Tito Puente, Celia Cruz, Lila Downs, Miles Davis, Ella Fitzgerald, John Coltrane, A Tribe Called Quest, Afro-Cuban All Stars, Afrika Bambaata, Amel Larieux, Andres Jimenz, Anita Baker, Anthony Hamilton, Aretha Franklin, Barrington Levy, Beat Junkies, Beatnuts, Big Daddy Kane, BIG, Bill Whithers, Billie Holiday, Black Moon, Black Sheep, Black Star, Bob Marley, BDP, Busta Rhymes, Cachao, Carlos Vives, Cesaria Evora, The Cesta All Stars, Chaka Khan, Ciara, Common, Cover Girls, D'Angelo, Daddy Yankee, De La Soul, Dead Prez, Denise Williams, Diana Ross and the Supremes, Digable Planets, Dilated Peoples, DJ HONDA, Donna Summer, Donny Hathaway, Earth Wind and Fire, Eddie Palmieri, Eddie Santiago, El Gran Combo De Puerto Rico (my all time favorite!!!), Eric B and Rakim, Eric Roberson, Erykah Badu, Etta James, Etta Jones, Fania All Stars, Fela Kuti, Fantasia, The Fugees, The Game, GangStar, George Lamond, Gil Scott-Heron, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Grandmaster Flash, Grupo Niche, Harlem River Drive, Hector LaVoe, Immortal Technique, Incredible Bongo Band, India, Inti-Illimani, The Isley Brothers, Jackson Five, James Brown, Jay-Z, Jean Gray, Jeru, Jill Scott, Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Castor Bunch, Joe Cuba, John Legend, Joshua Redman, Juan Luis Guerra 440, Kanye, Kool and the Gang, KRS-One, Kurtis Blow, La Lupe, Lauryn Hill, Leaders of the New School, Little Brother, Lords of the Underground, Machito, Mary J. Blige, Marvin Gaye, Masta Ace, Mongo Santamaria, Mercedes Sosa, Mobb Deep, Mos Def, Muddy Waters, NAS, Nina SImone, No ID, Outkast, Pete Rock and CL Smooth, The Pharcyde, Prince, Q-Unique, Ray Barretto, Ray Charles, The Roots, Roy Ayers, Ruben Blades, Run DMC, Santana, Snoop Dog, Souls of Mischief, Stevie Wonder, Sting, Sugar Hill Gang, Susanna Baca, Talib Kweli, Tego Calderon, Tony Touch, Twista, U2, Willie Bobo, Willie Colon, Salsa, Mambo, Merengue, Reggaeton, Latin Jazz, Boogaloo, Latin Soul, Break Beats, Rap that moves me, and Rap that makes me shake my ass, Jazz, Soul, R&B, amazing female vocalists, bomba and plena, rumba, son, disco, funk, and house, coz under it all, i'm always gonna be a Chicago girl.
Movies
Shawshank Redemption,
Alot Like Love,
Crash,
Wild Style, Beat Street,
Style Wars,
The Freshest Kids,
Motorcylce Diaries,
Frida,
Secretary,
The Constant Gardener,
City of God, What the Bleep Do We Know?, The Secret, Unfaithful,
i'll keep posting i can't think of all right now...
Television
Entourage!!!, Trading Spaces, Landscapers Challenge, Design on A Dime, Clean Sweep, General Hospital, George Lopez Show, The Cosby Show, Fresh Prince, Tom & Jerry, Sex & The City,
Books
The Alchemist, The Seat of the Soul, Conversations With God, Peel My Love Like an Onion, Wheels of Life, Midnight Robber, Parable of the Sower, Pattern Master, Mind of My Mind, more to come...
About me: Mayda del Valle has taken the national spoken word scene by storm. In the last 4 years she has gone from being a virtual unknown to becoming one of the most accomplished and unique voices on the scene, proving her ability as both a writer and performer.
A native of Chicago’s south side, Mayda began performing her own writing while in high school. She relocated to New York City in October of 2000 after graduating from Williams College with a B.A. in Art.
One of Mayda’s first stops was the legendary Nuyorican Poet’s Café. In spite of never having performed poetry competitively Mayda won the 2001 Nuyorican Grand Slam Championship and went on to the National Poetry Slam in Seattle that August. There she won the Individual National Poetry Slam Championship, and became the first poet from the Nuyorican, the youngest poet, and the first Latino person to win the title.
Mayda has been featured on 4 seasons of the HBO series Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry. She was an original cast member and writer for the critically acclaimed Tony award winning Broadway production of Russell Simmons Def Poetry Jam on Broadway, and was also part of the national tour of Def Poetry. She has also been featured in various publications including El Diario, Urban Latino, Mass Appeal Magazine, Latina Magazine, Trace, The Source and the New York Times. She has performed at various colleges and universities across the country, and has graced the stages of The Public Theatre, Joe’s Pub, the Williamstown Theatre Festival, and Lincoln Center (in tribute to Tito Puente).
Mayda was also part of the Declare Yourself Spoken Word Tour, a national, non-profit, non-partisan campaign sponsored by Norman Lear to encourage young voter participation in the 2004 election. In May of 2004 she showcased her one-woman show at NYC’s 3rd Annual Downtown Urban Theatre Festival and won an Audience Favorite Award. Most recently she taped a segment for SiTV’s show The Drop and will be featuring in the independent short Speechless directed by Blu Fox (she also wrote the featured poetry for the films lead character). She currently resides in Los Angeles and is continuing work on her show and a CD. For bookings contact: Walter Mudu: wt@mudumiltimedia.com
photos by Daniella Renee
Who I'd like to meet:
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Reppin' the legendary Rock Steady Crew!
Peace Queen I've followed your career from time to time. Your words make me smile and you always add log wood to my fire. Keep doing your thang thang mamie.
OMG! THE PWRadio Show has done it again. The next very special feature will be, the 1 and only, QUEEN OF SPOKEN WORD herself, GEORGIA ME [GA ME]. Set ur clocks, mark ur calendars, do whatever u have to do so u will not miss this episode of The PWRadio Show, JUNE 14, 3P-5P PST @ blogtalkradio.com/poeticworksllc Do ur ears a favor, DO NOT MISS this show, they will thank u later.
It's me Sergio from up in S. Oregon...I saw u'were feat'd among the BLOKHEDZ credits, thought I'd pop in to show love, give props, say whattUp!! that cartune looks hella' tite, animations are ill...can't wait to see when your character cameo airs!!
¡Mucho amor chica...que te quedas mas adelante de los demas!
Mayda! I'm so glad you got in touch with me! Let's get together soon! I've got some beats that might really call out to you! I'd love to collaborate! Hit me back when you get a chance!