support gay marriage and overall equality. All living things share an identical ancester. As humans, we should revel in our diversity and learn instead of hate and fear. Destroy fundamentalism at all cost.

[Sean Donahue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mr. Williams's anthology covers a much broader span of contemporary poetry than I'd been expecting. Authors featured aren't limited to the tried and true heroes of the spoken word/slam movement. Some pieces are experimental in the extreme. Sometimes, this pays off in major ways. Sometimes, it doesn't. If I recall, there are 93 pieces in the book. I'd say I enjoyed around 85 of them, with ten or fifteen in particular really getting my motor going. Definitely worth the read. Will probably re-read at a later date when I don't have so much on my plate.

[Biafra Denmark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pure Genius! This anthology presents poetry like no other. The way the voices of the poems wed together is a thing of beauty and makes the reader think and see and believe in the connectedness of all of us on this wide, vast blue ball called Earth. The #4 poem, "Rivers", must have been written with God's own fountain pen because it is the most glorious, spectacular, magical beautiful poem ever written. Ever. In life. :-)

[Cody · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the compilation, but like many have said before me there was only a list of each writer. It would have been nice know more about every contributor!

That being said, I loved the richness Chorus brought to the table. I read the book twice (something that I do solemnly) to compile what was what through and between pages.

I strongly suggest picking up Chorus if you have the means to. Saul Williams does just as well picking out great poetry as he does writing and performing his.

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

ha! i didn't realize until the end...[spoiler alert] that this is not saul williams poetry jajaja but i had a lot of fun reading. he really picked poems that resonated with him. there were definately some amazing ones that i want to go back and mark. but first this must be lent to bob.

thank you sau! for everything you are and everything you've given the world.

[A.P. Sweet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad, but the description implies what it truly is; a mixtape. It's just a bunch of submitted poems that Saul went through and pieced together to make on long poem. It isn't bad but I would have preferred something original from Mr. Williams. Maybe in the next year we might get some more magic.

[Makeda Sandfordd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely flawless. Read from cover to cover, you won't regret it. You may cry, laugh, get angry, get devotional, but it will all be worth it. Some of the most talented young poets in the game today.

[Fellowman · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is the best anthology of poetry i have ever read, hands down. the idea of remixing poems and writing one through them is genius. love this book, and i keep passing it on to people, along with anything by saul. he's good people.

[Zachary Owen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got a lot more out of this one on my second read-through. I think it was over my head the first time around. While a handful of the poems included are insufferably obscure I would say that on-the-whole there is some fantastic imagery in many of the poems and a lot of poignant and timely themes.

[Rushay Booysen · Rating 3 out of 5]

a compilation of poems from some of Saul's favorite artist.Overall the book had a great collection of work would have loved to read more of Saul's stuff though.

[Nadia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Each piece was from a different poet and it was put together into one long poem. It flowed very nicely. Great poetry in there. Would love to see this happen again.

[Makara Berry · Rating 5 out of 5]

this man, makes love to words. everything he writes, or is a part of is so thoughtful and insightful, i always feel altered after reading it.

[Taylor · Rating 2 out of 5]

Had a tough time getting into this anthology, there was only two poems that I really enjoyed.. Sarah Key's feature and of course the closing poem by Saul Williams.

[Oscar · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love reading this out loud

[andrea v. (andrea’s galley) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual Rating: 4.5
I really really enjoyed this poetry compilation.
If you are into spoken word poetry, this is your thing.

[jewelthinks · Rating 2 out of 5]

Great concept, but in practice disjointed and hard to access. This book didn't hold my interest.