Lexus Verses and Flow Returns for Fifth Season
Lexus Verses and Flow, cable channel TV One’s mix of music and spoken word, will launch its fifth season on July 30. Returning as host for his second season is actor Laz Alonso, co-star of NBC’s The Mysteries of Laura.
Alonso also appeared in Lexus’ commercial for their CT 200h. “They really wanted to reach a certain type of consumer that I represent,” Alonso says, “somebody that went to college, very interested in having things that are nice, but at the same time being conscientious of their responsibility to the environment. They were targeting the demographic that enjoys having something that’s practical, but at the same time luxurious.”
Lexus is targeting that same demographic with Verses and Flow, appealing to young, socially conscious African-Americans through a blend of spoken word and excellent music. Also part of the program: the Lexus Verses and Flow Scholarship, which will be awarded to students at America’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
This season’s featured acts include Maxwell, Johnny Gill, K. Michelle, Candice Glover, Mali Music, Leela James, Anthony Hamilton, Sebastian Mikael, Joe, Ruben Studdard, Gary Clark Jr., Alice Smith, and Adam Blackstone. Poets performing will include Miles Hodges, Chiara Richardson, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Rudy Francisco and Treesje Powers, Breeze, Joe P, Rage Almighty, Rob Gibsun, Ramya Ramana, Tim “Toaster” Henderson, Phenomenon, Black Ice, Michael “Chief” Peterson, Tonya Ingram, Deonte Scott, DDE the Slammer, Obbie West, Lady Caress, Jasmine Williams, Jive Poetic, Joshua Bennett and Zora Howard, Philosophy, Pages Matam, Katelyn Lucas, and Prentice Powell.
The episodes were taped over a four-day span (May 19-22) at Los Angeles’ Siren Studios.
“I’m a fan of poetry, I’m a fan of spoken word. I’m a fan of real music,” Alonso says. “Everybody says, ‘Music is dead.’ Or ‘R&B is dead.’ It isn’t as long as the people that this generation use for inspiration and look up to are still around making great music. We’re going to show you that.”
The Lexus Verses and Flow Scholarship will award students at our nation’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities for their academic excellence as well as their community involvement. The scholarship was established in conjunction with the television show. A $5,000 Scholarship will be awarded to two deserving students. Awardees must be classified as a sophomore, junior or senior at the time the scholarship commences. In addition, they must be an active community leader. The final deadline for submission is September 4, 2015.
