Two-time HBO Def Poet Joe Hernandez-Kolski blends spoken word poetry and comedy to create an experience that is hard-hitting, truthful, and incredibly funny. Having rarely left an audience without a standing ovation, he is fervently committed to both entertaining and challenging people with his intimate, cutting-edge performances. World-renowned Professor Cornel West says, “Joe’s work offers a fresh perspective that is both honest and insightful.” A graduate of Princeton University, Hernandez-Kolski is helping shape the dialogue and minds of today’s youth.

As a spoken word poet, Hernandez-Kolski recently opened for John Mellencamp in his hometown of Chicago. He has performed at over fifty colleges and universities around the country. He recently opened the “Say Word” Hip-Hop Theater Festival at Lehigh University with his hip-hop solo show—“You Wanna Piece of Me?”—which includes DJ Jedi (Digable Planets, Def Poetry Jam Tour).

He's performed his show all over the country, including Ars Nova NYC and the San Francisco Hip-Hop Theater Festival. He appeared in “The Bomb-itty of Errors,” a rollicking hip-hop version of Shakespeare’s “The Comedy of Errors” and received thunderous applause for both of his performances on HBO's Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry.

With remarkable energy and searing commentary, Hernandez-Kolski draws audiences in, evoking both laughter and personal reflection. Unafraid to reveal all truths, he takes chances and cleverly engages audiences in what proves to be an unforgettable experience.

Based in Los Angeles, Hernandez-Kolski’s credits as an actor include the summer blockbuster Hancock, starring Will Smith, and he recently shot a scene with Robert Downey Jr. and Jamie Foxx in The Soloist, directed by Joe Wright (Atonement). He continues to host Downbeat 720, an open-mic for high school youth that he co-founded. The televised version, Downbeat Showdown, which he hosted and produced, received the LA Emmy for “Outstanding Youth Programming.” He says: “All I can do is tell my own story and if that helps lead a person toward their true passion, that’s the beauty of art.”

“Joe Hernandez-Kolski is one of the most brilliant, courageous and gifted artists on the globe. He tells difficult truths with unsparing honesty leavened with glorious wit and humor. Joe is also one of the most humane and compassionate visionaries working today, and if you are fortunate enough to stand beneath the fountain of his irrepressible wisdom and his relentless eloquence, you are blessed indeed.” --Prof. Michael Eric Dyson, Georgetown University

“Joe’s work offers a fresh perspective that is both honest and insightful.” --Dr. Cornel West, Princeton University

"Joe ain’t afraid to be entertaining, in fact highly entertaining is what he is. Joe, I’ve noticed, likes to take chances and push the audience close to the edge." --Marc (So What!) Smith, Founder of the Slam Movement and Poetry Slam, Inc.

“Joe is an inspiring voice and talent. His work is insightful, humorous and powerful. His commitment to his work is undeniable.” --Saul Williams

“Joe is a refreshing and seldom heard voice of the hip-hop generation that deserves listening and watching.” --Danny Hoch

“Joe captivates the crowd with his melodic poetry that is beautiful, comical, timely and necessarily political.” --Dr. Barbee Myers Oakes, Wake Forest University