Ursula Rucker
is an American spoken word recording artist. Rucker is known for a diverse repertoire, and for utilizing techniques that catch her listeners' attention, both of which have brought her critical acclaim and widespread praise from fans.
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URSULA RUCKER TICKETS
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Biography
Rucker was born and raised in
Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, where she was a graduate of
Temple University’s
journalism program
[1]. She is of African-American and Italian descent. Rucker had been writing poetry since adolescence but kept her writings to herself until she read
poetry in 1994, at Philadelphia’s Zanzibar Blue which is credited as her debut.
That very same year, Rucker was invited to collaborate with numerous recording artists, and producers including
King Britt,
4hero,
Jamaaladeen Tacuma,
Josh Wink and most notably
The Roots.
[2]
Rucker garnered a reputation for unique poetry techniques and stage presence which were described as "strong, vulnerable, wounded and raging". King Britt gave Rucker recognition and invited her to create her first spoken word recording, the 1994 club hit, "Supernatural". Dance music fans and
DJ's quickly appreciated Rucker’s vocals and rhythm, which was described as "mystical". According to Britt, while the original and remixes of Supernatural were continually used in
clubs widespread throughout the United States, internationally, the most popular mix of the song remains the
a cappella
.
Career
Rucker's emotion in her work and words, has led some critics to compare her to celebrated writers like Sonia Sanchez and
Nikki Giovanni, describing them as "powerful". Coincidentally, when
Ntozake Shange was unable to supply The Roots with a spoken word contribution for their second album ''Do You Want More?
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, they called on Rucker to do it instead. The Unlocking led to subsequent invitations to close The Roots follow-up albums
Iladelph Halflife
and the certified gold record
Things Fall Apart''.
In numerous reviews, many critics proclaim the value of Rucker’s work with The Roots, 4hero and other groups. Rucker has had reviews in,
URB
,
Vibe
,
XXL
,
Panache
,
The Philadelphia Inquirer
, and
Straight No Chaser
. Rucker has also performed her work at an array of venues,
universities and festivals. Among these venues include the
Montreal Jazz Festival, the 1999 Winter Music Conference, a performance at
Drexel University and the 2005 Amnesty International Australia Freedom Festival
[3] which aimed to raise aware of Amnesty's global "Stop Violence against Women" campaign.
Rucker has toured with Jamaaladeen Tacuma,
Sylk 130, and 4Hero in the United States and internationally in Europe. Rucker also has provided a single "Soon for Unbound", which was off a benefit album for alleged murderer
Mumia Abu Jamal. Andy Puleston at bbc.co.uk writes in his review of her album
Supa Sista
:
Ursula's vocals... is a silken delivery, that like Michael Franti, demonstrates that a quiet word in the ear can speak volumes above the microphone rant
.
[4] Paul Sullivan also of bbc.co.uk says in his review of her album
Silver or Lead
:
Ursula's velvety voice...manages to both mollify and add a sinister dimension to the harshness of her subject matter.
[5]
Discography
- Supernatural (Single) (1994)
- Supa Sista (2001)
- Silver or Lead (2003)
- Ma' at Mama (2006)
- Ruckus Soundsysdom (2008)
;with 4hero
- "Loveless" on Two Pages
(1998)
- "Time" on Creating Patterns
(2001)
- "The Awakening" on Play with the Changes
(2007)
More extension discography listings at
Film Appearances
She appears in the 2008 film
The Black Candle, directed by
M.K. Asante, Jr. and narrated by
Maya Angelou
References and notes
- 'Vh1 bio- Ursula Rucker bio from Vh1 URL last accessed on 2006-07-29
- 'Rucker at aalbc.com' - Ursula Rucker article URL last accessed on 2006-07-29
- ‘Ursula Rucker Interview’- Ursula Rucker at Amnesty International Australia Freedom Festival URL last accessed on 2006-07-29
- ‘bbc.co.uk’ - Puleston reviews Supa Sista URL last accessed on 2006-07-29
- ‘bbc.co.uk’ - Sullivan reviews Silver or Lead URL last accessed on 2006-07-29