Busted Mouth

Writer/performer/humorist, J.W. Basilo, is equal parts poignant and perverse, hilarious and heart-wrenching. His raucous performances and uncanny charisma have earned him a reputation as one of the most sought-after and compelling spoken word artists working today. His work has appeared on NPR, in the Chicago Tribune, several literary journals and in hundreds of theaters, dive bars, schools and comedy clubs across North America. His one man dramedy, No One Can Fix You, debuted in 2009 to rave reviews in Chicago, Seattle, and New York City. As a competitor, Basilo was a finalist at the 2007 Individual World Poetry Slam, finished 2nd at the 2009 National Underground Poetry Individual Championship, and has represented Chicago at the National Poetry Slam four times. To date, he has released three full-length albums, Poet Laureate of Apt. 2E (2006), Love Crimes, Etc. (2007), and When I Woke Up, I Ran as well as the chapbook I Dare You to Believe This. Currently, he is a Writer in Residence at Chicago’s Real Talk Ave. All things considered, he’s doing pretty well for a guy who failed Creative Writing in high school.