Louder Than a Bomb is a new documentary film about young spoken-word competitors — an intimate look at how they spin lessons from life into poetry.

Rather than emphasize individual poets and performances, the structure of Louder Than a Bomb demands that kids work collaboratively with their peers, presenting, critiquing, and rewriting their pieces. To succeed, teams have to create an environment of mutual trust and support. For many kids, being a part of such an environment—in an academic context—is life-changing.

The film centres around a team format. Yet, as with athletic teams, there are individual highlights like this 2008 performance by Nate Marshall.

by Chali 2na.

Catch him performing live for free with the Jazz Mafia Symphony at Stern Grove in San Francisco, June 26th.

Step yo game up
Step yo game up

Well it’s the late great fish again
From the great state underneath Lake Michigan
Keep us safe just in case cake’s missing
And I speak frigid anytime I think jake’s listenin’

Heh, OK first and foremost
Make my purse burst as I put thirst before jokes
Won’t feel the rumours I try to ignore folks
Immature blokes whose whole cloaks are pure hoax

Shifty eyes, the fish be wise
Risky lies can lead you to a quick demise
Get your arms wrapped up like some twisty ties
Haters are sick from witnessin’ how quick we rise

Yup, my momma told me to resolve my picture credit
Or everything around me will dissolve and dissipate
Yeah, never earning is a fast disaster
And foolish is the student who don’t surpass the master

The reason that you have to step yo game up
Put in work, make them notice your rep then came up
More than feeble attempts to gain bucks
If you’re shootin’ for your dreams too low then aim up

Step yo game up
Heavy push, make them know that your rep done came up
Try to build up your name, remain tough
Grind till your brain busts and step yo game up

Keep it funky long as I can like imagine
Making each record that I do better than the last one
Inside the passion I try to make it happen
So I don’t have to wear a ski mask and blast guns

The first son will leave your area hurt
When I’m in America they raise the terror alert
Scary when I leave you bury your dirt
Cadence of clarity is making sure your stereo work, very alert

Like that y’all, got you switching your choice
Should we hit you with a hook, you change the pitch in your voice
Intricate with every step, we make you slippery with moist
And my constituents will get to the point rippin’ the joint

But uh, over the bass and the treble clef
Hot like we hit you in the face with the devil’s breath
But just in case that the level slips
Never fret, just pick up the pace like we never left

That’s why you gotta just step yo game up
Put in work, make them notice your rep that came up
More than feeble attempts to gain bucks
If you’re shootin’ for your dreams too low then aim up

Step yo game up
Heavy push, make them know that your rep done came up
Try to build up your name, remain tough
Grind till your brain busts and step yo game up

Yo, clash on the mind ’cause a black Columbine
Contract nullifying print stack dollar signs
Gotta push cause a lotta cats out of time
Holla back on the dime on the black gotta crime

The day that this rap became a weapon
Is the day that I was told to adapt to gain acceptance
The poorest people make scratch by any method
If he desperate he can go pull out the strap to send a message

That’s why you gotta just step yo game up
Put in work, make them notice your rep that came up
More than feeble attempts to gain bucks
If you’re shootin’ for your dreams too low then aim up

Step yo game up
Heavy push, make them know that your rep done came up
Try to build up your name, remain tough
Grind till your brain busts and step yo game up