Big Poppa E

Big Poppa E is an American performer of slam poetry. His live performances combine poetry, stand-up comedy, and dramatic monologue.

Big Poppa E
Nationality	American
Occupation(s)	Slam poet, writer
Known for	The Wussy Boy Manifesto
Website	http://www.bigpoppae.com

Performance poetry

He participated in the 10th Annual Poetry Slam in Chicago as part of the San Francisco team.^[1] In that event, he identifies himself as a "Wussy Boy" in introductions^[2] of his performance poem The Wussy Boy Manifesto,^[1] a humorous rant which champions sensitive men and elevates Duckie from Pretty in Pink and Lloyd Dobler from Say Anything... to role models.^[3] Ms. Magazine named him "an icon for effeminate males"^[4] and the Los Angeles Times called him the "leader of a new men's movement."^[5] Jacinda Abcarian says his work gives a male's perspective on male bashing.^[6]

In 2001, he released a 2-disc recording of his work, including the "Wussy Boy Videos" . The Chicago News and Review said the work was "colorful, scathing tirades" with "rapid timing and delivery (namely volume) for maximum impact".^[7]

Apple Computer

Big Poppa E's video "Why I Got Fired From Apple" received over a million hits on YouTube, Google Video, and MySpace. The clip detailed the uproar over the poem Oh! Canadian FedEx Lady! after it was performed at an Apple Computer employee talent show in 2005, two days after which Big Poppa was fired for undisclosed reasons.^[8]

The poem was a comedic rant about a male worker in the Apple Computer call center who flirts over the phone with a female Canadian FedEx employee while keeping "rude, mean American customers" on hold.

The story of his firing was picked up in various news sources across the Internet and was used as an example of increased scrutiny of employee blogging and vlogging by companies that has led to firings.^[9]

References

1. Teresa Wiltz (August 18, 1999). "Poets Duke It Out Chicago Contest". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 19, 2015.
2. BRUCE WEBER (August 16, 1999). "Part Art, Part Hip-Hop And Part Circus; Slammers Shake Up an Interest in Poetry". The New York Times. Retrieved September 19, 2015.
3. Jones, Monika (May 23, 2002). "Big Poppa E's slam poetry rocks the HUB". The Daily. University of Washington. Archived from the original on January 21, 2013.
4. Smith, Patricia (August 2001). "Slammed". Ms. Magazine. p. 94.
5. Hanania, Joseph (August 27, 2000). "Poet's Mantra: I Am Wussy Boy, Hear Me Roar!". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, CA. p. E1.
6. Jacinda Abcarian. "The Poetry of a New Generation". Savvy Traveler. National Public Radio. Retrieved September 19, 2015.
7. Chris Baldwin (December 20, 2001). "Review: Bootleg Live - Big Poppa E". Chico News & Review. Retrieved September 19, 2015.
8. Singer, Michael (February 24, 2007). "Ex-Apple Employee's Firing Makes For Great YouTube Video". Information Week's Digital Life Weblog. Archived from the original on November 25, 2010.
9. Cornell, Christopher (March 29, 2006). "Internet Complicates HR Decisions". Human Resource Executive Online. Archived from the original on March 14, 2012.