Bonafide Rojas is a poet and musician. He is the author of "Pelo Bueno: a day in the life of a Nuyorican Poet" (Dark Souls Press, 2006); has made 5 chapbooks: A Day in the Life, The Brief History Of, Tragically Beautiful, Holler! & When The City Sleeps (pt. I). He is the 2002 Slam This! Champion and has been on two National Poetry Slam teams, NYC/Union Square 2002 & Wicker Park 2003. His first performance was at The Nuyorican Poets Cafe in 1996 at "All That". He became a fixture on the Brooklyn Poetry Scene of the mid 90's, Nuyorican in the late 90's, and Chicago early part of the decade establishing himself as a performer with substance as well as aesthetic. After staying in Chicago for three years, and having his first born John Pablo in November 2003, he decided to move back to NYC with a new fire to get his music out of his head and into the streets.

He has appeared in Russell Simmon's "Def Poetry Jam" Season 4 and has worked with several non profit organizations such Louder Arts (NY), Teachers and Writers (NY), Youth Speaks (CA), The Guild Complex (IL), Young Chicago Authors (IL), and is on the roster of teaching artist at Urban Word NYC. He has been published in the anthologies: "Bum Rush the Page: a Def Poetry Jam" (Three Rivers Press, 2002), RoleCall: "A Generational Anthology of Social and Political Black Literature and Art" (Third World Press, 2002), The "Centro Journal" (Hunter College, 2001), Blu Magazine's Puerto Rico Issue, The Hostos Review, The Acentos Review, Columbia's Roots and Culture, NYU's Calabash Journal and was featured on the CD’s Nuyorican Dreams, Yemaya y Ochun, The Freedom Song and New Skool Poetics.

Bonafide has shared the stages with Amiri Baraka, Oscar Bermeo, Roger Bonair-Agard, Michael Cirelli, Kevin Coval, Shaggy Flores, Guy LeCharles Gonzalez, Suheir Hammad, Bassey, Dennis Kim, Mike Ladd, Lemon, Al Letson, Giles Li, RAC, Tony Medina, Flaco Navaja, Ishle Yi Park, Willie Perdomo, Pedro Pietri (RIP), Raul Salinas (RIP), Shappy, Beau Sia, The Suicide Kings, Fish Vargas & Saul Williams.

The Oakland Poetry Slam & Open-Mic
2nd & 4th Thursdays Monthly
March 11th w/ Bonafide Rojas
The Oasis Restaurant
135 12th St. (@ Madison)
8:15 - 10:30
$10 - 21+ w/ ID
www.oaklandslam.com