Hakim Bellamy is a national and regional Poetry Slam Champion, and holds three consecutive collegiate poetry slam titles at the University of New Mexico. His poetry has been published in Albuquerque inner-city buses and numerous anthologies. He is the co-creator of the multimedia Hip Hop theater production Urban Verbs: Hip-Hop Conservatory & Theater that has been staged throughout the country. His first book of poetry is entitled Swear. He has just finished his term as Poet Laureate of Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Uprising host Sonali Kolhatkar spoke recently with Hakim Bellamy. Watch a video of an excerpt of the interview here: