A note of explanation for the unacquainted: Home Box Office and Russell Simmons (of Def Comedy Jam) originally produced the smash series Russell Simmons Presents Brave New Voices in 2009. They designed the program as a showcase for young poets (many with an urban background) who competed against one another with original compositions that they delivered onstage. As an extension of this, the program Brave New Voices 2010 travels to the Grand Slam Finals Showdown, where four teams - one from Albuquerque, one from New York City, one from Denver, and one from the Bay Area of California - compete against one another before a rowdy, expressive audience. Actress Rosario Dawson and rapper Common co-emcee the festivities, all of which build up to the announcement of the 2010 Brave New Voices Champion. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi